Things to do in Whakarewarewa Forest (The Redwoods)

Whakarewarewa Forest sits about 10 minutes south of central Rotorua, and its Californian redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) were planted in 1901 as part of an early forestry trial.

The Redwoods Treewalk, a series of suspended bridges through the canopy, costs roughly 35 NZD for adults in daylight and more after dark when the walkway is lit with lanterns; a night visit takes about an hour. Ground-level walking tracks through the grove are free and open year-round, ranging from a 30-minute loop to routes of two hours or more.

The forest also carries an extensive mountain bike network with graded trails from beginner to advanced, rated among the more complete riding hubs in the country, with bike hire available near the Redwoods i-SITE at the entrance.