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Itineraries and Programme Options

Sample incentive itineraries (parts of which can also be used for conference activities)
Click on one of the two itinerary options below to load the detail of each into the information area.

Sample Incentive Itinerary One
Sample Incentive Itinerary Two

Itinerary information

Themes and off-site venues

With so many creative people involved in Rotorua's conference and incentive industry, the options for themes and off-site activities are only limited by imagination and budget. 

If you are coaching delegates from Auckland consider these options:

On the way:
On the way down from Auckland there are various options for refreshment stops along the way. The NZ Horse Magic Show at Cambridge Thoroughbred Lodge (with covered drop-off points for coaches) offers a lunch option whilst Lake Karapiro's Mighty River Domain offers adventure activities like high and low climbing courses, abseiling, kayaking or waka ama to invigorate your delegates. At Matamata drop in at Middle Earth aka Hobbiton, famed home of hobbits from the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. Take a movie set tour and/or partake of refreshments at The Green Dragon Inn. Alternatively arrange for a Rotorua event company like Action NZ or Activities Unlimited to organise anything from a simple pit stop with refreshments on the side of the road to team building events at some point on the coach journey to Rotorua.

On arrival
Why not call into Off Road NZ or Agroventures as you arrive in the Rotorua district and get your delegates energised for the days ahead with some great fun-filled activities like 4WD bush safaris, monster trucks, kart racing, shweebing, body flying. bungy, swoop and jet sprint boating on offer there. You could even stay on for dinner at Off Road NZ's bush camp.

For something spine-tingling, arrange for an authentic Maori welcome (powhiri) for your group at one of Rotorua scenically splendid spots on entering the city - or at your accommodation venue if preferred.

If you are flying guests into Rotorua consider these options:

Surprise the CEO or special guests with a limousine on arrival. Maybe even go all out by adding a 10-minute scenic helicopter flight before landing in the city (either at Rotorua Lakefront in the CBD or Whakarewarewa Thermal reserve) and transferring to their accommodation by limousine.

Want to give your delegates a quick 'spin' before settling in? Guests may think they are boarding a coach to transfer to their accommodation; however they are actually heading to the Ohau Channel (lying between Lake Rotorua and Lake Rotoiti) where a selection of water-craft await. Kayaks, canoes, jet boats, Maori waka etc can be utilised to transport the group back to Rotorua Lakefront where a coach will transfer them to their accommodation.

Getting close to a meal break on arrival? Arrange with your accommodation provider to supply off-site catering at one of Rotorua's stunning lakes. Delegates could be entertained further by being transported in amphibious WWII ducks. Perhaps choose an exclusive sail cruise, hot swim and meal package on a 38ft catamaran on Lake Rotoiti with Pure Cruise.

Unique Venues

Rotorua has a whole host of unique venues from historic buildings to scenic gems, bush camps to geothermal hot spots.

Historic building options include: 
Rotorua Museum, Blue Baths and Te Runanga Tea House

Natural phenomena options include: 
The hot sands of Lake Tarawera's Hot Water Beach, Pohutu Geyser at Te Puia, The Squeeze at Orakei Korako, the Artist's Palette at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, Rainbow Springs' fresh-water springs, indigenous food on Mokoia Island, and the world's newest eco-system at Waimangu Volcanic Valley.

Breath-taking scenic gem options include: 
The summit of Mt Tarawera, 18 lakes each with their own scenic splendour, spectacular views of lake, island and city from Mt Ngongotaha, and towering trees in a Redwood Grove, Whakarewarewa Forest.

Other options include:
Bush camps, heritage orchard, barbecues at natural hot pools, glow-worms, local maraes, conference centres, hotels, lodges, gardens, waterfalls, Maori cultural experiences and so much more. 

Contact the Bureau and let Patrick Dault and the team assist with putting something together especially for your group.

Activities

With a unique location and lashings of Kiwi ingenuity, Rotorua is fast challenging other destinations for the title of adventure capital of New Zealand.

