Skyline Rotorua vs Wai-O-Tapu:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Wai-O-Tapu had more branded searches than Skyline Rotorua among visitor attractions in New Zealand. Wai-O-Tapu had about 28,000 branded searches, while Skyline Rotorua had 24,000. Wai-O-Tapu made up 5.6% of all visitor attraction searches we track, and Skyline Rotorua accounted for 4.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about visitor attractions, Wai-O-Tapu appeared in three of the five answers and Skyline Rotorua in two. Wai-O-Tapu was mentioned before Skyline Rotorua in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Wai-O-Tapu, about 17% more searches than Skyline Rotorua
Who does AI mention more?
Wai-O-Tapu, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Skyline Rotorua in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Wai-O-Tapu, named ahead of Skyline Rotorua in 2 of 2 answers
Follow Skyline Rotorua vs Wai-O-Tapu and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
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. Skyline Rotorua was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Wai-O-Tapu was listed before Skyline Rotorua in every answer that named either.
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 Skyline Rotorua or Wai-O-Tapu more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Skyline Rotorua 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 Wai-O-Tapu, Skyline Rotorua. 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 Skyline Rotorua 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: Skyline Rotorua took it in June 2026, Wai-O-Tapu took it in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Skyline Rotorua’s share of searches among visitor attractions in New Zealand held steady at 4.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 29.1K to 24K.
- 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.

Estimated monthly branded searches for Skyline Rotorua in New Zealand fell 17.5% over 12 measured months, from 29.1K to 24K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
18 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Skyline Rotorua’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.
Skyline Rotorua
8 branded search terms
- bookme skyline rotorua
- luge skyline rotorua
- skyline luge rotorua
- skyline rotorua
- skyline rotorua address
- skyline rotorua hours
- skyline rotorua tickets
- skylinerotorua
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
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.