Only around three hours from Auckland, Rotorua is one of our favourite destinations for a short campervan road trip.

In three days you can explore waterfalls and crystal-clear springs, walk through colourful geothermal landscapes, eat your way through central Rotorua, wake up beside the Redwoods, mountain bike through Whakarewarewa Forest, soak your tired muscles in a hot tub and spend a lazy morning beside beautiful Lake Tarawera.

And that’s exactly why Rotorua works so well by campervan. Everything is relatively close together, yet every day feels completely different.

Here’s how we’d spend 3 days in Rotorua by campervan from Auckland.

Day 1: Auckland → Okere Falls → Hamurana Springs → Wai-O-Tapu → Rotorua

Auckland to Rotorua: approx. 3 hours | 230 km

Get an early start from Auckland and head straight towards Rotorua. There is plenty to see once you arrive, so grab a coffee for the road and save the stops for the Rotorua region itself.

First Stop: Okere Falls

Before heading into Rotorua, make Okere Falls your first stop.

The short Okere Falls Track follows the Kaituna River through beautiful native bush, with viewpoints overlooking the waterfalls and rapids below.

Keep an eye on the river – you may see white-water rafters tackling the rapids and famous Tutea Falls.

It’s an easy walk and a great way to stretch your legs after the drive from Auckland.

Next Stop: Hamurana Springs

From Okere Falls, continue around Lake Rotorua to Hamurana Springs.

The incredibly clear freshwater here couldn’t look more different from the steaming geothermal landscapes you’ll experience later in the day.

Take your time walking through the reserve, past towering redwoods and alongside the crystal-clear spring water.

It’s peaceful, beautiful and one of those Rotorua stops that can easily get overlooked amongst the bigger attractions.

Afternoon: Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

After lunch, head south of Rotorua to Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.

This is the Rotorua you’ve probably seen in photographs – steaming ground, bubbling mud, volcanic craters and brilliantly coloured geothermal pools.

The famous Champagne Pool is the highlight, but give yourself enough time to explore the wider reserve rather than rushing through.

One minute you’re walking through green New Zealand countryside and the next the landscape looks like it belongs on another planet.

Evening: Dinner on Tutanekai Street

After a big first day, head into central Rotorua for dinner.

Tutanekai Street and Eat Streat are our pick. You’ll find plenty of restaurants, bars and cafés within a small area, so there’s no need to decide where you’re eating before you arrive.

Have a wander, see what takes your fancy and enjoy a relaxed evening.

Then head back to your campervan – tomorrow morning you’ll want to be close to the forest.

Where to Stay: Waipa Forest Camp

We recommend spending at least one night at Waipa Forest Camp, particularly if you’re planning to mountain bike.

Its location beside Whakarewarewa Forest makes it a fantastic campervan base.

Wake up among the trees, make breakfast and coffee at your campervan and you’re already exactly where you need to be for the day’s adventure.

This is the sort of experience that makes travelling by campervan so much better than simply staying in a hotel in town.

Day 2: Mountain Biking, Redwoods & Secret Hot Tubs

Today is all about Whakarewarewa Forest – and it’s probably our favourite day of this Rotorua itinerary.

Morning: Hire Mountain Bikes at Waipa

After breakfast at the campervan, hire mountain bikes at Waipa and head into the Redwoods.

Rotorua is one of New Zealand’s best mountain-biking destinations, but here’s the important bit:

You absolutely don’t need to be a mountain biker to enjoy it.

Try the Family Loop

If you’re travelling with children, haven’t ridden a mountain bike for years or simply don’t fancy launching yourself down the side of a mountain, start with the Family Loop.

It’s a fantastic introduction to the forest and suitable for less experienced riders. You still get the fun of riding amongst the huge trees and exploring the forest without needing advanced technical skills.

Take your time, stop when you want and enjoy it.

You may discover that mountain biking is considerably more fun than you expected.

For the Serious Mountain Bikers…

If gentle family trails aren’t quite enough excitement, you’re in the right place.

The wider Whakarewarewa trail network has options for experienced riders, including technical trails and downhill riding.

And there’s an even better option if you like the downhill part considerably more than the uphill part.

Take the shuttle up. Ride down. Repeat.

All the fun, considerably less of the work. 😂

We won’t judge.

Lunch: Back at the Campervan

One of the advantages of staying at Waipa is that you don’t need to go far for lunch.

Head back to the campervan, make something to eat and give your legs a little break.

Then it’s time for the reward.

Afternoon: Secret Spot Hot Tubs

After several hours on a mountain bike, Secret Spot Hot Tubs is exactly where you want to be.

Conveniently located near the Waipa mountain-bike area, you can finish your ride and swap the bike for your own cedar hot tub surrounded by native bush.

Sink into the warm water, put your feet up and let those tired muscles recover.

Mountain biking followed by hot tubs is one of those combinations that makes you wonder why every bike park hasn’t thought of this.

