Travel time from City Centre (Arawa St. Rotorua): 9 minutes
Is there bus service in this area: YES
Uber/Taxi fare: $15-$20 NZD (one-way)
Gas fees: $5-$10 NZD (roundtrip)
Parking: Limited free parking
Entrance Fee: Free for the normal trail. $26-$42 (Treewalk)
Kia Ora!
As the sun goes down in Rotorua, the redwoods light up and suddenly a simple forest walk turns into a warm, magical night-time adventure.
This, to me, truly is a walk to remember.
The Redwoods Treewalk is an award-winning experience that lets you wander high above Rotorua’s iconic forest in a way that feels calm, natural, and wonderfully immersive. The 700-metre loop is made up of a series of suspension bridges and platforms, gently weaving between towering redwood trees — some of them more than 120 years old.
As you walk, you’re elevated between 6 and 20 metres off the forest floor, giving you a rare bird’s-eye view of the canopy below. It’s quiet up there, almost dream-like, and the perfect place to pause and really take in the scale and stillness of the forest.
What makes the experience even more special is how thoughtfully it’s been designed. The entire structure is built without bolts or nails in the trees, allowing the redwoods to keep growing naturally — a beautiful example of eco-tourism done right.
There are storyboards along the walk that share history and insights about the forest’s ecology and cultural significance, helping connect the experience to the land (whenua) and people (iwi).
It’s honestly so cool up there — incredibly magical, like the trees are gently blowing you kisses with every step. ✨ Taking photos is easy, but I’d definitely recommend using a secure, well-laced phone case. You really don’t want to risk dropping anything, and since it’s pitch black below, staff may have a hard time helping track down a lost phone. A little extra care will save you time and stress.
Also, learn from my mistake and don’t be a princess like me — skip the cutesy handbags and go for a proper, secure backpack instead. You’ll want both hands free to comfortably hold the bridge rails as you walk.
And one last tip: even if you visit in summer (like we did), bring an extra layer or jacket. We seriously underestimated Rotorua’s night-time weather and ended up shivering at a few stops.
Peep my Instagram post (HERE) for more from this adventure.
Enjoy the walk — and see you on my next travel story! 🌲✨
♡ Kath.