That was up 13,900 nights, or 10 per cent, on September 2015, compared with a 6 per cent increase nationally.
Of those, 92,700 nights were domestic visitors - a 7600 night increase, or 9 per cent up, on last year.
The Rotorua Attractions and Activities Monitor also reported a record September with 201,700 visits, up 37,800, or 23 per cent, on the previous year.
Domestic visits accounted for 73,200 visits to Rotorua Attractions & Activities Monitor sites, up 21 per cent, while there was $23.9 million worth of domestic expenditure in Rotorua, up 3 per cent on 2015.
Rotorua Visitor Centre and iSite assistant manager Kyle Kydd said the wet weather during the September school holidays did not dampen visitor bookings for Rotorua attractions and activities.
"Visitors are realising that regardless of the weather, Rotorua always has something to do.
"Some outdoor activities that were previously thought of as weather dependent are now proving popular regardless of the weather," he said.
The news was no surprise to Rotorua accommodation providers who said the past few years had been great and they were looking forward to another record summer.
Rotorua Association of Motels chairman Mike Gallagher said the summer season had already started for many of the association's 52 members, but they had to make sure they were working together to get the best out of the season.
"So far forward bookings are really good, last night I noticed a few no vacancy signs up along Fenton St.
"I'm picking this season will be better than last - and last season was just amazing - it's all looking very positive.
"But, we have to stop the $85 a night rooms, that's not a good mentality for our industry.
"When the more popular motels fill up it's like a domino effect, people need to keep their prices up and stay confident they will fill their rooms."
Mr Gallagher said moteliers had to make sure they were constantly maintaining their properties to a high standard.
"Owners really need to focus on that and make sure we are all in line when it comes to pricing - we need to work together as a collective."
He said in the next few weeks a workshop, in conjunction with the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce and Quest Rotorua, would be held to help accommodation providers lift yields and learn about property and room presentation and strategies to help them lift their game.
Rotorua TOP 10 Holiday Park co-owner Jared Adams said last year was the busiest year since 2008 - and he was expecting this summer to be even bigger.
"I'm expecting it to be the busiest year since forever."
Mr Adams said they had quite a lot of forward bookings.
"It is fantastic, we are expecting it to be pretty big to be honest."
He said back in 2008 people booked in advance, but during the lull people had found they hadn't needed to.
Mr Adams said those who left it too long this year would find it definitely wasn't as easy as it used to be.
His wife Jasmine, who is chairwoman of the Rotorua Holiday Parks association, said almost all the local holiday parks had invested heavily over the past year in preparation for the upcoming summer season.
"It's going to be amazing. I think everyone is really optimistic and looking forward to it."
Tourism Industry Association hotel sector Rotorua chairman Blair Chalmers said it was safe to say there was double digit growth from last year.
He expected that to continue for some time.
Mr Chalmers said hotels were looking pretty full over the Christmas period.
Those who waited too long to book would be struggling to find accommodation over the busy Christmas and New Year period.
"The last six odd years that Christmas period has been pretty much full."
He said Rotorua was definitely getting its fair share of growth in the tourism market.
Rotorua's record September
- $725m spent in Rotorua up to the year ending September 30
- That's up 6.7 per cent on last year
- $43m spent by visitors to Rotorua in September this year
- 92,700 domestic visitor nights spent in Rotorua accommodation in September
- Domestic visitors spent $23.9m in Rotorua during September
- 63,937 international visitor nights spent in Rotorua accommodation for the month
- International visitors spent $19.1m in Rotorua during September
- Additional reporting Rebecca Malcolm
