Photo of ZORB Rotorua in Bay of Plenty1 / 3
Tours & Experiences

ZORB Rotorua

📍 Fairy Springs, Bay of Plenty

4.7(2,494 Google reviews)👶5+

Best for kids aged five and up who want a thrill without real fear. You slosh down a grassy hillside inside a huge inflatable ball with warm water, choosing from four tracks, then warm up in the hot pools at the bottom.

Water-filled ball rideFour tracksRide with your kidsWell-run staff
★★★★★Featured review by Rachael Todd

Total spontaneous stop and zero regrets! We were visiting from Australia and our son has been begging to do ZORB Rotorua for months. We just happened to be passing through and thought, why not? Best decision ever. He had an absolute blast—and it looked so fun that I couldn’t resist jumping in and doing it with him. Turns out rolling down a hill inside a giant inflatable ball is VERY fun 😄 There are four different tracks to choose from, so plenty of options, and the setup is spot on. There’s a spa pool waiting for you at the bottom (amazing on cold days), and a sauna at the top while you’re waiting for your turn—or at the bottom while you recover and wait to be taken back up the hill. Top tip: bring your togs! We didn’t, but thank goodness for spare clothes… you will get wet 😂 Loads of changing facilities, super easy and well organised. Such a unique experience and so much fun for kids and adults. Highly, highly recommend—do it if you’re even slightly on the fence!

🏆 Family Action Verdict

If your child is five or over this is one of Rotorua's surest wins, and most parents end up in a ball too. It is more slippery splash ride than scary drop, so nervous kids usually manage the gentler tracks. Decide how many rides you are buying before you arrive, because there is no child rate and the pleading for one more go is guaranteed.

ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go

💡Riders must be five or older; there is no height limit and children can share a ball with an adult
Buy a multi-ride pass rather than single rides; most kids want at least three goes
🎟️Bring togs and a towel: you get wet, and the spa pools at the bottom are the best place to warm up
🚗Winter is quieter and the water in the ball is heated, so cold weather is no reason to skip it

💬 What Families Are Saying

View all reviews →
4.7

2,494 Google reviews

Pure laughter start to finish80%
Friendly, well organised staff60%
Warm water in winter30%
R

Rachael Todd

Total spontaneous stop and zero regrets! We were visiting from Australia and our son has been begging to do ZORB Rotorua for months. We just happened to be passing through and thought, why not? Best decision ever. He had an absolute blast—and it looked so fun that I couldn’t resist jumping in and doing it with him. Turns out rolling down a hill inside a giant inflatable ball is VERY fun 😄 There are four different tracks to choose from, so plenty of options, and the setup is spot on. There’s a spa pool waiting for you at the bottom (amazing on cold days), and a sauna at the top while you’re waiting for your turn—or at the bottom while you recover and wait to be taken back up the hill. Top tip: bring your togs! We didn’t, but thank goodness for spare clothes… you will get wet 😂 Loads of changing facilities, super easy and well organised. Such a unique experience and so much fun for kids and adults. Highly, highly recommend—do it if you’re even slightly on the fence!

K

Kunal Shahani

Rolling downhill inside a giant inflatable ball might sound crazy at first, but it’s pure laughter from start to finish. The warm water sloshing around inside makes it feel more like a fun splash ride than anything scary. Kids absolutely love it….there is constant giggling, sliding, and that “let’s go again” energy as soon as it’s over. What really stands out is how well everything is managed. The staff are super friendly, give clear instructions, and make sure everyone is secure before each ride. There are different track options too—some straight and gentle, others a bit more twisty—so you can pick what suits your child’s comfort level. It’s well organised, and feels very controlled despite the wild concept. Perfect balance of thrill and safety. A one-of-a-kind experience that delivers big fun in a safe way. If you want something the kids will talk about long after the trip, ZORB is it!

R

Rubes

Some friends and I went down to Zorb in Rotorua. It was all of our first time there so we were super excited. We chose to do the 3 ride super deal and we are a glad we choose that because it was so much fun going down the 3 different tracks. As it was a bit colder in May they had warm water in Zorb and spa pools at the bottom while you wait for the van to take you back up the hill. Overall my friends and I had the best time, lots of laughs and Zorb was definitely our Rotorua road trip highlight. We would definitely recommend this to friends and family :) The only recommendation we have is that we wish the rides were longer😂

J

Julie Roether

Zorb experience was really great. We had 3 ride pass. The three tracks we participated in were fun. We had either 2 or 3 people in each ball. There was not much wait for the van ride up to the top and to load into the balls to go down the hill. We had a large group ranging from 7 years old - 67 years old participate. Everyone in our group had fun. If bringing a GoPro it is recommended to bring a hand held mount rather than a chest mount. There are open cubby holes at the bottom of the track in which you can put your belongings w hi old you ride.

Reviews from Google

Overview

ZORB invented the water-filled ball ride on this Ngongotahā hillside. Every ball gets a splash of water, warmed in winter, so you slide and tumble rather than bounce, and adults ride with children or race them in a second ball. Four tracks run down the slope: the steep Mega, the twisting Sidewinder with six corners, the Dual Straight for racing side by side, and the newer Pipeline with sweeping bends. A van shuttles you back up, hot spa pools wait at the bottom, and it runs daily.

🕐 Opening Hours

Monday09:00 – 17:00
Tuesday09:00 – 17:00
Wednesday09:00 – 17:00
Thursday09:00 – 17:00
Friday09:00 – 17:00
Saturday09:00 – 17:00
Sunday09:00 – 17:00

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