The largest city located in the North Island of New Zealand, serving as a major gateway for international and domestic flights. You can enjoy various shopping opportunities, gourmet experiences, and urban harbor scenery, and it is widely used as a starting point to travel to tourist destinations in the North Island, such as Rotorua.
A representative resort and geothermal tourism city located in the central part of New Zealand's North Island, famous for its sulfur-smelling hot springs, mud pools, geysers, and Maori cultural experiences. Various geothermal parks, lakes, forests, and activity facilities are concentrated near the city center, making it particularly suitable for rental car travel.
A small town located between Auckland and Rotorua, famous for its 'Hobbiton' tours. The Matamata rest stop mentioned in the itinerary is a good place to take a break during a drive through this region.
A restaurant and bar street located near Rotorua city center along the lakeside, offering a variety of international cuisines. It is pedestrian-friendly, making it ideal for evening walks, dining, and drinks, with relatively convenient parking nearby.
A free geothermal park located in Rotorua city center, where you can see Rotorua's unique geothermal features such as mud pools and steaming areas up close. It has foot spa facilities to relieve driving fatigue and a large free parking area.
A wide garden and park area located by Lake Rotorua, featuring a historic Tudor-style building (former Rotorua Museum building), well-maintained lawns and flower beds, and sculptures. It is great for walks while enjoying the lake view, and nearby hot springs and accommodations make it a popular spot for travelers.
A representative hot spring spa facility located on the shores of Lake Rotorua, offering various hot spring pools, family pools, and private pools. Outdoor hot spring baths with lake views are especially popular, and it is convenient for visitors with private cars due to the large parking lot.
The Rotorua branch of Pak’nSave, a large discount supermarket chain available throughout New Zealand, where you can buy groceries, ready-to-eat meals, and beverages at reasonable prices. It is a suitable shopping spot for self-driving travelers to prepare water, snacks, and convenient meals before or after long-distance drives.
A representative geothermal and Maori cultural attraction located near downtown Rotorua, where you can see the large Pohutu Geyser, mud pools, kiwi bird sanctuary, and Maori carving school all in one place. It is convenient to visit since it is a 5–10 minute drive from the city center and offers a combined experience of geothermal and traditional culture.
A geothermal park located south of Rotorua, famous for its colorful hot spring lakes, craters, and 'Champagne Pool.' The Lady Knox Geyser show conducted around 10:00 AM is particularly popular, and walking along the extensive trails to admire the unique geological features is highly recommended for self-driving travelers.
A geyser located near Wai-O-Tapu, operated so that tourists can observe eruptions induced at a fixed time (usually around 10:00 AM) with artificial stimulation. The highly elevated hot spring water is impressive and is one of the representative sights of the geothermal area.
A lush cedar forest located south of Rotorua, widely known as the 'Redwood Forest.' It features various walking and trekking courses of differing levels of difficulty along with cycling trails, and its large free parking area makes it popular among family travelers and hikers.
A canopy walk installed in Whakarewarewa Forest, an activity experience walking on suspended bridges connecting giant redwood trees. It provides the feeling of walking through the upper part of the forest during the day and offers a magical atmosphere at night with Nightlights illumination, available as a paid program.
A Maori cultural village located near Rotorua, where you can enjoy traditional welcoming ceremonies, Haka performances, songs and dances, and the geothermal and underground cooking style Hāngi dinner. It is usually held during the evening, and both pickup services and self-driving options are available, making it a popular dinner show destination.
Another famous Maori experience village near Rotorua, offering various programs such as the appearance of traditional warriors' canoes, Haka performances, songs and dances, Hāngi dinners, and glowworm observation. It is popular among families and couples, and advance reservations are recommended.
A multi-leisure facility where you take a gondola to the top of a hill and enjoy a view of Rotorua city and the lake. It features activities such as the Luge track, cafe, restaurant, and winery, making it suitable for a half-day visit with a large free parking area.
Known as the origin facility of the activity 'Zorb' (rolling downhill in a large transparent ball). The course where you slide down in a water-filled ball is particularly popular, offering an exciting experience in a short amount of time, making it a frequently visited activity spot when in Rotorua.
A nearby clear blue lake known as the 'Blue Lake.' Its lakeside walking trails and picnic spots are well-maintained, making it good for light walks and photography. With easy parking, it is often included as a natural attraction in drive routes.
A lake located near Lake Tikitapu, known as the 'Green Lake' due to its green-colored water. As a sacred site for the Maori people, general water recreational activities are restricted, but roadside viewpoints offer great opportunities to admire and photograph the lake, making it a good drive route.
