School holidays are the perfect time to explore Rotorua’s outdoor playground — from forest canopy to volcanic valleys, there’s an activity to excite everyone. Many of these can be linked together into full-day itineraries for families!
Ziplining is one of the standout family-friendly outdoor activities in Rotorua. All ages (usually 5+) can join in — your kids will feel like real adventurers gliding between platforms and spotting the rafts in the river below!
A maze’s a brilliant way to spend a few hours in beautiful surroundings. Perfect for kids who like friendly competition and open-air challenges.
🔗 aMAZEme
Suspended boardwalks take you through towering forest — a peaceful but exciting way for kids to see nature from above. The Nightlights experience makes evening walks magical too.
🔗 Explore Redwoods Treewalk
Ride up, then choose your pace on purpose-built luge tracks - from gentle scenic routes to faster curves. Not just for kids - parents enjoy it too ;)
🔗 Skyline Rotorua
Rainy day? No problem — arcades, mini golf, bowling, rides, and entertainment are a hit with younger kids.
🔗 Try Motion Entertainment
Perfect for teens or active kids - go-karts, jet boats, high swings and more keep energy levels high.
🔗 Velocity Valley Adrenaline Park
Add some slower days between the big activities — easy lakeside picnics, short walks, or educational geothermal parks round out a Rotorua holiday.
Mix big-ticket adventures with the many free or low-cost options like forest walks or playgrounds to keep energy and excitement high across the whole school holiday - and book well ahead, these epic activities tend to book up fast!
