Rotorua Events

There’s always something happening in Rotorua! Check out Rotorua’s latest events below or visit www.rotoruanz.com for more information. Tuscany Villas Motor Inn’s central Rotorua location makes us the perfect motel accommodation for you, your friends and family. 


Soundshell Market...
Date: Every 2nd Sunday, 2010. Next date August 8 , 2010.
Details:  Visit the Market at the lakefront where you will find heaps of stalls to browse  - indoor and outdoor -souvenir, plants, jewellery, books, china, music, woodware, soaps, lavender etc. etc.
Heaps of free parking available
More Information: To view the full details for this event,  rotoruaNZ.com/events.


Rotorua Night Market
Date: Every Thursday night 5pm to 9pm , 2010
Details:  Tutanekai St between Haupapa and Pukuatua Streets comes alive every Thursday from 5pm. Many market stalls are showcasing their wares giving Rotorua locals and our many visitors  the opportunity to interact with producers, chefs, artisans, artists and designers from in and around our region including existing Tutanekai St. retailers.
See, smell and taste fresh seasonal fare , be entertained by a variety of performers and be inspired by the array of local New Zealand influenced art.
More information: To view the full details for this event, visit  rotoruanightmarket.co.nz


Rotorua Museum - Exhibitions showing currently
Sounds Amazing - Rotorua Museum 2010
Date: Saturday, May 29 to Sunday , August 8, 2010
Details: Learn about the science of sound and how music is made in an interactive exhibition toured by Te Manawa Museums Trust. Explore how it is crested and measured, how it travels, and the technnology of sound manipulation.Discover how musicians get different notes from their string, wind or percussion instruments.
Tickle My Senses - Rotorua Museum 2010
Date: Saturday, June 26 to Sunday, September 19, 2010
Details: Developed by TheNewDowse, Tickle My Senses encourages young visitors to experience art with all five senses. The exhibition includes a variety of hands-on interactives and features over 40 artworks from TheNewDowse collections. Designed to appeal tp children Tickle My Senses is playful and quirky.
More Information: To view the full details for this event,  rotoruamuseum.co.nz/exhibitions


Rotorua Jazz Club - Woody Woodhouse Collection  
Date: First Sunday of each month. Next date August 1, 2010
Time: 5 - 8pm
Details:  Woody and his band from Tauranga are regulars at the Rotorua Jazz Club and are guaranteed to supply an evening of  entertaining music. Life member Brian Geoghan assists Woody on trumpet and vocals.
More information: To view the full details of these events, visit rotoruajazz.co.nz


Waikato Draught Tough Guy & Gal Challenge 2010
Date: Saturday August 7 , 2010. Saturday August 14, 2010
Details: This unique off road running event continues to grow in popularity and status. Get down and dirty while you tackle the cours that includes water trails, a spiders web net climb, mud slide, crawl under barbed wire, beautiful native bush trails, swamo crossings and more mud. The course has been designed with an array of natural and man-made obstacles for you to conquer and have one of the most memorable experiences of your life.
Event open to male and female competitorsaged 14years and older. The full course is 12Km. A social 6Km course option is also available.  ENTRIES NOW OPEN..
More info: Venue at Lakes Ranch, SH30, Rotorua. To view the full details of this event, visit toughguyandgal.co.nz


Racing - Arawa Park Racecourse
Date:  Wednesday August 18, 2010
Details: Racing Rotorua has raced at Arawa park for over 100 years and has a proud association with Rotorua and the surrounding districts, with it's racecourse uniquely placed in the heart of Rotorua, minute from the motels and the city's vibrant cafe scene. Tuscany Villas Motor Inn  is the closest motel to the racecourse, backing onto it. The Racing Club, which is hosting 9 meetings this season, is known for its hospitality and friendliness to visiting owners and trainers, and to overseas visitors who take the opportunity to enjoy the racing and facilities while on holiday in NZ's "tourism capital" Rotorua.
More information: To view the full details of these events, visit nzracing.co.nz


