The Redwoods visitor centre and i-SITE sit at the main entry to Whakarewarewa Forest, on Titokorangi Drive (Long Mile Road), about 5 km south-east of Rotorua's city centre. It offers impartial information and booking for the Rotorua region, covering accommodation, activities, attractions and travel. The forest covers over 5,600 hectares and is best known for its mountain biking and walking tracks and its stand of Californian Coast Redwoods. The City Ride bus stops at the end of Titokorangi Drive. The centre is about five minutes by car, 20 minutes by bike or an hour on foot.
Customers say the redwoods are beautiful and free to walk among, and one visited twice. Staff are praised as very helpful, and one customer said the centre is a good place to find out about venues. One visitor said the treewalk was not worth it. Tracks are kept separate for walkers, bikers and horse riders. The Redwoods car park gate opens from 5.30am, the mountain bike car park from 6am, and the Te Putake o Tawa gate runs from 6am to 9pm. Our pick in Rotorua for a free walk among the redwoods.