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Hiking Guides · New Zealand · Updated 2026 · 10 min read
Rotorua is known for its geothermal steam, but it is also one of the best places to walk in the North Island. The land here is a mix of ancient forest, volcanic lakes and coloured hot ground. The best walks in Rotorua take you through all of it, from towering redwoods to crater rims and lake shores. Many start within minutes of the city.
There is real range here too. You can take a gentle loop suitable for young children, or a full-day hike with serious climbing. Some walks are free, and a couple of the best are guided.
This guide covers the trails worth lacing up for, with distance, time and difficulty for each. A quick note first. Forest tracks here change often, so it pays to check conditions before a longer walk.
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The Best Walks in Rotorua
The best walks in Rotorua split into a few natural groups. The Redwoods and the forest tracks sit closest to town. The lakes ring the city with easy loops. The volcanic and geothermal walks lie a short drive out. Here they are, from gentle to demanding.
The Redwoods, Whakarewarewa Forest
The Redwoods is the walk everyone starts with, and rightly so. A grove of towering Californian redwoods, planted in 1901, rises up to 67 metres overhead. Six signposted tracks branch off from the visitor centre, colour-coded and suited to every fitness level.
The Memorial Grove loop is the easy option, flat and short, with a boardwalk over an old thermal pond. It is suitable for all ages. For something longer, the tracks climb into the wider forest with views over the city and lakes.
The paid Redwoods Treewalk adds a suspended path through the canopy, best at dusk when the Nightlights come on. Note that forestry work and flooding cause regular track diversions here. Check the Redwoods website or the i-Site before a longer walk.
Distance: 30 minutes to a full day · Difficulty: easy to hard · Best for: giant trees and family walks.
Blue Lake (Tikitapu) Circuit
A short drive from the Redwoods, the Blue Lake circuit is one of the loveliest easy walks near the city. The track runs right around Tikitapu, about 5.5 kilometres, through native bush and past small beaches. It takes one to two hours at a gentle pace.
The water here is a clear, bright blue, and there are spots to swim on a warm day. Parts of the track also give views across to the Green Lake, Rotokakahi, which is sacred and closed to access. It is an easy, rewarding loop for all ages.
Distance: 5.5 km loop · Time: 1 to 2 hours · Difficulty: easy · Best for: a lake walk and a swim.
Rainbow Mountain (Maungakākaramea)
About thirty minutes south, Rainbow Mountain is the geothermal hike of the region. The lower walk passes bright crater lakes and steaming, coloured ground before the track climbs to the summit. The colours in the earth give the mountain its name.
The summit walk takes two to three hours return and rewards you with wide views over the volcanic plateau. It is a moderate climb, steady rather than steep. Wear proper shoes, as the ground can be loose underfoot.
Distance: summit walk, 2 to 3 hours return · Difficulty: moderate · Best for: geothermal scenery and views.
Okere Falls Track
North of the city, the Okere Falls track follows the Kaituna River through native bush to a series of waterfalls. It is short and easy, around 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, with steps down to viewing points. The falls are powerful and close.
This is also the home of Kaituna rafting, so you may watch rafts drop the falls below you. A cafe near the car park makes an easy end to the walk. It suits a relaxed half-day out of town.
Time: 45 minutes to 1.5 hours · Difficulty: easy · Best for: waterfalls and river scenery.
Lake Okareka Walkway
A little east of the city, the Lake Okareka walkway is a gentle lakeside stroll on a boardwalk. It runs along the shore through wetland and bush, alive with native birds. It takes around an hour and is flat the whole way.
This is one for a quiet morning rather than a challenge. The birdlife is the draw, especially early or late in the day. It is easy, peaceful and good for all ages.
Time: about 1 hour · Difficulty: easy · Best for: birdlife and a calm lakeside walk.
The Tarawera Trail
The Tarawera Trail is one of the finest walks in the region, and a step up in effort. It runs about 15 kilometres one way along the shore of Lake Tarawera, through bush and past small bays. The reward at the end is Hot Water Beach, where thermal water warms the sand.
Most walkers take a water taxi back across the lake, which must be booked ahead. The walk takes three to four and a half hours one way. It is moderate, with some ups and downs, and genuinely special. You can book Tarawera trail and lake tours here.
Distance: 15 km one way · Time: 3 to 4.5 hours · Difficulty: moderate · Best for: a lake trail with a hot beach finish.
Mount Tarawera
Mount Tarawera is the volcano that erupted in 1886, splitting open and reshaping the whole area. Walking on it is one of the great experiences here. The mountain sits on private Māori land, so you can only visit on a guided tour.
The guided walks take you along the crater rim, with the story of the eruption told as you go. It is easy to moderate walking within a longer tour. This is history and landscape together, and worth the cost. You can book a Mount Tarawera guided hike here.
