Car Rental Rotorua Downtown

Rotorua is quite unlike anywhere else in New Zealand. Famous worldwide for its geothermal activity, it offers fantastic volcanic hikes, day spas and shopping. Rotorua mud is highly sought after for its wellness properties - the mud and water brought up from deep in the earth thanks to the geothermal activity is mineral-rich and thought to have many healing properties, including skin balancing, antiseptic, cleansing healing and rejuvenating properties. The mud is often used in high-end skin care products, but it is best to go right to the source for something as special as this. Rotorua is dotted with day spas, hot springs, and wellness centres that use the mud in their practices. With so many hiking and walking trails right around Rotorua, the mud and warm water are great for sore muscles. 

Drive just over 20-minutes in your rental car from Rotorua Downtown, and you can find yourself in the Waimangu Volcanic Valley, the youngest volcanic valley on earth. Filled with bubbling mud pools and shooting geysers, the park has fantastic walking trails where you can see these geothermal wonders, as well as unique flora and fauna you won’t find anywhere else on earth. You can take guided tours of the valley or walk at your own pace on a self-guided tour. With walking trails stretching from leisurely strolls to longer hikes, see the largest hot spring in the world, Frying Pan Lake. 

Experience Māori Culture with a Car Hire

One of the unique experiences everyone who travels to New Zealand should participate in is the local Māori culture. Rotorua is a great place for a cultural experience, with performances, food and hospitality all ingrained in the local culture. The Māori people have lived and used Rotorua for centuries. You can see displays on how the Māori people lived before colonization, including what and how they cooked, their art and spectacular carvings, tattoos and paintings. Rotorua is home to 21 Māori families who show visitors their customs.

Paddle in the lake in a carved Māori canoe, known as a waka. There are many cultural sites scattered around Rotorua, so see them on your own or as part of a guided tour.

Hobbiton Ahoy in your Rental Car

If you are staying in Rotorua, you have easy access to all of central North Island. For a fun day trip, head to ‘Middle-Earth’.  An hour’s drive west of Rotorua will see you in Hobbiton. Step straight onto the set of the Lord of the Ring  film trilogy, complete with Hobbit holes, pubs, rolling fields and splendid scenery. The Hobbiton Movie Studios offer a range of tours, from simple guided tours around the estate to a full banquet meal fit for the King of Gondor. Stop off at the Green Dragon Inn for a few refreshments. See the 44 permanently built Hobbiton Holes, built with incredible attention to detail, as they were in the Hobbit movie trilogy. It is a great day trip from Rotorua; even if you’re not a Lord of the Rings fan, the scenery in central Waikato is stunning. 

From real-life volcanic craters and hot springs to the crafted imaginings of ‘Middle-Earth’, there is plenty to do in Rotorua with a car hire. Travel around this special part of the world in comfort, taking the time to fully appreciate your surroundings. Happy travels.