Rotorua Geothermal Tour: Redwoods Treewalk & Glow Worms
Walk among redwoods on rope bridges, then descend into a glow worm cave lit by thousands of tiny lights
A 6.5-hour guided tour from Tauranga port to Rotorua's geothermal landscape, with stops at steaming mud pools, Government Gardens, and the Redwoods Forest where you cross 28 rope swing bridges and tour a glow worm cave. Small-group transport picks up and drops at the cruise terminal; a professional guide narrates the drive and leads the walks; towels, a snack pie and the treewalk admission are included. Admission to commercial geothermal parks is not included, but you see boiling mud and hot springs in public areas and soak your feet in Kuirau Park's natural pools.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Rotorua geothermal and forest
- Depart from Port of Tauranga
- Drive through Mount Maunganui seaside suburb
- Travel through Te Puke kiwifruit orchards
- See boiling mud pools and steaming lakes
- Relax at foot bathing pools in Kuirau Park
- Visit Sulphur Point by Lake Rotorua
- Walk through Government Gardens
- Tour Rotorua city sights
- Stop at Whakarewarewa Village for snack lunch
- Guided tour of Glow Worm Cave in Redwoods Forest
- Walk among treetops on rope swing bridges
- Return to Tauranga port
- Sulphur Point 15m
- Government Gardens 10m
- Redwoods Forest Whakarewarewa Entry included 1h
- Port of Tauranga 30m
What’s included
- Small-group transport in an air-conditioned minivan.
- pickup and drop-off at Tauranga cruise port.
- professional local guide with live commentary throughout.
- Redwoods Treewalk and glow worm cave guided tour admission.
- guided geothermal foot bath experience at Kuirau Park with towels provided.
- traditional Hangi-inspired snack pie.
Times
- Every day No fixed time
Before you book
Operated by Cruise Tours Tauranga
Prices and times updated today
Traveler reviews
The experience
The minivan leaves the Port of Tauranga and drives an hour inland through kiwifruit orchards (the region produces 85% of New Zealand's crop) before reaching Rotorua. Your guide points out the geothermal markers as you approach: steaming lakes and the scent of sulfur. The first stop is Kuirau Park, where you walk to the foot bathing pools fed by naturally warm geothermal water. Towels are provided. You soak while the guide explains how the Maori people, who settled here over 800 years ago, have lived alongside this geothermal activity for centuries.
From there you move through the city's landmarks: Sulphur Point on the edge of Lake Rotorua, where native birds gather in the warm outflows, and Government Gardens, home to the historic Bathhouse, Blue Baths and Rachel's Spring. A snack stop at Whakarewarewa Village gives you a chance to walk around before the final leg. The Redwoods Forest is accessed by a gentle spiral ramp with no steps needed. You climb to about 20 metres above the forest floor and cross 28 rope swing bridges between the massive redwoods and tree ferns. The new glow worm cave is a short walk inside a purpose-built facility where thousands of glow worms light the darkness. You get a close look at what these creatures actually are.
The return journey retraces the route through Te Puke and Mount Maunganui's beachfront before dropping you back at the cruise terminal. Timing is built around ship schedules, so late arrivals and early departures are managed by the operator. The tour runs in all weather. Layers, hats and sunscreen are recommended.
Is this one for you?You're on a cruise ship and need a tour that works around your schedule: the operator times departures to your arrival and return, and the small group means you're not waiting for a coach to fill. The rope bridges and glow worm cave are the main events, and the geothermal foot soak breaks up the walking. If you want to see commercial thermal parks or need a full lunch, you'll book differently.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years); Infant (under 5).
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What are the boiling mud pools and hot springs like in Rotorua?
Kuirau Park holds naturally occurring steaming lakes and bubbling mud pools fed by geothermal activity. The site also marks the location of the last eruption in 2001. You walk through the park to see them, then soak your feet in the warm foot bathing pools: no entry fee required for the public areas.
Can I walk the Redwoods rope bridges if I'm not very fit?
The Redwoods Treewalk uses a spiral ramp to reach the bridges, so no steps are needed to get up. However, the walk along the 28 rope swing bridges does require good mobility and some steps are present in parts of the route. The operator notes that moderate physical fitness is needed.
Is lunch included in the tour?
A traditional Hangi-inspired snack (a meat or vegetable pie) is included. A stop at Whakarewarewa Village gives you time to walk around and buy additional food if you wish, but a full lunch is not part of the tour.
How long is the drive from Tauranga to Rotorua?
Rotorua is about 1 hour's drive from Tauranga. The full tour is 6.5 hours, which includes the drive, all stops, walks and the glow worm cave tour.
Does the tour include entry to the private geothermal parks?
No, admission to commercial geothermal reserves is not included. The tour visits public geothermal sites (Kuirau Park's mud pools and hot springs, Sulphur Point and Government Gardens), where entry is free.
What time does the tour depart?
The exact start time is confirmed once your booking is accepted, as the tour is timed to work with cruise ship arrivals and departures from Tauranga port.
Rotorua Geothermal Tour: Redwoods Treewalk & Glow Worms
7h · EN
from NZ$ 245 per person
≈ US$ 141 in your currency
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