It is located 105 km south-east of Hamilton and 82 km north-east of Taupo.
The name Rotorua comes from Maori, the full name is Rotorua-nui-a-Kahu. Roto meaning lake and Rua meaning two, literally translated it means second lake. It was named by the Maori Chief Ihenga, as it was the second major lake that he discovered.