• The Forest

History of Whakarewarewa Forest

Sitting in Whakarewarewa Forest, one of the oldest exotic forests in New Zealand, the area where the Treewalk now calls home was originally planted in the early 1900’s. Of the 170 different species planted, only a handful remain today – including the 6-ha stand of Californian Redwoods. It wasn’t until the 1970’s that the forest was opened to the public for recreation, and since then it has become the soul of the city attracting more than 600, 000 visitors a year.

You can find more information about the general forest and surrounds here.

 

High Walkway Expansion

Since opening in late 2015, Redwoods Treewalk has become a world-renowned experience and established itself as a must-do Rotorua attraction. It has continued to innovate, with the introduction of the Nightlights walk in December 2016, and the 20 metres high viewing platform built in 2017 – giving visitors the opportunity to get up even higher and the chance to stand on one of two glass viewing panels and see the forest floor below.

Giant Redwood Ring

Come face to face with a piece of world history. Over 2,000 years old and 3.5 metres wide, the giant redwood ring is a log section from a massive American sequoia tree on display at Redwoods Treewalk.

View its lifespan and fascinating past as the passing of time and historical milestones on this earth is beautifully showcased across selected growth rings and the generations it has survived.

As you look right into the heartwood of its trunk, its ancient pith and the growth rings that illustrate the seasons it has endured, it is inevitable to gain an incredible sense of humility and responsibility to preserve and protect these gentle giants amongst us.

Redwoods Nightlights

The Nightlights David Trubridge

The lanterns and entry ramp you will see on the Nightlights Treewalk are designed by world-renowned designer and sustainability champion, David Trubridge.

David is an avid environmentalist and his wooden sculptural lights reflect the patterns and rhythms of nature. The wood is left naturally unfinished and the designs use only the minimum amount of materials. The design, sustainability and innovation elements form an inherent part of the experience.

One of the Nightlights, Titi, won a gold award in 2017 at the New Zealand premiere design awards, The Best Awards. Following that, the Horoeka lantern was a 2023 Timber Design Awards winner.

Enjoy the amazing light display with numerous unique lanterns lighting up the forest and ferns.

Buy Tickets
Explore Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest

Local Forest Walks & Tracks

Relax and spend some time wandering along the easy walking tracks in the Redwoods Forest.

Ranging from 30 minutes to an hour, the Redwood Memorial Grove and Waitawa tracks offer a breathtaking experience.

Ground walks are free, but require a reasonable level of fitness and suitable footwear.

Nearby Lakes

Take a quick car trip to view our picturesque lakes. Only minutes from Redwoods Treewalk are some of the most beautiful lakes in the region.

Just a 10 minute drive from the Redwoods Forest you’ll find the Blue and Green lakes – Lake Tikitapu and Lake Rotokakahi. Walk around the edge of Lake Tikitapu enjoying native bush and the stunning lake itself.

Five minutes further down the road is the beautiful Lake Tarawera. A water taxi can take you to Hot Water Beach for a warm dip! A perfect way to wind down after the Redwoods Treewalk.

FOLLOW US

Hope everyone is having an amazing school holiday so far! 🎉 

Just a reminder that we're buzzing at night! 🌙 

🎟️ You can always grab General Admission tickets (day or night) online or on-site. 
🎟️ Fast Pass (night) is available online only and sells out quickly—don’t miss out! ⚡ 

#SchoolHolidays #NZSchoolHolidays
NZ school hols are here, whānau! Which means nighttime will be busier 💫 

Our pro tips ••• 

⭐️ Opt for a Fast Pass (online only)
⭐️ General Admission tickets (online & on site), arrive closer to our last tix sold times to avoid a lengthy wait

🌷 Treewalk Spring hours 
9 AM - 10.30 PM (Sun - Fri)
9 AM - 11 PM (Sat)
This week is #ITPAwarenessWeek, where we help raise public awareness for the rare blood autoimmune disease #ImmuneThrombocytopenia or ITP and shine a light on the ITP patient experience 💜

ITP is a rare autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks platelets. Platelets assist the blood to clot, and ITP patients have a low platelet count. ITP impacts approximately 1 in 10,000. It affects children and adults, and there is no cure. No single test is currently available to determine whether a person has ITP, and for most people, there is no known cause.

ITP Australia and New Zealand’s mission is to provide up-to-date information, education, support and advocacy for ITP patients and the ITP community. From Monday the 23rd of September through to Saturday the 28th of September the Horoeka Lantern will be lit purple to show our support for ITP Australia and New Zealand and the ITP community.
Did you know that from our inception we have strived to minimise our environmental footprint? 🌏
This is reflected in the construction techniques used to build the Treewalk - renewable, durable materials such as the macrocarpa timber that our platforms are constructed of and the innovative timber material our David Trubridge night lights are made from ✨
Day time walks in the forest 😍 
Safe to say we’re obsessed with the early morning light we get through the trees ☀️
How good is that afternoon light through the trees, though!! 🤩☀
Happy spring, whānau! ☀️🌸🌱
The forest in the rain is the perfect balance of tranquility and vibrance 🌿
How good have these winter mornings been? We LOVE the morning light we get at Treewalk 😍🌿
THREE Redwoods experiences! 🌲

Nighttime (with Fast Pass entry) + @altitude.nz + daytime @treewalknz #getamongstit
  • Did the new Redwoods Altitude experience! Absolutely amazing! Enjoyable! Safe! Adventurous! Sam (our guide) was an wealth of insight, experience & fun! A must do!!!

    Scott
    Rotorua, New Zealand  
  • Coolest place ever! We went at dusk so did half of the walk in the day time and the other half in the semi dark when all the night lights were on! Was such a beautiful walk and loved every moment! The staff were super informative and nice. I will definitely be back in the future!

    Haytea
    Whangarei, New Zealand  
  • What an asset to Rotorua. The beauty and peaceful feeling when walking around the heights was beautiful. Thank you to our guide Izumi

    The Fullers
    Tirau, New Zealand  
  • The Redwood Forest is just stunning... The lights are just incredible and it is such a beautiful thing to be walking so high in the trees. We also went back the next day and walked around the forest - still gorgeous. Would definitely recommend.

    Sarah
    Hamilton, New Zealand  
  • This is a highlight in Rotorua. Super friendly and helpful staff. Amazing walk high through the trees. Take the high road if you dare! It's worth it.

    Trish
    Auckland, New Zealand  
  • The Redwoods Altitude tree walk is beyond amazing! It was the highlight of our tiki tour of the North Island, and if you’re a wee bit terrified of heights, it was life changing. We felt so safe while being challenged well beyond our comfort zones. The guides are great, very encouraging.

    Bethny
    Auckland, New Zealand  
  • "perfection" This experience was a true 10/10 for us. The perspective and views it offers of the grove are spectacular and unique. The actual bridge crossings and zip-lining very quickly went from potential impediments to accentuating the experience. Our guides, Jordan and Nicole, were the absolute best. If you were on the fence, go for this one. It's incredibly clear that the altitude team is there to make sure your experience will be like ours -- spectacularly unforgettable.

    Steve
    Pennsylvania, USA  
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