Rotorua Highlights Tour: Waiotapu, Hot Tubs & Lunch from Auckland

About This Experience

This is a full-day small-group trip from Auckland that pairs Wai-O-Tapu's geothermal park with a private cedar hot tub at Secret Spot, from $221 per person with Cheeky Kiwi Travel. Lunch, entry to both places, and pickup from select central Auckland accommodation are included, so the only thing you need to sort is swimwear and a towel.

The van heads south through the Waikato, and Rotorua is about 2.5 hours away by road. At Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland you get about an hour and a half to walk the tracks among steaming vents, bubbling mud pools and the orange-rimmed Champagne Pool. After lunch, chosen from a set menu on the day, and a short drive past Rotorua's city sights, you go to Secret Spot at the edge of Whakarewarewa Forest for a 45-minute soak in a private cedar tub, before the long drive back to Auckland.

It suits travelers with one day in Auckland who want both sides of Rotorua, the volcanic landscape and a relaxing soak, without hiring a car. Be clear about the water: Secret Spot's tubs are filled with heated fresh spring water, not geothermal water, so if bathing in Rotorua's mineral pools is the point of your trip, a day trip that includes Polynesian Spa is the better fit. The trade-off for the privacy of your own tub is a short soak inside a 12-hour day that is mostly driving.

Children under 5 cannot use the Secret Spot tubs, and the uneven tracks at Wai-O-Tapu rule out wheelchairs. Minimum numbers apply, with another date or a full refund offered if the trip does not run. The listing averages 4.7 across 132 Viator reviews; some older reviews describe a Te Puia visit, which is not part of the current itinerary. The same tour is also sold on GetYourGuide.

Highlights

• About 1.5 hours walking Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland past steaming vents, bubbling mud pools and the Champagne Pool
• A 45-minute soak in your own private cedar hot tub at Secret Spot, in the forest at the edge of Rotorua
• Lunch in Rotorua, chosen on the day from a set menu
• A short guided drive past Rotorua's best-known city sights
• Small-group day with a driver-guide through the Waikato countryside
• Pickup and drop-off at select central Auckland accommodation

What's Included

• ✓ Pickup and drop-off at select Auckland accommodation
• ✓ Small-group, fully guided transport from Auckland and back
• ✓ Entry to Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
• ✓ Entry to Secret Spot Hot Tubs (45-minute private soak)
• ✓ Lunch
• ✓ Water and snacks
• ✓ Booster seats for children

Not Included

• On-board restrooms (the van stops along the way)
• Towels

What to Bring

• Swimwear
• A towel (not provided)
• A change of clothes for after the hot tub
• Comfortable walking shoes for Wai-O-Tapu
• Sunscreen and a rain jacket; the tour runs in all weather
• Camera and a water bottle

Good to Know & Caveats

• Secret Spot's minimum age is 5, so children under 5 cannot use the hot tub.
• Secret Spot's tubs hold heated fresh spring water among the trees; the geothermal part of the day is Wai-O-Tapu, which you walk, not bathe in.
• Other guests in the van may be on a different afternoon activity, so the group can split for part of the day.
• The day is about 12 hours. Auckland to Rotorua is about 2.5 hours by road each way without stops.
• Minimum numbers apply. If too few people book, you are offered another date or a full refund.
• Some older reviews on this listing describe Te Puia; the current itinerary is Wai-O-Tapu and Secret Spot.
• Free cancellation is available on this Viator booking.

Meeting Point

Complimentary pickup and drop-off at select Auckland accommodation; the listing does not state a pickup time, so check your booking confirmation.