Te Amorangi Museum - Running Day
Date: Sunday August 8, 2010.  Holdens Bay, Rotorua
Details: Te Amorangi Museum welcomes visitors to another Machinery Running Day.
See the Traction Engine, Stationary Steam Engines, Petrol and Diesel Engines in operation.
Also view* Colonial House* 1906 Post Office* First Rotorua Gaol (Jail)* 1920 Street* Farm machinery* Blacksmith* Logging and sawmilling* Maori artifacts.
More info: To view the full details of this event, visit rotorua NZ.com/events


N-Duro Winter MTB Series Rotorua 2010
Date: , Sunday 15 August 2010
Details:  New Zealand's most popular mountain bike series is back for it's 8th year.Race one lap of challenging terrain
in the world famous Whakarewarewa Forest trail network. Events designed by mountain bikers for ALL mountain bike owners. There are two courses, ranging from 20km to 50km in length. There will be great views of the lake and landscape that makes the Whakarewarewa Forest such a unique destination. There will be great food, cofffee, water and toilets onsite plus a variety of trade stands showing off the latest and greatest MTB gear and last minute supplies.
More info: To view the full details for this event , visit n-duro.co.nz


Dunkleys Great NZ Craft Show 2010
Date: Friday August 20, to Sunday August 22, 2010
Details:  Rotorua Sportsdrome. For those who make crafts and those who just love to buy them - Dunkleys Great New Zealand Craft Shows are New Zealand's most popular and exciting craft events.
2010 will be Dunkley's 28th year of organising these shows. To date they have held over 365 shows, and attracted more than 3.9 million visitors.
More info: To view the full details of this event, visit rotoruaNZ.com/events


Rotorua Wearable Creations"n Colour Awards 2010
Date: Thursday,  August 26 - Saturday August 28, 2010
EXTENDED due to popular demand. - EXTRA Dinner and show on Friday August 27
Details: At the Rotorua Events Centre .  A charitable wearable arts fashion style fashion show, The Rotorua Wearable Creations 'n Colour Awards showcase the talents of many people from throughout the Bay of Plenty region. The event celebrates the creativity of communities and helps build the confidence and self-esteem of many young people in particular.
Now in it's eighth year, it has become one of main events on the Rotorua events calendar.
The show is full of fun and festivity, music and dance, and of course, wonderful and sometimes weird, colour creations.
More info: To view the full details of this event, visit rotoruaNZ.com/events


Rotorua Creative Art Trust Exhibition 2010
Date: August 23 - August 28, 2010 at Rotorua's Energy Events Centre
Details: This inaugural art exhibition organised by the Rotorua creative Art Trust with the Wearablr Creations 'n Colour Event, will feature more than 200 works of art including paint, photography, sculpture, print and more. Signature artist Joe Kemp is one of the about 60 artists who will have work featured in the exhibition in August. The self taught artist has been
sculpting Maori influenced sculptures for 12 years. The exhibition will be held alongside the Wearable Creations and Colour event at the endergy Events Centre and is expected to attract thousands of spectators throuhout the week long exhibition.


Rugby -  BOP Steamers vs North Harbour
Date: Sunday  29 August 2010
Details: BOP Steamers takes on North Harbour at the Rotorua International Stadium.
Kick of is at 4:35pm so come along and spend a leisurely Sunday afternoon watching the Steamers in action.
Tickets can be purchased from Ticket Direct or from the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union Office.
More info: To view the full details of this event, visit rotoruaNZ.com/events


 The NZCOM Conference , Rotorua, 2010
Date: 3 - 5 September 2010
Details: The 11th Bi-ennial National Conference of National College of Midwives is being held in Rotorua at our Energy Events Centre.
Theme is Strengthening Midwifery, Strengthening Families.
Registration is now open
More info: To view the full details of this event , visit midwife.org.nz


Red Stag Redwoods Forest Relay, Rotorua, 2010.
Date : Saturday, 11 September , 2010
Details: The Red Stag Redwoods Forest Relay is open to running and walking clubs, schools, corporate and social teams over a distance of 5 kms for adults and 3.2 km for youth grades. Based at the information centre on Long Mile Road, the relay is held in the iconic and beautiful Redwoods.
It is rates as the best relay of it's kind in New Zealand with approximately 140 teams participating coming from all over the North Island. There is a large range of team and spot prizes available for competitors to win.
More info: To view the full details of this event, visit rotoruaNZ.com/events


