Compare Cheap Flights to Rotorua

A Brief History

Rotorua is located on New Zealand's North Island and is one of the country's most popular destinations. Film buffs from around the world buy return flights to Rotorua to explore the movie set of Hobbiton used for The famous Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. But besides the town's Hollywood star power, Rotorua is also one of the best places to learn about Maori culture.

Visitors booking airfare to Rotorua can watch traditional performances and delve deep into local folklore, history, and traditions. Another thing that Rotorua is known for is its smell. As soon as your flights to Rotorua arrive, you’ll get a whiff of the sulphur in the air. Once you get past the peculiar odour, you can spend your holiday relaxing in mud pools, watching steaming geysers burst into the sky and exploring New Zealand's unique volcanic landscape.

Landmarks and Monuments You Can’t Miss

Waimangu Volcanic Valley

If you're buying flights to Rotorua to see the town's geothermal attractions, Waimangu Volcanic Valley should be at the top of your must-see list. You can follow a series of walkways that will take you past steaming craters and terraces full of yellow and green liquid. The top attraction of the valley is the Waimangu Geyser that once held the title as the most powerful geyser in the world!

Wai-O-Tapu

Wai-O-Tapu is a 30-minute drive from Rotorua. You'll want to join a tour or rent a car to visit the Lady Knox Geyser that erupts every day at 10.15am. The geyser shoots water 20 metres into the air, and there are bubbling mud pools tinted with otherworldly colours. You can hire a vehicle for the day, or you can book your rental with Webjet when you buy your return flights to Rotorua.

Te Puia

Te Puia is home to the largest geyser in the southern hemisphere - the Pohutu Geyser. It shoots water up to 30 metres in the air and once had an eruption that lasted 250 days. When you're done exploring all the geothermal attractions, you can visit the Te Puia park to see New Zealand's emblematic kiwi birds up close and the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. It’s a great afternoon activity for families buying cheap flights to Rotorua!

Waitomo Glowworm Caves

The Waitomo Glowworm Caves are an attraction that hundreds of people each year to buy tickets to Rotorua to see. Located within a limestone cave system, you'll sail into pitch black darkness on a canoe and watch the ceilings and walls of the cave illuminate with thousands of glowworms. If that's not enough adventure for you, you can go on a black water rafting tour in the nearby Ruakuri Cave!

Hobbiton

No trip to Rotorua would be complete with a visit to Hobbiton. Ever since the first Lord of the Rings movie came out, people from around the world have been buying flights to Rotorua to explore a small part of the Middle Earth set. Get here as soon as it opens to have The Shire all to yourself!

Public Transport and How to Get Around

Rotorua is a small town and it’s easy to explore the city centre on foot. You can walk to some of the top attractions such as the Rotorua Museum, the Government Gardens, and Kuirau Park. However, if you want to go on any day trips or explore Rotorua's natural heritage, you'll need to hire a car or use the town's public transport system. That being said, if you’re searching for flights to Rotorua and you're on a budget, you can see a lot with your two feet. A walk from the city centre to the Redwoods forest, Whakarewarewa or Te Puia will take you 30 to 40 minutes.

Bike

One of the best ways to get around Rotorua is to hire a bike. Once you've booked your flights to Rotorua, check to see if your accommodation offers bicycles for guests. If they don't, you can rent one out for about $35 NZD ($33.13 AUD) per day.

Bus

Buses are an excellent option for budget travellers buying cheap flights to Rotorua. There is a regular service that has stops all over town, and the routes go past various attractions. You can also purchase a travel pass for Rotorua's CitySights Bus. It stops at 13 major sites, children travel free, and the pass lasts for 48 hours.

Car

The easiest way to get around is to hire a car before or after your flights to Rotorua land. You can pick up your rental from Rotorua Regional Airport (ROT), or you can hire a car for the day from one of the dealerships in the city. There's plenty of parking in Rotorua, but you'll need to budget for parking costs. You can expect to pay around $1 to $2 NZD ($0.95 to 1.89 AUD) for an hour.

Transport from Rotorua Regional Airport (ROT)

There are various transport options available from Rotorua Regional Airport (ROT). The cheapest option would be to take the Cityride Rotorua bus or the Airport Shuttle that meets every flight. You'll find the shuttle company outside of the arrivals terminal, and pre-booking is not necessary. If you don't want to waste time getting to your hotel after your flights to Rotorua arrive, you can take a metered taxi.