With everything from white-water rafting and sledging, bungy jumping, jet boating (jet-sprint course or on the lake), luging, stand up paddle boarding, zipline tours, 4WD driving, paintballing, kayaking, jet skiing, dirt biking, monster trucks, drift karting, mountain biking, scree running, rock climbing, abseiling, helicopter flights, swooping, floatplane flights, horse riding and sky swinging to the southern hemisphere’s only freefall simulator and locally invented activities like Sweebing and Zorbing.

Include one or more of these adventure activities in your programme or use a combination in an Amazing Race type event.

Want something slower paced? Choose from trout fishing, RailCruising, Lakeland Queen paddleboat, self-drive pontoons boats, soaking in mineral pools, walking heritage trails, spa therapies, mazes, golf and mini golf, beautiful walking tracks including the amazing Redwood Grove, art trails, Buried Village - New Zealand’s own Pompeii, nature parks, NZ raptor display at Wingspan, NZ Caterpillar Experience, Rotorua Museum,  eco-thermal tours, Jelly Belly gourmet jellybean games at Skyline Rotorua, or perhaps a visit to a Maori village, Volcanic Hills Winery or Mamaku Blue Blueberry Experience. 

If there is something that you specifically want to include in your programme that you don't see listed here, please let us know and we will endeavour to secure it for you. Subscribe to our quarterly newsletter to keep up with the new developments in the C&I market.

Touring and partner programme options

Spirit of a living culture

Spirit of the earth

Flightseeing
Explore New Zealand's only active marine volcano with Volcanic Air Safaris. Enjoy the Rotorua region by air then fly to White Island, 40kms off the Pacific coastline. A landing allows delegates to a  take a guided tour of the island.

Forest ride
Explore Whakarewarewa Forest on a mountain bike.

Enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of the forest’s scenery riding with an experienced guide on a late model mountain bike.

Nature at its best
Refresh the senses among the freshwater springs of Rainbow Springs. Walk through the natural flora and fauna of New Zealand, take a guided tour through Kiwi Encounter, a working kiwi hatchery and nursery, then experience a New Zealand eco-tourism showcase during the Big Splash ride.

Challenge your spirit

Action overload
Meet at NZ Riverjet and board the black boats to head down the river for a relaxing ride enjoying the scenery and wildlife on the way to Ohaukuri Reserve. Here the Action NZ team will gear up delegates for a 4 X 4 Quad Bike adventure through native bush. Return to play the combat game Pulse Ranger.

Volcano adventure
Helipro offer helicopter flights to dormant volcamo of Mt Tarawera that last erupted in 1886. Take a short crater walk to the 1111m summit and soak up spectacular 360° views alternatively take the full walk experience including the famous scree drop into the mouth of the massive crater.

Rejuvenate your spirit

Indulgence
Relax in the thermal waters of one of the many rock pools at Polynesian Spa. Be pampered with an Aix massage under jets of warm mineral water and be amazed at how soft your skin feels afterwards.

Pampering
Experience a guided tour of Hells Gate geothermal park then plunge into a therapeutic mud bath. Follow this with a soak in a sulphur water spa with its own hot waterfall and an indulgent Miri Miri (traditional Maori) massage at Wai Ora Spa.

Discover nature's spirit

Trout fishing
No matter the level of experience or skill, everybody will enjoy a 3-hour tout fishing charter on one of Rotorua's secluded bush-lined lakes. All equipment is provided with a charter.

The Duck
Visit some of Rotorua's most spectacular attractions in a World War II amphibious vehicle with Rotorua Duck Tours. The ‘Duck' takes delegates on a journey around Rotorua, allowing passengers to sit back and enjoy the sights of three local lakes: Rotorua, Tikitapu (Blue Lake) and Okareka.

Mokoia Island
Go to Mokoia Island on the fast cat 'Wai Ora' for a Mokoia Island Wai Ora Experience. Enjoy a guided tour of the island and a hot soak in Hinemoa's Pool. Learn about the history and significance of the island to the local Te Arawa tribe and its importance as a present day wildlife sanctuary providing refuge to endangered New Zealand birds like kiwi, saddleback and kokako.