If you are looking for a proper family day out, there are few better places in New Zealand than Skyline Rotorua. Whilst Rotorua is jam-packed with geo-thermal attractions, these can sometimes get a bit tedious for the younger family members (and a bit smelly) so if you’re looking for something a bit more adventurous, then Rotorua’s Skyline has it all.
Let’s take a look at all the attractions you can find at Skyline Rotorua…
Gondola
One of the best ways to take in the views over the city and beyond is a leisurely trip up the gondola. The eight seater gondolas will take you to the top of the Skyline complex from where you can access all the other attractions and the 900m long journey is part of the fun of a day at Skyline Rotorua.
Luge
The luge at Skyline Rotorua
Once you’re up at the top of Skyline Rotorua, that’s when the fun really begins. The best way of getting down in our opinion is to take a ride on the luge. This is a fast-paced activity for the whole family and with three tracks to choose from, you will keep on heading back up for more! In the summer months, you can even go night luging which takes the fun to w whole new level!
Skyswing
The Skyswing is an adrenaline packed thrill ride high atop the Skyline Rotorua. The Skyswing will hoist you 50 metres high before you will come to rest with amazing views of Lake Rotorua and beyond. Then it’s up to you! You control the release cord which will send the swing plummeting down, reaching speeds of up to 150kph. You can check out the video below!
Zoom Zipline
If you’re a fan of zip lines, this is a cracker. New Zealand has heaps of places where you can zip line but this one is pretty awesome. A 383m zip through the Redwood Forest down the side of Mt Ngongotaha which will take you at speeds of up to 80kmh. For a super-cool experience, you can even be harnessed in and fly ‘superman’ style! There’s a little bonus at the bottom where you can choose whether or not to ‘walk the plank’ on the QuickJump – a 10m freefall jump!
Mountain Biking
Rotorua is New Zealand’s number one destination for mountain biking and the MTB Gravity Park up Skyline Rotorua is one of the best places to experience downhill mountain biking without the pain of cycling back up to the top! With 10.5 kms of trail to suit all abilities, this is a great place to come and test your mountain biking skills.
Mountain Bikers heading down the MTB Gravity Park from the Skyline Gondola, Rotorua
Stargazing
The top of Skyline Rotorua is one of the best places in New Zealand for stargazing. Ngongotaha is rated in the top 8 places in the country and the clear dark skies that blanket Rotorua make for a breath taking experience. Whether it’s searching for constellations or wishing on a shooting star, star gazers from all around come to Skyline Rotorua where a special area at the top means there is very little light pollution allowing visitors to see the stars with the naked eye and explore a world that is usually hidden from view.
Walking Tracks
There are a number of walking tracks at Skyline Rotorua and with new signage in place which tells you more about the local flora and fauna, it’s a great way to find out more about the native plants and wildlife as well as getting some pretty stunning views over Rotorua.
Jelly Belly Shop
This is definitely one for the whole family! Skyline Rotorua has teamed up with the world famous Jelly Belly gourmet jelly beans company to open a fantastic new store at the top of the gondola. With over 100 flavours to choose from, there is sure to be something to suit everyone’s sweet tooth!
Volcanic Hills Winery
This one is definitely for the adults! The new Volcanic Hills winery and tasting room gives you the chance to try some of the delicious wines from Volcanic Hills vineyard which is located at the base of the gondola whilst taking in the magnificent views from the top of Skyline Rotorua – there aren’t many better places to enjoy a nice glass of local New Zealand wine.
Restaurants
Stratosfare Restaurant in Rotorua
If you are looking to make a day and night of things, there are a couple of great restaurant options at Skyline Rotorua. The main restaurant is the highly-acclaimed Stratosfare restaurant which features a stunning array of freshly prepared buffet and cooked-to-order dishes, highlighting locally sourced meat, fish and produce. The Market Kitchen is a bit more casual but still follows the same themes as Stratosfare with freshly cooled local ingredients making up their menu with everything from fish and chips to pizza, tandoori and ice cream on offer – something to suit everyone!
And breath! That pretty much covers all the activities you can get involved with at Skyline Rotorua and as you can see, there is plenty for the whole family and definitely enough to keep you busy for a whole day and more! There are often a range of special offers and promos available, allowing you to package activities together into a bundle, allowing you to do more for less! Keep an eye on the official website for deals and more information.