How to Plan Your Waitomo Caves & Rotorua Small Group Tour Including Te Puia from Auckland

Are you an adventure lover looking for a short trip to explore the beauty of New Zealand? The Waitomo Caves & Rotorua Small Group Tour including Te Puia from Auckland is an action-packed day tour that will take you through subterranean caverns of Waitomo caves, panoramic views of geysers, and hot springs of Rotorua. In this blog post, we will go through how to plan your trip to Waitomo Caves & Rotorua Small Group Tour including Te Puia from Auckland.

Overview

Waitomo Caves and Rotorua are the top-rated tourist attractions in New Zealand. This tour offers an opportunity to visit both sites in one day, making it ideal for those with limited time. With round-trip transportation from central Auckland and entry fees to Waitomo and Te Puia included, this hassle-free tour offers a fully guided, small-group experience.

What’s Included

• Small Group & Fully Guided Tour
• Entry Tickets – Waitomo and Te Puia
• Bottled water
• Food and drinks unless specified
• Gratuities
• Souvenirs (available to purchase)

Attractions

The Waitomo Caves & Rotorua Small Group Tour including Te Puia from Auckland offers a wide range of attractions that will give you an unforgettable experience of New Zealand’s natural beauty and Maori culture.

Waitomo Caves

The Waitomo Caves are famous for their subterranean caverns, where you can see stalagmites and other natural wonders. You will have an opportunity to take a boat tour through the glowworm grotto and see thousands of glowworms illuminating the caverns with their bioluminescence. Besides, you will have a fantastic view of the magnificent stalactites and stalagmites of the cave.

Rotorua

Rotorua is famous for its geothermal features and hot springs. You will have a chance to explore the famous Te Puia, where you can see the famous Pohutu and Prince of Wales Geysers. Moreover, you will see mud pools, hot springs, and other geysers in the area.

Besides the geothermal features, the tour includes a visit to the Government Gardens and Lake Rotorua, where you can enjoy the panoramic views and learn about the culture and history of the Maori people.

Meeting and Pickup

The tour starts at 6:30 am, and the pickup points are located in central Auckland. You can choose your pickup point while booking the tour via the following link: book the tour here.

Pickup Details

Hotel pick-ups are available from certain hotels in central Auckland. Suppose your hotel is within the pick-up locations zone, you can join the tour at the designated location.

In conclusion

Planning a short trip to Waitomo Caves & Rotorua Small Group Tour including Te Puia from Auckland can be both exciting and daunting. By booking this fully-guided, hassle-free tour and following the above guide, you can avoid the stress and enjoy a fun-filled day exploring the best of New Zealand’s natural beauty and Maori culture.

An Insider’s Guide to Rotorua

Rotorua, a city in the Bay of Plenty region on New Zealand’s North Island, is known for its geothermal activity, Maori cultural experiences, and outdoor adventures. Visitors can witness bubbling mud pools, geysers, and hot springs in the city’s geothermal parks, learn about Maori history and culture at museums and cultural centers, and go hiking, mountain biking, or white-water rafting in the surrounding forests and rivers. Here’s your guide to making the most of your visit to Rotorua.

Must-See Local Attractions

1. Te Puia: Te Puia, a Maori cultural center, is one of the most popular attractions in Rotorua. Visitors can watch traditional Maori performances, visit a kiwi bird enclosure, and learn about Maori carving, weaving, and other arts and crafts. The center is also home to the Pohutu geyser and other geothermal wonders.

2. Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland: Wai-O-Tapu is a geothermal park about 20 minutes south of Rotorua that features colorful hot springs, bubbling mud pools, and the Lady Knox geyser, which erupts daily at 10:15 a.m. The park is a photographer’s dream, with vibrant colors and steam rising from the earth.

3. Redwoods Forest: The Redwoods Forest, located just outside of Rotorua, offers hiking and mountain biking trails amid towering California redwoods. The forest canopy walk, a suspended bridge that takes you up in the trees, provides a bird’s-eye view of the forest.

Top Dining Spots

1. Atticus Finch: Atticus Finch is an upscale restaurant in the city center that serves contemporary New Zealand cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients. The menu changes seasonally but always features creatively prepared dishes that showcase the best of the region’s cuisine.

2. Terrace Kitchen: The Terrace Kitchen pairs a casual vibe with gourmet food and cocktails. The menu consists of international dishes with a New Zealand twist, like their popular lamb burger and paua (abalone) fritters.

3. Pig & Whistle: The Pig & Whistle is a cozy, old-school English-style pub that offers hearty pub fare, a wide selection of beers and whiskies, and live music on the weekends.

Cultural Experiences

1. Tamaki Maori Village: The Tamaki Maori Village is a living Maori village where visitors can experience traditional Maori customs and culture. The guided tours include performances of the haka (war dance), poi (dance with balls on strings), and a hangi feast cooked in an earth oven.

2. Rotorua Museum: The Rotorua Museum is housed in a former bathhouse built in 1908 and showcases the history of Rotorua and the region’s geothermal activity. The museum also has a gallery of Maori art and artifacts.

3. Polynesian Spa: The Polynesian Spa, named one of the top 10 thermal spas in the world, offers hot mineral pools with different temperatures, as well as private pools and spa treatments. The spa overlooks Lake Rotorua and provides a relaxing escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Local History

Rotorua is located in the traditional land of the Te Arawa people, who have lived in the area for over 600 years. The Maori have a strong cultural presence in Rotorua, and many of the city’s attractions and activities highlight their customs and traditions. Rotorua was also an important site during the World War II, as it was home to the New Zealand Army’s training camp.

Off-the-Beaten-Path Suggestions

1. Kerosene Creek: Kerosene Creek is a natural hot springs that is free to access, located about 30 minutes south of Rotorua. The creek offers a unique opportunity to experience a natural hot spring that is off the beaten path.

2. Hamurana Springs: Hamurana Springs is a crystal-clear freshwater spring that flows into Lake Rotorua. Visitors can walk along the spring stream, which is lined with native plants, and see trout swimming in the water.

3. Waimangu Volcanic Valley: Waimangu Volcanic Valley is a geothermal park that offers walking trails around the site of the 1886 Mount Tarawera eruption. Visitors can see geysers, hot springs, and fumaroles (steam vents) along the trails.

In conclusion, Rotorua has a lot to offer visitors, from its unique geothermal activity to its rich Maori culture and outdoor adventures. Whether you’re seeking relaxation or excitement, you’re sure to find it in this fascinating city.