Active Pursuits

Rotorua is teeming with fast-paced opportunity, and everything is within easy reach. Ten minutes in one direction and you get jet-boating, zorbing , luging, bungy jumping, four-wheel-drive safaris, off-roading, and horseback riding; just 20 minutes from Rotorua on the Tauranga Highway, you can raft the highest Grade V waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere, leap in a jet boat, or go mountain biking, walking, or off-roading.

Sacred Lake -- Of the 11 major lakes in the area, most are ideal for swimming and watersports -- except Lake Rotokakahi, the Green Lake. This lake is tapu (sacred) to the Maori and, therefore, off limits for swimming, boating, and fishing.

Boating

The Lakeland Queen, Lakefront (tel. 07/348-0265; www.lakelandqueen.com), underwent a major makeover in 2006 and emerged 10m (33 ft.) longer and able to carry 300 guests. You can take a breakfast, lunch, or dinner cruise, or a 1-hour afternoon tea cruise (2:30pm). Breakfast cruises (NZ$35/US$25/£13 for adults, NZ$17/US$12/£6.15 for children ages 5 to 12) depart at 7 and 8am; the 1-hour luncheon buffet cruise (NZ$46/US$33/£17 for adults, NZ$24/US$17/£8.65 for children ages 5-12) departs at 12:30pm. The 3-hour dinner cruise, departing 7pm, includes a four-course menu and costs NZ$75 (US$53/£27) for adults, NZ$35 (US$25/£13) for children ages 5 to 12. Note: The Lakeland Queen does not land on Mokoia Island, the lake's sanctuary for endangered native birds. The only vessel that does is Kawarau Jet (tel. 07/343-7600; www.nzjetboat.co.nz). They offer a 1-hour guided tour of this sacred island that is steeped in Maori myths and legends.

Bungy Jumping

At Rotorua Bungy and Swoop, Agrodome (tel. 07/357-4747; www.rotoruabungy.co.nz), you can leap from a 43m (141-ft.) tower and just when you thought things couldn't get any more insane, they go and invent New Zealand's first Swoop. You'll be strapped into a hang-gliding harness with two others and lifted 40m (131 ft.) in the air. Pull the ripcord and experience the feeling of flying at 130kmph (81 mph) with a G-force factor of 3. For around NZ$120 (US$85/£43) you can do the bungy plus either the Swoop, Agrojet, or Freefall Extreme.

Fishing

Within minutes of the city, you can be in the thick of some of the best wild trout fishing in the country. Lakes Tarawera, Okataina, and Rotoiti offer the best chance of catching a trophy fish. They're open for fishing from October to the end of June and hold both wild and stocked trout. The greatest trout population per acre is in Lake Rotorua, where wild fighting rainbow trout average 2 to 4 pounds and brown trout 5 to 7 pounds. Make sure you get your Rotorua fishing license before you start.

Bryan Colman Trout Fishing, 32 Kiwi St., Rotorua (tel. 07/348-7766; www.troutfishingrotorua.com), is a top guide -- the longest-serving in Rotorua -- who offers light tackle trolling and fly- and spin fishing for rainbow trout for NZ$120 (US$85/£43) per hour.

Flightseeing

Volcanic Air Safaris, Memorial Drive (tel. 0800/800-848 in NZ, or 07/348-9984; www.volcanicair.co.nz), has a range of helicopter and floatplane tours, from an 8-minute floatplane or helicopter spin over the city (NZ$60/US$43/£22) to 3-hour volcanic tours all the way out to White Island in the Bay of Plenty (NZ$695/US$494/£250 per person by helicopter, NZ$415/US$294/£149 by floatplane). Its most popular offering is the helicopter or floatplane trip to Mount Tarawera, including a landing and tour of Orakei Korako; either method costs NZ$375 (US$267/£135).

Four-Wheel-Drive Adventures

Test your nerve at Off Road NZ, 193 Amoore Rd. (tel. 07/332-5748; www.offroadnz.co.nz), 20 minutes north of the city off State Highway 5. The four-wheel-drive bush safari departs daily, every hour from 9am to 5pm, and costs NZ$85 (US$61/£31) per person. You'll find yourself in tunnels, waterfalls, mud, and more mud. Otherwise, try out the 12-lap sprint car racetrack built to test the best at NZ$35 (US$25/£13) per driver.

Golf

The Arikikapakapa course at the Rotorua Golf Club, 399 Fenton St. (tel. 07/348-4051; www.rotoruagolfclub.co.nz), is a gently undulating, all-weather course with an international reputation. Greens fees are about NZ$60 (US$43/£22), and club hire is NZ$30 (US$21/£11). Government Gardens Golf, Government Gardens (tel. 07/346-2666) has a 21-bay driving range, open daily from 7am to 8:30pm and costs NZ$25 (US$18/£9) for 18 holes. And there's ideal family fun at Short Golf, 146 Sala St. (tel. 07/348-3531; www.action-nz.co.nz), with a 9-hole course that everyone can enjoy.

