Travel

Travel to Rotorua, New Zealand, for the Tarawera Ultramarathon

Travel to New Zealand by Air
Travelling to the Tarawera Ultramarathon in New Zealand is easy with flights available from many international destinations. The nearest international airport to Rotorua is the North Island’s Auckland International Airport. From Auckland, you can get a domestic flight to Rotorua which takes 40 minutes.

International flights can also arrive in Christchurch, Wellington, Queenstown and Dunedin airports. Find out more about New Zealand airports here.

Do you need a visa?
Before booking international flights be sure to check if you need a visa to travel to New Zealand.

Travel to Rotorua by Air
Domestic flights to Rotorua operate daily from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown (via Christchurch or Wellington). Find out more about domestic flights with Air New Zealand here.

Flights from Auckland to Rotorua are quick and easy. The domestic terminal is right next door to the international terminal at Auckland airport and is a 10-minute walk or there are regular shuttles.

Rotorua Airport to the town centre
From Rotorua Airport the town centre is 9.5kms away – easily accessible via a short taxi ride.

Travel to Rotorua by road

Travel by car or campervan
From Auckland, the easiest and most flexible option is to rent a car or campervan and drive approximately 3 hours south to Rotorua. From Wellington, the driving time to Rotorua is approx 5 and a half hours.

Campervans are available for pick-up from Auckland Airport. You can find out more about campervans here. You can download and print a touring map of New Zealand here.

Travel by Bus & Coach
Shuttle bus – from Auckland Airport to Rotorua. The shuttles will drop you door-to-door – so this is a very convenient and efficient service.

Buses from Auckland Airport to Rotorua tend to be cheap – but not always the most direct route and you may have to stop at inconvenient places along the way.  Find out more about Buses and Coaches here.

FREE transport option
Grab a ride with one of the hundreds of other runners making the same trip at the same time. Just post to the Tarawera Ultra facebook group that you’d like a ride. Overseas travellers quite often use this option to share rental cars. Auckland runners are often very obliging to pick up overseas runners from the airport and drive them down to the race.

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About Rotorua
Geothermal Rotorua is a region rich with beautiful landscapes, lakes, forests and geo-thermal wonderlands to explore. Whether you choose to relax and unwind at one of Rotorua’s spas, seek thrilling adventure activities, or experience and learn about Maori Culture, you will be spoilt for choice in Rotorua.

Here are some helpful links to help you find out more and plan your visit to Rotorua:

Visit Rotorua – Rotorua is know for bubbling mud pools, spouting geysers and natural hot springs, as well as showcasing our fascinating Maori Culture.

Plan your visit – The Rotorua Travel Kit offers everything you will need to plan your visit to Rotorua.

Things to do – As New Zealand’s adventure playground, Rotorua offers a multitude of attractions and activities for everyone.

Accommodation – Rotorua has a wide range of accommodation options to suit all budgets and travel styles.

Transport – Options to help you travel around Rotorua and the surrounding region.

Maps – Explore Rotorua and the surrounding region.

Essential New Zealand Mobile App – A useful tool to help you discover the Must-do activities and experiences and save them to Your Trip to access offline when in New Zealand.