1 / 3DriftKartz
📍 Mangakakahi, Bay of Plenty
Best for teens and car-mad parents. DriftKartz on Old Taupo Road runs purpose-built 400cc drift karts on an indoor track built for sliding, with practice laps included. Drivers must be at least 12 and 150 centimetres tall.
Absolutely amazing experience at DriftKartz Rotorua!If you love driving and having fun, you HAVE to come here. The drifting is insanely fun and unlike anything we’ve done before in New Zealand. The owner/staff member was also super cool, incredibly friendly and made the whole experience even better. You can really tell that he loves what he does and wants everyone to have a great time. Everything was well explained, the atmosphere was awesome and we were smiling the whole time. Definitely one of the highlights of our trip — highly recommended for anyone who enjoys cars, drifting or just wants a really fun activity in Rotorua! 10/10 experience 🙌
🏆 Family Action Verdict
If you have a teenager, or you are the parent who never grew out of karting, this is one of Rotorua's best hours. Younger siblings cannot drive and will be watching from the side, so plan something for them. Practice laps are included and the owner coaches nervous first-timers, so no drift experience is needed.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →471 Google reviews
Mr RadyKane
“Absolutely amazing experience at DriftKartz Rotorua!If you love driving and having fun, you HAVE to come here. The drifting is insanely fun and unlike anything we’ve done before in New Zealand. The owner/staff member was also super cool, incredibly friendly and made the whole experience even better. You can really tell that he loves what he does and wants everyone to have a great time. Everything was well explained, the atmosphere was awesome and we were smiling the whole time. Definitely one of the highlights of our trip — highly recommended for anyone who enjoys cars, drifting or just wants a really fun activity in Rotorua! 10/10 experience 🙌”
reece patel
“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ What an awesome experience! We flew up from Blenheim for a couple of days with twin girls, and this was honestly one of the highlights of the trip. The drift karts were an absolute blast, and the guy running it was such a vibe full of personality, funny, friendly, and made the whole experience even more fun. You could tell he genuinely enjoys what he does. If you’re looking for something exciting and different, this is a must-do. We’ll definitely be back!”
Justine Matete
“Not only a ball of fun, but Mark and Chevy made the experience that little bit extra. We definitely will be back just to have a chat with the boys again let alone drift the track. Mark you are one of a kind - Love the Ozzie Jesse and Justine”
Danielle Thompson
“We had an absolute blast and came back the next day for another 2 sessions after the first one. It ended up being our favourite activity in Rotorua. Mark was great and super easy to talk to. Definitely recommend!”
Reviews from Google
Overview
DriftKartz is a different animal from a normal go-kart track: its 400cc karts and hard competition tyres are built to slide, and the flat indoor circuit on Old Taupo Road is set up so you drift every corner rather than grip through it. Casual sessions run ten to twenty minutes, with practice laps first and helmets and gear supplied, and longer private or group bookings suit parties. The karts are physically hard to steer, so the minimum is 12 years and 150 centimetres, ruling out younger kids.
