What to do in Lake Tarawera

Activities, attractions and tours
Lake Tarawera which includes a sandy beach as well as a small group of people

Lake Tarawera Tourist Attractions & Activities

If you’re searching for an exciting holiday, count on Expedia.com.au to help you find interesting attractions, enlightening experiences, and tons of other fun things to do in Lake Tarawera AU$23. From first-rate tours to incredible deals on sightseeing trips – our extensive selection of local things to do and places to visit is just a few clicks away.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re travelling alone, alongside your main squeeze, or with your favourite friends or family members, Expedia has the inside scoop on what to see and do while in this corner of the world. And our search tool makes it simple to score the best deals around. So regardless of if you are on a tight budget or prefer to spare no expense, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for by browsing over 87 activities in Lake Tarawera, Bay of Plenty Region.

The intuitive booking system here on Expedia.com.au makes planning your holiday easier—and more affordable—than ever before. And not only can you discover all the best Lake Tarawera attractions from AU$23, but you can also book flights, hire cars, and reserve hotel rooms all in just a few moments. A world of wonder awaits you and your travelling companions. Count on Expedia.com.au to help you plan the holiday of your dreams, and you’ll have the time of your life.


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Top places to visit

1. Skyline Rotorua

Skyline Rotorua cable car carries passengers up Mount Ngongotaha to a height of 487 metres (1,598 feet). Admiring the views isn’t the only thing to do at the summit. Sip a coffee in the café, fly over dense forest on the zip line or steer down the steep luge course.
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Skyline Rotorua

2. Polynesian Spa

Located adjacent to beautiful Lake Rotorua, the steaming baths of the Polynesian Spa are the perfect place to destress. Soak in steamy, cleansing water while you gaze out across the pristine lake. Escape to your very own private pool or play on the slides in the large family area.
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Polynesian Spa which includes a lake or waterhole

3. Lake Rotoiti

Take in views of forest-fringed waters, shimmering glow worm caves and the Southern Alps at Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes National Park. Surrounded by towering mountains, all the lakes in this park were carved out by glaciers over thousands of years and have remained largely untouched. As well as making for a spectacular landscape, this has also allowed native wildlife to thrive.
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Lake Rotoiti showing a lake or waterhole and tranquil scenes

4. Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest

Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest is a tranquil woodland park crisscrossed by trekking and biking trails. Set off on a hike past thermal ponds and geysers or admire eucalyptus trees and immense Californian Redwoods while horseback riding.
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Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest featuring forests

5. Lake Rotorua

Visit Lake Rotorua and you will find no shortage of things to do. Swim in the calm, clear waters by the city’s edge or set off on foot in search of your own private bay. Kayak to mystical Mokoia Island or sit back and relax on a boat cruise.
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Lake Rotorua featuring a lake or waterhole and a park as well as a small group of people

6. Lake Tarawera

Watersports and jaw-dropping natural beauty feature at beautiful Lake Tarawera. This is one of New Zealand’s largest lakes and a superb place to enjoy boating, fishing and hiking activities. Once home to a collection of Māori settlements, tragedy struck Lake Tarawera in 1886 when the peaks of Mount Tarawera erupted and buried the communities. The eruptions rose the lake by around 39 feet (12 meters) and left behind an area of tranquil landscapes.
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Lake Tarawera which includes swimming and a beach as well as a small group of people

7. Mitai Maori Village

The Mitai Māori Village gives you and your family the chance to experience Māori food, art and traditions. The tours are not only educational, they are also very impressive and enjoyable.
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Rotorua showing indigenous culture, a river or creek and rainforest

8. Buried Village

Preserved by the volcanic ash from an eruption, the Buried Village of Te Wairoa offers a fascinating insight into life in 19th-century New Zealand. Peer into the remains of old houses and factories, visit the stunning waterfall at the site and find out just how the nearby volcano caused such lasting damage.
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Buried Village which includes heritage elements and a garden

What to do in Lake Tarawera


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Day trip destinations from Lake Tarawera