Horseback Riding

The Farmhouse, Sunnex Road (tel. 07/332-3771; farmhouse@xtra.co.nz), is the largest horse-trekking facility in New Zealand, with over 100 horses for all ages and abilities. It's a working farm and homestay as well, and all gear is provided. It's open daily 10am to 4pm.

Jet-Boating

You can spin out on the Agrojet at Agrodome (tel. 07/357-2929; www.agrojet.co.nz) on a special manmade watercourse that will see you reach speeds of 100kmph (62 mph) in 4.5 seconds. Or leap aboard Longridge Jet, which is based much farther out, south of Te Puke on State Highway 3 (tel. 0800/867-386 in NZ, or 07/533-1515; www.funpark.co.nz). If you opt for the Agrojet experience don't forget to check out the Agrodome combo packages.

Kayaking

Take it easy on Rotorua's lovely lakes with Adventure Kayaking (tel. 07/348-9451; www.adventurekayaking.co.nz). Half-day paddles with a thermal pool swim cost NZ$80 (US$57/£29); full-day tours are NZ$110 (US$78/£40); and individual kayak hire goes for NZ$45 (US$32/£16) per seat per day.

Luging

Skyline Skyrides luge is one of the most popular Rotorua attractions, contact them at (tel. 07/347-0027; fax 07/348-2163).

Mountain Biking

Go it alone on rented bikes from Kiwi Bikes, 1128 Hinemoa St. (tel. 07/348-2929), and head for the trails at Redwoods Forest, Whakarewarewa. You'll pay NZ$40 (US$28/£14) for a half-day, NZ$55 (US$39/£20) for a full day. Or team up with the crew at Planet Bike, Whakarewarewa Forest (tel. 07/346-1717; www.planetbike.co.nz), which caters to all levels. Prices start at NZ$35 (US$25/£13) per person for 2 hours. Half-day tours and full-day adventure combos are available.

Skydiving

Leap out over Rotorua at around 2,850m (9,348 ft.) with NZONE-The Ultimate Jump (tel. 0800/376-796; www.nzone.biz). Be prepared to drop around NZ$295 (US$210/£106).

Walking

Apart from numerous strolls around the various lakes, the Whakarewarewa Forest has six well-marked walking tracks for all ages and levels of fitness. You can spend half an hour or a whole day making your way through the forest. The beautiful Redwood Memorial Grove Track is the most popular. It meanders through giant 60m (200-ft.) California coastal redwoods and takes 30 minutes from the forest visitor center on Long Mile Road. Also popular is the Motutara Walkway, which wanders around the lakefront to Sulphur Bay. The 1 1/2-hour walk passes through unusual "moonscape" outcrops of sulfur along the way.

Whirinaki Rainforest Guided Walks, Whirinaki Forest (tel. 0800/869-255 in NZ, or 07/377-2363; www.indigenousbynature.co.nz), offers 1- to 3-day fully catered treks led by professional Maori guides, starting at Rotorua or Taupo. You'll pay NZ$155 (US$110/£56) for a 1-day ecocultural walk; NZ$325 (US$231/£117) for a 1-day privately guided walk; or NZ$745 (US$530/£269) for the 3-day Rainforest Trek.

White-Water Rafting

If you want world-rated championship rafting guides, head for Kaituna Cascades Raft & Kayak Expeditions, Trout Pool Road, Okere Falls, Rotorua (tel. 0800/524-8862 in NZ, or 07/345-4199; www.kaitunacascades.co.nz). It'll give you the best time you've ever had, including a 7m (23-ft.) drop over the Southern Hemisphere's highest commercially rafted waterfall. The company operates on the Kaituna, Rangitaiki, and Wairoa rivers. Prices range from NZ$75 (US$54/£27), depending on the river. River Rats (tel. 0800/333-900 in NZ, or 07/345-6543; www.riverrats.co.nz) is another excellent company. It operates on the above rivers, plus the Tongariro, with trips priced from NZ$70 (US$50/£26).

Zorbing

Where else can you find yourself inside a giant plastic bubble, with the option of being wet or dry as you roll 250m (820 ft.) down a steep, slippery slope? It's like nothing you've ever done before. A wet or dry ride costs from NZ$45 (US$32/£16). Children can try the mini-zorb on flat terrain for around NZ$12 (US$8.50/£4.30). Ask about combo deals. The zorb is at Agrodome, Western Road, Ngongotaha (tel. 0800/227-474 in NZ, or 07/357-5100; www.zorb.com), and it's great fun to watch even if you don't want to participate.