Car Rental in Rotorua

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Rotorua Car Rental & Nearby Locations

Rotorua Car Rental & Nearby Locations
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Rotorua Car Rental & Nearby Locations

Rotorua Car Rental & Nearby Locations
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Car Hire Rotorua - Avis New Zealand

Known for its geothermal lake and Maori culture, Rotorua on New Zealand’s North Island is one of the country’s biggest tourist attractions. Whether you’re into adrenaline-filled adventures in the great outdoors, or you just want to relax in a natural hot spring or bubbling mud pool, Rotorua offers something for everyone.

The area around Rotorua is best explored by car. Avis has a vehicle rental location right at Rotorua airport, so you can fly in and drive off to your next adventure.

Luxury Accommodation in Rotorua

Rotorua makes the perfect location for a luxury spa break, and you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to top-quality accommodation. If you’re visiting Rotorua on business, the city has plenty of great hotels with all the amenities you’d expect to make your trip convenient and comfortable.

Peppers on the Point is a 1930s luxury hotel overlooking Lake Rotorua, just a 10-minute drive from the city centre. The hotel has its own private beach, and rooms have hot tubs perfectly placed to watch the sunset. There’s even a flock of friendly sheep, donkeys, and miniature horses that live on the property.

In the city centre, the Regent of Rotorua Boutique Hotel offers elegant rooms and an outdoor heated swimming pool in a location that’s convenient to walk to the lake and for shops and restaurants. The accommodation is comfortable, and the service is excellent.

For high-end apartment-style living, try the Regal Palms 5 Star City Resort. Each room has a private spa pool and full kitchen facilities, and there’s also a conference room and catering services available for business meetings and seminars.

If you’re after true luxury, and have no budget restrictions, Solitaire Lodge overlooking Lake Tarawera is a high-end retreat with panoramic views and a fine-dining restaurant. The lodge is about a 30-minute drive from the city of Rotorua, so it’s not exactly in the centre of the action, but if you’re looking for peace and tranquillity in a stunning location, this is the place for you.

Things to Do in Rotorua

You can’t visit Rotorua without experiencing the natural hot springs and geothermal spas. The Polynesian Spa on Lake Rotorua was voted one of the top ten spas in the world by Conde Nast Traveller magazine. There are several private outdoor pools to relax in, and you can also book mud treatments, massages, and facials at the day spa.

As well as stunning natural beauty, Rotorua is also known for its Maori culture and heritage, and around a third of the population is Maori. You can experience cultural performances at Tamaki Village, during an experience that ends with a traditional Maori Hangi feast. There are also Maori cultural experiences at Whakarewarewa Living Maori Village, set around a geothermal landscape complete with geysers and mud pools. To see some traditional Maori crafts such as wood and bone carving and weaving in progress, head to Te Puia. This is also the location of the Pohutu geyser and a kiwi sanctuary.

A visit to Wai-o-tapu Thermal Valley is also a must when you’re in Rotorua. The bubbling mud pools and bright orange and turquoise waters must be experienced to be believed. Make sure to time your visit with the eruption of the Lady Knox geyser!

The area around Rotorua is just begging to be explored, and hiking and mountain biking are both great ways to see more of the landscape. The track that winds through Whakarewarewa Redwood Forest was voted one of the best in the country. The forest also contains the Redwoods Treewalk, a suspended treetop eco-walk, which is lit up like a fairytale at night. For a truly memorable experience, you can fly to the peak of Mount Tarawera for an awe-inspiring aerial view, and the opportunity to walk around the edge of the crater.

For a more leisurely experience, you can sail a luxury yacht around Lake Rotoiti, exploring some of the area’s secret caves and hidden thermal pools.

Rotorua Weather

Rotorua has a mild temperate climate, sheltered by mountains and far from the coast, meaning it gets less wind than many of New Zealand’s cities. Average temperatures range from 3°C - 8°C in winter to 12°C - 23°C in summer. Snowfall in Rotorua is rare, but ground frosts are common in the winter months.

Fuel Locations in Rotorua

There are several service stations in Rotorua and the surrounding area, with most of them located on the main road that circles Lake Rotorua.

If you’re returning your rental vehicle to Avis Rotorua Airport and need to fill up, the Caltex on Te Ngae Road is the closest to the airport.

Distances to Rotorua Attractions

The following distances are measured from Rotorua city centre:

  • Polynesian Spa 1km
  • Te Puia 4km
  • Redwoods Treewalk 5km
  • Rotorua Airport and Avis car rental 9.5km
  • Te Wairoa Buried Village 15km
  • Tamaki Maori Village 16km
  • Wai-o-tapu 31km

FAQs

What is Rotorua known for?

Rotorua is best known for its geothermal activity including hot mud pools and geysers, which give the city a characteristic smell of sulphur, similar to rotten eggs! The area is also known for its rich Maori heritage, and a significant proportion of the city’s population is Maori.

What is there to do in Rotorua at night?

Rotorua is known for its Maori dance performances, and several of them take place in the evening, followed by a traditional dinner. The Redwoods Treewalk is also a popular evening activity, with its stunning light displays that make for a great photo opportunity. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars in the city itself, of course, and the Polynesian Spa is open until 11pm.