Rainbow's End vs Wai-O-Tapu:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Rainbow's End had more branded searches than Wai-O-Tapu among visitor attractions in New Zealand. Rainbow's End had about 64,100 branded searches, while Wai-O-Tapu had 28,000. Rainbow's End made up 12.9% of all visitor attraction searches we track, and Wai-O-Tapu accounted for 5.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about visitor attractions, Wai-O-Tapu appeared in three of the five answers and Rainbow's End in none.
Who do people search for more?
Rainbow's End, about 2 searches for every 1 for Wai-O-Tapu
Who does AI mention more?
Wai-O-Tapu, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Rainbow's End in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
Wai-O-Tapu, the only one of the two named
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Top visitor attractions in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Wai-O-Tapu was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Rainbow's End did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Te Puia4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Hobbiton Movie Set3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers- Wai-O-Tapu3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Waitomo Glowworm Caves2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Skyline Rotorua2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Weta Workshop1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Shotover Jet1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Waitangi Treaty Grounds1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Sky Tower0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers- Rainbow's End0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about visitor attractions
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which visitor attraction should I book in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best visitor attractions in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best visitor attraction in New Zealand for a day out?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“queenstown attractions”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“rotorua attractions nz”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.
Is Rainbow's End or Wai-O-Tapu more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Rainbow's End and Wai-O-Tapu by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 16 visitor attractions we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Rainbow's End, Wai-O-Tapu. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Sky Tower | Rainbow's End | Skyline Queenstown | Kelly Tarlton's | Waitomo Glowworm Caves | Hobbiton Movie Set | Wai-O-Tapu | Skyline Rotorua | Weta Workshop | International Antarctic Centre | Shotover Jet | Larnach Castle | Agrodome | Te Puia | Waitangi Treaty Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 16.1% | 13.4% | 8.8% | 9.2% | 8.5% | 9% | 7% | 4.8% | 5.3% | 4.7% | 3.4% | 3.2% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.7% |
| Nov 2025 | 17% | 9.7% | 9.4% | 7.3% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 9% | 4.2% | 6% | 4% | 3.9% | 2.8% | 2.2% | 1.9% | 1.8% |
| Dec 2025 | 16.3% | 11% | 8.9% | 7.6% | 9.3% | 8.9% | 8.6% | 5.9% | 5.2% | 4.7% | 3.7% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 1.8% | 2.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 12.7% | 12.6% | 8.4% | 8.7% | 10.5% | 9.5% | 8.1% | 5.6% | 5.4% | 4.4% | 3.5% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| Feb 2026 | 15.6% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 7.3% | 10.1% | 8.6% | 10.1% | 4.7% | 5.3% | 4.5% | 3.4% | 3.1% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 3% |
| Mar 2026 | 14.2% | 7.9% | 9.6% | 8.1% | 11.8% | 9.3% | 9.1% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5% | 3.7% | 3.4% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 2.2% |
| Apr 2026 | 14.6% | 12.2% | 10% | 9.3% | 9.5% | 8.6% | 7.7% | 5.5% | 4.6% | 5.2% | 3.8% | 2.9% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.6% |
| May 2026 | 16.1% | 10.8% | 9.2% | 11.2% | 8.8% | 9.6% | 6.9% | 4.9% | 4.5% | 5.6% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.4% |
| Jun 2026 | 15.2% | 12.3% | 9.1% | 11.7% | 10.1% | 9.9% | 4.4% | 4.6% | 5.1% | 5.3% | 4% | 2.4% | 2% | 2% | 1.1% |
| Jul 2026 | 14.7% | 14.3% | 8.3% | 10.8% | 9.5% | 8.8% | 4.9% | 6.4% | 4.3% | 6% | 4.2% | 2% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 0.98% |
| Aug 2026 | 17.4% | 11.3% | 9.5% | 10.7% | 9.2% | 10.2% | 4.9% | 5.1% | 4.5% | 4.9% | 3.8% | 2.8% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 0.96% |
| Sep 2026 | 15.8% | 12.9% | 10.6% | 10.1% | 9.6% | 9.1% | 5.6% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.6% | 3.6% | 2.6% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.4% |
How has the Rainbow's End and Wai-O-Tapu comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Wai-O-Tapu took it in February 2026, Rainbow's End took it in April 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Rainbow's End’s share of searches among visitor attractions in New Zealand moved from 13.4% to 12.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 80.7K to 64.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Wai-O-Tapu’s share of searches among visitor attractions in New Zealand moved from 7% to 5.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 42K to 28K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand visitor attractions in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Wai-O-Tapu overtook Skyline Rotorua to rank 7th among visitor attractions in New Zealand, with 5.6% of the searches.
In September 2026, Rainbow's End gained share of searches among visitor attractions in New Zealand, from 11.3% to 12.9%.
How are branded searches counted?
22 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Rainbow's End’s and Wai-O-Tapu’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Rainbow's End
12 branded search terms
- bookme rainbows end
- grab one rainbows end
- rainbow's end
- rainbows end
- rainbows end bookme
- rainbows end night
- rainbows end opening
- rainbows end special
- rainbows end tickets
- rainbows end vouchers
- rainbowsend
- rainbowsend tickets
Wai-O-Tapu
10 branded search terms
- wai o tapu
- wai o tapu boardwalk
- wai o tapu geyser
- wai o tapu shuttle
- wai o tapu thermal
- wai o tapu tickets
- wai o tapu tour
- waiotapu
- waiotapu loop road
- waiotapu scenic reserve
Other head-to-heads among visitor attractions
- Sky Tower vs Rainbow's End: compare popularity
- Sky Tower vs Skyline Queenstown: compare popularity
Sky Tower vs Kelly Tarlton's: compare popularity- Sky Tower vs Waitomo Glowworm Caves: compare popularity
- Rainbow's End vs Skyline Queenstown: compare popularity
- Rainbow's End vs Kelly Tarlton's: compare popularity
Put your own brand in this comparison
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