Spring Hotfest - Rotorua 2010
Date: Friday September 24 - Thursday September 30, 2010
Details:  Don't miss the fun as Rotorua celebrates it's super hot status with a week full of festive fun. A Spring holiday festival that's guaranteed to prove a hot  time, Hot Highlights for 2010 include the Openig and Closing Gala Entertainment nights, the Hot Non-stop Film Festival, a Hot Free Photo shoot with Eco the Pukeko, the Hot Rod Show and a Hot Quiz night. With over half the events FREE for the local community and visitors alike. From wine tastings to wall climbing, come join the fun and enjoy the daily community events. Grab yourself a programme for special savings at the Spring 2010 Hot Fest events ( available from i-site ).
Venues - Various. For a sneak preview, vivit our website hotfest.co.nz
More info: To view the full details of this event, visit rotoruaNZ.com/events


Rotorua's third " Deepawali Festival of Lights "
Date: Saturday, October 2, 2010
Details: Rotorua's third Deepawali Festival of Lights, or Diwali, is a Hindu festival of lights celebrated by the Indian community all over the world. Rotorua's festival is a smokefree, alcohol-free and meat-free event with free entry for the public held at the Energy Events centre , Rotorua. 
More info: email the festival director at  rotorua.deepawali@gmail.com


KSwiss Ekiden Relay, Rotorua 2010
Date: Saturday , October 9, 2010
Details: The Kandbull: Swiss Rotorua Ekiden Relay will be run around the roads encircling beautiful Lake Rotorua on 9th October 2010. An internationally recognised event, the Eikeden relay is run over the marathon distance of 42.2km and consists of teams of 6 competitors who wear a traditional Japanese tasuki sash instead of carrying a baton. Clubs, Companes/Businesses, social groups or schools can enter teams for the 8th Kandbull.
More info: To view the full details of this event, visit rotoruaNZ.com/events


Mountain Biking - Singlespeed WORLD Championships 2010
Date: October 23, 2010
Details: Every year Rotorua welcomes thousands of mountain bikers from all over the world to the magnificent trail network in the Whakarewarewa Forest on the southern outskirts of town. The Rotorua Singlespeed Society ran the 2008 and 2009 New Zealand Single speed Championships and now it's World Champs time.
Single speed mountain bikers from all around the planet will gather in Rotorua, the heartland of New Zealand's North Island for 2010 bragging rights. It's a celebration of cycling and the spirit of singlespeeding.
More info: For more information please visit sscc10nz.com


Rugby League, New Zealand ( Kiwis) vs Papua New Guinea 2010
Date: Saturday, October 30, 2010. TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Details: The New Zealand ( Kiwis )  vs Papua New Guinea match is the 2nd installment of the highly successful Tri/ Four Nations rugby league competition. With the ongoing improvement of 2nd tier nations, the successful Tri Nations series has been expanded. The Four nations will take place in Australia and New Zealand in October/November 2010.
The 2010 Four nations is shaping to be the most successful Tri/Four nations tournamnet staged to date and will continue with the Rugby League International Federations plans to strengthen the international game at the top level.
More info: To view the full details of this event, visit rotoruaNZ.com/events


World Rowing Championship 2010 -  Lake Karapiro
Date:  October 31 to November 7, 2010
Details: The World Rowing Championships return to New Zealand in 2010 after a gap of more than 30 years and will be held at Lake Karapiro, near Cambridge . This big event has attracted some 700 athletes from more than 50 countries.  2010 will mark the second time the World Rowing Championships have come to Lake Karapiro and New Zealand in the event’s history. The first time was back in 1978 and that championship proved to be one of the more memorable in the sport’s history.
It isn’t every day that international championships come to New Zealand and it is guaranteed to be a festival of the sport not to be missed, whether you are a visiting competitor, a team member, a domestic or international spectator, an official or a volunteer.
Rotorua, New Zealand's premiere tourist destination , is approximately only a 45 minute drive away from Lake Karapiro, so is great either for a base during the event or a short break away before, during or after the rowing action.