Access: guided tours only · Difficulty: easy to moderate · Best for: a volcano crater and its history.
Rotorua Lakefront and Sulphur Bay
You do not have to leave the city for a good walk. The Rotorua lakefront walkway runs along the shore of Lake Rotorua, past Sulphur Bay, a strange and beautiful geothermal wildlife refuge. Steam, coloured water and birdlife sit side by side.
The walk is flat and can be as short or long as you like, from half an hour upward. Black swans and other birds gather in the bay in numbers. It is an easy, unusual walk right on the edge of town.
Time: 30 minutes and up · Difficulty: easy · Best for: geothermal scenery and birdlife in town.
Whakarewarewa Circuit (Black Track)
For a proper day out, the Whakarewarewa Circuit is the big forest hike. It loops through the wider Whakarewarewa Forest over five to eight hours, with real climbing along the way. Expect around 800 metres of elevation across the day.
The reward is variety: redwoods, native bush, and views over the city and the lakes. This is a hike for fit walkers, not a casual stroll. Take food, water and a map, and check for track diversions before you start.
Time: 5 to 8 hours · Difficulty: hard · Best for: a full-day forest hike.
Western Okataina Walkway
Northeast of the city, the Western Okataina Walkway is a quieter bush walk for those wanting distance. It climbs through tall native forest toward a lookout, with few other walkers about. The full route runs two and a half to three and a half hours one way.
This is a walk for the forest itself rather than big views. It is peaceful and green, and a good choice when the busier tracks feel crowded. Arrange transport if you plan to walk it one way.
Time: 2.5 to 3.5 hours one way · Difficulty: moderate · Best for: quiet native forest.
What to Know Before Walking in Rotorua
Check for track diversions. The Whakarewarewa Forest changes often due to tree felling, flooding and events. Before any longer forest walk, check current conditions at the Redwoods i-Site or online.
Pack for changing weather. Rotorua can turn wet fast, even in summer. Carry a packable rain jacket and a warm layer, and wear proper hiking shoes for the longer or steeper tracks.
Respect the sacred sites. Several places here are significant to Māori, including the Green Lake and Mount Tarawera. Stay on the tracks, keep out of closed areas, and treat them with care.
Some of these walks are long or remote, and Tarawera and the alpine ground carry real conditions. If your trip leans toward the bigger hikes, it is worth being covered. World Nomads includes hiking in its travel insurance.
Book the guided and water-taxi walks ahead. Mount Tarawera runs on tours only, and the Tarawera Trail relies on a booked boat back. Sort these before the day, especially in summer.
How to Reach the Trails
Most of these walks are within a short drive of the city, so a car makes them easy. The Redwoods and the lakefront are close enough to reach without one. The forest and lake tracks sit just outside town.
The guided walks handle their own transport. Mount Tarawera tours include pickup, and the Tarawera Trail uses a water taxi across the lake. For the rest, a hire car gives you the most freedom.
Base yourself in or near the city, as everything here radiates out from it. You can compare places to stay in Rotorua here and pick a spot close to the trails you want.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best walks in Rotorua?
The Redwoods in Whakarewarewa Forest is the standout, with tracks for every fitness level among giant trees. The Blue Lake circuit is the best easy lake walk, and the Tarawera Trail is the finest longer one. For something unique, the guided Mount Tarawera walk is worth the cost.
Are there easy walks in Rotorua for families?
Yes, several. The Redwoods Memorial Grove loop, the Blue Lake circuit and the Lake Okareka walkway are all flat, gentle and suitable for children. The Rotorua lakefront and Sulphur Bay walk is another easy option right in town.
Do you need to pay to walk in the Redwoods?
No, the forest walking tracks are free to use. There is a fee only for the elevated Redwoods Treewalk, the Nightlights and the Altitude course. All the ground-level tracks, including the Memorial Grove and longer loops, cost nothing.
Can you walk up Mount Tarawera on your own?
No, Mount Tarawera sits on private Māori land and can only be visited on a guided tour. The tours take you along the crater rim and share the story of the 1886 eruption. Independent access is not permitted, so book a guided walk.
How long is the Tarawera Trail?
The Tarawera Trail is about 15 kilometres one way and takes three to four and a half hours. It ends at Hot Water Beach on Lake Tarawera, and most walkers take a booked water taxi back across the lake. It is a moderate walk with some climbing.
Final Thoughts
Rotorua rewards walkers more than most people expect. Beyond the steam and the tourist sites lies a landscape of ancient forest, clear lakes and volcanic ground. The best walks in Rotorua move through all of it, and many start close to town.
Pick a walk to match the day and your legs. Take the easy lake loops when you want calm, and the forest hikes when you want a challenge. Check the tracks, respect the land, and take your time.
The trails are waiting just past the steam. Head out and find them.
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