How many days do you need in Rotorua? +
Two full days cover one major geothermal site (Te Puia or Wai-O-Tapu), a Māori evening, the Redwoods and the Polynesian Spa. A third day adds Hobbiton, Waimangu or a Lake Tarawera outing. Many travellers underestimate Rotorua and regret it.
Does Rotorua really smell of sulphur? +
Yes, hydrogen sulphide gives parts of town a boiled-egg whiff, strongest near Kuirau Park and on still days. Nearly every visitor stops noticing within an hour. It's the price of a city built on an active geothermal field, and part of its character.
Te Puia or Wai-O-Tapu: which one to pick? +
Te Puia for the active Pōhutu geyser and the Māori cultural side (carving school, kiwis). Wai-O-Tapu for the colours: orange Champagne Pool, green Devil's Bath, silica terraces. With 2 days, do both, they don't overlap. With a single slot, Wai-O-Tapu is the most photogenic.
Which Māori evening should you choose in Rotorua? +
Te Pā Tū (NZ$260) offers the most polished experience: an illuminated forest, seasonal storytelling and a fine-dining take on the hangi. Mitai (~NZ$150) is the dependable classic with a waka (canoe) on the river and a sacred spring. Whakarewarewa is the daytime alternative in a genuinely inhabited village.
Is Rotorua good with kids? +
Very: geysers and bubbling mud fascinate at any age, the Redwoods Treewalk and the Skyline Rotorua luge are built for families, and parts of the Polynesian Spa welcome children. Keep kids on the marked paths at geothermal sites, the ground can exceed 100°C.
Do you need a car in Rotorua? +
For the southern geothermal sites (Wai-O-Tapu, Waimangu) and Hobbiton, yes, or fall back on shuttles and organised tours. The city centre, lakefront, Kuirau Park and Polynesian Spa work on foot, and the Redwoods are reachable by Baybus.
Do you need a visa for New Zealand? +
No visa for most European passport holders for stays up to 3 months, but you need the NZeTA (NZ$17 via the app, NZ$23 online) plus the NZ$100 International Visitor Levy, paid together before departure and valid 2 years. See our [New Zealand visa guide](/en/destinations/new-zealand/practical/visa-new-zealand/).
