Real Rotorua Glow Worms, Lakes & Geothermal tours. — Local services in North Island

DO NOT BOOK! I booked this in January so I had been looking forward to this adventure for a while. The tour is hosted by Stephen, who is not a pleasant individual and seems to have some personal issues he needs to work through. In the first minute of boarding the tour van, his first story was how 40 tourists died in a volcano in the area and he went on and on about how stupid it was that the tourists did this hike that lead to their death. He went into a tremendous amount of detail into their deaths, and this was just minute one. Since this is a glow worm tour, I was assuming I would be slammed with facts about glow worms the entire 3 hours but he spent only one minute on that the entire time. The rest of the time he spoke about random things like a park he found cool or a ramen place he took his kids to, all without request of anyone. It was dead silent and very serious the entire tour and no one asked any questions because you could cut the tension with a knife by how uncomfortable everyone was. Three hours of silence was painful. Stephen spent the entire night pointing out ferns to us, regular ferns in the dark. It was so scary to be walking through a dark forest with this erratic man with no cell service. We spent around 10 minutes with one glowworm but it was so small that you couldn’t even get a photo of it. Yes you read that right - one glowworm. Beyond this, Stephen would sprint throughout the dark forest suddenly and leave us behind, making us panic to keep up. It was very scary. I have been on many tours throughout the world but nothing was so horrible as this. Everyone on the group looked extremely uncomfortable and started talking only when we were in the bus driving back. Stephen is an unsafe person and I would not recommend this...

★★★★★ An Unforgettable Night in the Rotorua Forest! Stephen Julian of Real Rotorua provided an absolutely magical nighttime walking tour through the Rotorua forest, and I can't recommend it highly enough! From the moment we were picked up, Stephen's enthusiasm and knowledge were evident. He expertly guided us through the forest, pointing out a fascinating array of flora and fauna, including the iconic Silver Fern, playful wallabies, a curious hedgehog, and even a possum! His detailed explanations brought the forest to life, and he patiently answered all our questions. The highlight of the tour was undoubtedly the breathtaking glow worm display. It was truly a spectacle to behold, and Stephen's insightful commentary added another layer of appreciation to the experience. He also shared captivating stories and information during the short van rides, making the whole evening engaging and educational. The thoughtful touch of hot chocolate and cookies at the end of the tour was the perfect way to cap off the night. Beyond his expertise, Stephen's dedication to his guests shines through. He even took incredible photos throughout the tour and emailed them to us the very next day! This thoughtful gesture allowed us to relive the magic of the night. If you're looking for an unforgettable experience in Rotorua, book this tour with Real Rotorua and ask for Stephen! You won't be disappointed....

I joined Steve in the thermal path tour and the nocturnal glow worms tour, and wow! Blown away by the love and dedication that Steve has shown in these two tours through the engaging commentary and the choice of attractions to visit.

For the thermal path tour, Steve took us through various geothermal hotspots including the Kuirau Park, mud pools in Waiotapu, Kerosene Creek and ending the day taking a scenic dip at Waikite Valley Spring! A very informative and chill arvo tour 😊. Recommended for anyone who wants to see the harder to reach local attractions if you don’t have transport!

The nocturnal glow worm tour was definitely a highlight of my trip to Rotorua and a must! It rained during the week as well as when we went, but the humidity created the perfect environment to see thousands of glow worms light up extra bright like stars! Steve provided us with handy torches, a safety briefing, waterproof ponchos, as well as super cool commentary on the plants, glow worms, and animals that we came across. Huge thanks to Steve for taking some amazing night photos of us. Shoutout also to his wife, Rosetta, for preparing some tasty hot chocolate at the end of the trip 😋.

Though I didn’t go on the morning lakes tour, I can imagine that tour also receiving the same love and attentiveness as the two that I went on.

Highly recommend going on a Real Rotorua tour with Steve, a...