Things to do in Ngawaro

The Hobbiton Movie Set makes use of a significant filming location for the iconic movie trilogy of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit to bring the film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books to life. The experience consists of a 2-hour walking tour through the various hills containing caves and homes of hobbits, the small creatures from the movies. Feel as though you’re in the film as you clamber up and down this rolling terrain.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Bay of Plenty is one of New Zealand’s sunniest places, meaning that visitors flock to its sandy shorelines to soak up hours of warm sunshine throughout the year. Discover the region’s wide variety of fascinating flora and fauna, some of which is endangered or protected.