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Rotorua Floatplane – Flying over volcanoes (with photos)

Last updated on October 28, 2019 By Claire, the Travel Planning Geek

If you have a few hours to spare in Rotorua and want to do more than just discover the geothermal wonderland, why not fly over the area. I would never have suspected this landscape and it gives you a great perspective once back on the ground! Below is my experience on a Rotorua floatplane, with photos.

Travel Guide New Zealand - Floatplane flight over Rotorua
Quick Navigation
Why fly over Rotorua ?
Volcanic Air Safari - Booking a Rotorua Floatplane of Helicopter Tour
Rotorua floatplane - the Otter
Flying over the many lakes around Rotorua
Flying above Mount Tarawera
The reason behind Rotorua's smell

Navigate back to the complete New Zealand Travel Guide

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Why fly over Rotorua ?

Yes the area does not offer the mountains of South Island, but it is still worth it to fly over.
I recommend booking either an helicopter tour and a floatplane tour from Rotorua in order to see the surprising landscape with the many lakes.
It allows you to see how the volcanic valleys are niched in the forested areas.

Flying over Rotorua

Flying over Rotorua in a Floatplane


Volcanic Air Safari - Booking a Rotorua Floatplane of Helicopter Tour

Floatplane options

Since Rotorua has a large lake, it is quite easy to take off with a float plane.
The tour starts right in the heart of town...

There are several options to choose from from a short tour to a flight to White Island
See the Rotorua floatplane options

First: I selected this tour myself while I was in Rotorua and paid fully for the activity.

  • I did the 30 min Mount Tarawera /Waimangu Thermal Valley – “Eruption trail tour” with Volcanic Air Safair
  • Equipment / Plane: all seem to be in very good condition.
  • Pilot: We had to drift for a long time before we were able to take off. The flight was a bit bumpy but the landing was really smooth!
  • Location: it is very simple to find. The building is on the waterfront next to the big floatplanes
  • Info: like all flight tours they need a minimum number of passengers to run the tour, and takeoff will depend on weather conditions

Helicopter options

But if you'd rather fly in an helicopter rather than a floatplane, this is also possible.
Check out the options


Rotorua floatplane - the Otter and Take off

Here are some pictures of the floatplane I flew it.
It was my very first time on such a plane. It was a bit scary but well worth it.

Otter floatplane Rotorua, New Zealand photo 1
Otter floatplane Rotorua, New Zealand photo 2

Rotorua floatplane

Rotorua floatplane - pilot

First the plane has to drift in the lake to find the right position versus the wind for take off.
For us it tool a very very long time. All I could do was look at the water

Rotorua floatplane takeoff

But we finally took off!!!!

Rotorua floatplane takeoff

Flying over the many lakes around Rotorua

Who knew there were so many lakes in the area? I had my front head stuck to the window of the floatplane the whole time. The sights and colors were mesmerizing.

View from the floatplane Rotorua, New Zealand photo 1
View from the floatplane Rotorua, New Zealand photo 2

Below is the Waimangu Volcanic Valley:

View from the floatplane Rotorua, New Zealand photo 3
View from the floatplane Rotorua, New Zealand photo 4

Flying above Mount Tarawera

During this short flight we also flew over the volcano that erupted in 1886 and created mount Tarawera.
The crevasse was very impressive et very red. However I wish I had flown over a more traditional circular volcanic crater.

Mount Tarawera
Mount Tarawera 2

The reason behind Rotorua's smell

The sulphure creates a very bad smell in the city of Rotorua, from the plane it was really clear where the smell was coming from:

Sulphur smell Rotorua, New Zealand

Want to see more of NEW ZEALAND?

Discover more things to do with planning information and photos in my online New Zealand Travel Guide.

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Would you fly in a floatplane?

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