We’d absolutely book this one in advance, particularly for weekends and busy travel periods.

Evening: Take It Easy

You’ve already packed plenty into the day, so keep tonight relaxed.

Cook dinner at the campervan, head back into Rotorua for something to eat or simply sit outside with a drink and enjoy the evening.

One of the nicest things about travelling by campervan is that not every hour needs an activity attached to it.

Day 3: Lake Tarawera & Redwoods Treewalk

Your final day is deliberately slower.

After geothermal parks, mountain bikes and hot tubs, today is about enjoying some of Rotorua’s beautiful natural scenery.

Morning: Lake Tarawera

Make breakfast at the campervan and then head out towards Lake Tarawera.

Surrounded by native bush with Mount Tarawera rising behind it, this is one of our favourite places around Rotorua.

Take a walk beside the lake, find a quiet spot for coffee or simply sit by the water and enjoy the view.

If you’re travelling during the warmer months, bring your swimming gear.

You could easily fill the day with activities around Lake Tarawera, but you don’t have to.

Sometimes the whole point is simply finding a beautiful spot, pulling out the campervan chairs and staying there for a while.

Have More Time?

If you’re not heading back to Auckland tonight, there are plenty of ways to explore Lake Tarawera further.

Look at walking tracks around the lake, get out onto the water or learn more about the area’s fascinating volcanic history and the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera.

You could also make this your lunch stop and cook something at the campervan before heading back towards Rotorua.

Afternoon: Explore Rotorua at Your Own Pace

Keep the afternoon flexible.

Head back towards town and explore anything you’ve missed, walk along the Rotorua lakefront, grab a coffee or simply have a relaxed afternoon at your campsite.

If you’ve got children with you – or adults who behave like children when there’s a race involved – you could also squeeze in a trip to Skyline Rotorua and the Luge.

Just make sure you’re back at the Redwoods before it gets dark.

Because we’ve saved something pretty special for your final evening.

Evening: Redwoods Treewalk Nightlights

Finish your three days in Rotorua with the Redwoods Treewalk Nightlights.

By now you’ve already experienced Whakarewarewa Forest from the ground and probably from the seat of a mountain bike.

Tonight you get to see it from above.

Suspended walkways take you amongst the enormous Californian redwoods, with the forest transformed after dark by beautifully designed lights and lanterns.

It’s peaceful, atmospheric and completely different from the forest you experienced the day before.

And we think it’s a pretty perfect way to finish three days in Rotorua.

Heading Back to Auckland

Rotorua to Auckland: approx. 3 hours | 230 km

If you need to return to Auckland that evening, you can head north after the Treewalk – although we’d personally recommend staying one more night if your schedule allows.

That way you can enjoy the Treewalk without watching the clock, have one final night in the campervan and drive back to Auckland fresh the following morning.

Want to Stay Longer?

Three days gives you a fantastic introduction to Rotorua, but you could very easily stay longer.

With another day, experience Māori culture at Te Puia, Te Pā Tū or Mitai, go white-water rafting on the Kaituna River, visit Waimangu Volcanic Valley, spend another day on the mountain-bike trails or explore more of Rotorua’s lakes.

Our advice?

Don’t add another destination just because you have another day.

Stay in Rotorua and enjoy it properly.

What If It Rains?

Go anyway.

Rotorua is one of those destinations that still works surprisingly well when the weather doesn’t cooperate.

Steam rising through the rain makes the geothermal landscapes even more atmospheric, the Redwoods look incredible in misty weather and you certainly don’t need sunshine to sit in a hot tub.

With a campervan, you also have the freedom to swap the days around depending on the forecast.

Sunny morning? Lake Tarawera.

Rain coming in? Geothermal pools and hot tubs suddenly sound pretty good.

Why Rotorua Is Perfect for a 3-Day Campervan Trip

The best thing about this itinerary is how much variety you get without spending half your trip driving.

In three days you can walk beside waterfalls, see impossibly clear freshwater springs, explore an active geothermal landscape, eat out in Rotorua, camp beside the forest, ride mountain bikes through the Redwoods, soak in a cedar hot tub, relax beside a volcanic lake and walk amongst illuminated redwoods after dark.

And all of that is only around three hours from Auckland.

For us, that’s exactly what a campervan escape should be.

Ready for 3 Days in Rotorua?

At Nomado, we have campervans for different budgets and travel styles, from simple two-berth campers perfect for a few days away to larger self-contained campervans with bathrooms, heating and plenty of room to stretch out.

Pick up your campervan in Auckland, pack a few clothes and some food and hit the road.

Day 1: Waterfalls, Hamurana Springs, Wai-O-Tapu & dinner in Rotorua
Day 2: Redwoods mountain biking & Secret Spot Hot Tubs
Day 3: Lake Tarawera & Redwoods Treewalk Nightlights

Three days. One campervan. A surprisingly big adventure.