| Travel Rotorua | | | | perished buried in mud. Some of the village has since |
| This article is a basic tour guide to traveling in Rotorua | | | | been dig out and rebuilt to give tourists an idea of a |
| highlight and evaluating the main sites in the district. | | | | Maori village. |
| | | | I haven't been to Tamaki Maori Village so can't give a |
| If you had only one day in the North Island of New | | | | review. |
| Zealand and you asked me where should one go for | | | | If you really want to get a good taste of Maori culture |
| that day I would without hesitation say Rotorua. | | | | food and hospitality then book one of the many feasts |
| This article is my personal guide to Rotorua from | | | | and concerts put on by the local hotels. The food, |
| someone who has visited it more times than I can | | | | music and friendship are always top rate. |
| remember and if given the chance I would visit it again. | | | | Other Attractions |
| This article is non-commercial and is intended to be for | | | | Rainbow Springs Park: |
| general information. | | | | A nice park with trout fish as its centerpiece, beautiful |
| Location: | | | | clear running water and a top bushland. Lovely walking |
| Rotorua is approximately 2.5 - 3 hours drive south of | | | | tracks and you can feed the fish. Also has a farm |
| Auckland. Head south through Hamilton and | | | | show attached. |
| Cambridge, or for a quicker route via Mata Mata. | | | | Skyline Skyrides: |
| Shortly after Cambridge turn left and take the number | | | | The main reason to take this ride on a gondola is not |
| 5 which will lead you right to Rotorua. Coming up from | | | | just to get to the top for the view, the main reason is |
| Wellington head to Lake Taupo and take the number 5 | | | | to ride the luge. Massive fun, as long as you don't fall |
| to Rotorua. Train and Bus routes also service Rotorua. | | | | off. They have a small chairlift operating so that you |
| Attractions: | | | | can ride the luge for as long as your budget can |
| Rotorua is a jewel in the North Island, with geothermal | | | | afford. |
| wonders, a center of Maori Culture, Parks, Lakes, | | | | Agrodome: |
| Natural History and numerous modern day attractions. | | | | Everything you wanted to know about sheep. |
| Most visitors comment on the smell when they arrive. It | | | | Surprising a show about sheep and farming in NZ is |
| is Hydrogen Sulphide (rotten egg gas) and while distinct | | | | interesting and entertaining. |
| at first, if you stay for any length of time you will adapt | | | | Rotorua Museum of Art: |
| and seldom notice it. | | | | One of the first buildings built in NZ solely with tourists |
| Geothermal Parks | | | | in mind. Originally built as a bath house and hot water |
| The main geothermal parks in Rotorua and its | | | | treatment center it has now been converted. Good |
| surrounds include Whakarewarewa thermal area, | | | | museum but the highlight is the movie on local history, |
| Waimangu Volcanic Valley, Waitapu Thermal | | | | sit down and be sure to be holding on - a total |
| wonderland, Orakei Korako Geyserland and Hell's | | | | multimedia experience. Definite must do. The building |
| Gate. All these required payment. | | | | itself is one of the finest examples of Edwardian |
| Whakarewarewa: | | | | design and is an art piece in itself. The surrounding |
| Visiting this site used to be standard fare in any visit to | | | | gardens are always nicely maintained. |
| Rotorua. Unfortunately the park has now divided into | | | | Natures Wonders |
| two parts, and I personally don't believe either site has | | | | There are numerous things to do, totally free for |
| enough to stand alone. So what you used to get for | | | | nature lovers. |
| one entry price now costs two (be warned). On the | | | | Huka Falls: |
| Hemo Road entrance is the NZ Maori Arts and Crafts | | | | Just North from Lake Taupo on the M1 is Huka Falls |
| Institute with its master carvers. Also includes a | | | | and the world famous Huka Falls Lodge (for the |
| weaving house, kiwi house, and Maori meeting house. | | | | novu-rich of the world). Huka Falls itself is free for all. |
| Pohutu (big splash) and the Prince of Wales geyser | | | | Near the beginning of the mighty Waikato river (NZ |
| are also on this side. (Prince of Wales geyser so | | | | longest river) it's not the height of the falls but the |
| named because the 3 directions the geyser shoots out | | | | sheer volume of water that is forced through which is |
| resembles the feathers on the Prince of Wales crest). | | | | impressive, few people have gone over the falls and |
| On the Tyron street entrance you get another meeting | | | | survived. Boat trips are now run up to the base of the |
| house where a cultural show is put on, a village, shops | | | | falls for those wanting a different perspective. |
| and some hot pools, etc. Also here outside school | | | | Whakarewarewa Forrest Park: |
| hours you may find the local Maori children willing to | | | | On the road to the blue and green lakes. Contains |
| jump off the bridge into the stream below in return for | | | | beautiful stands of redwood trees, walking and horse |
| chasing your loose change thrown into the same. | | | | riding tracks. The redwood trees are relatively young |
| Waimangu Volcanic Valley: | | | | for trees, but they are already huge in size. |
| A nice walk along a valley with numerous hot pools, | | | | Government Gardens: |
| lakes, and near the end of the track the Warbrick | | | | Outside the Rotorua museum is well kept flower beds, |
| thermal terrace - a multi coloured silica terrace, | | | | rose gardens, bowling greens and more. |
| probably the most colourful terrace in Rotorua. Worth | | | | Kuirau Park: |
| a visit if you have already seen some thermal parks | | | | Opposite the main hospital on Kuirau road is Kuirau |
| and want more, or like a more expansive tour, you can | | | | Park with numerous boiling pools and geothermal |
| link with a boat tour. (see the gallery for some photos | | | | activities. Contains some foot pools to ease your sore |
| courtesy Waimangu's website). The pink and white | | | | feet and a children's park with miniature railway. On my |
| terraces once existed in the area prior to the 1886 | | | | last visit there was a huge hole in the ground and |
| eruption. | | | | several trees blown over or covered in mud due to a |
| Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland: | | | | localized eruption. It is a reminder the whole area is |
| My personal favourite, about 20 min. south of Rotorua | | | | geothermally active and has the potential to be |
| towards Taupo. Be prepared to walk abit. Numerous | | | | dangerous. |
| rainbow pools, the huge champagne pool, artist palette, | | | | Blue and Green Lakes: |
| sulphur vents, boiling mud and a huge silica terrace. If | | | | Past Whakarewarewa Forrest Park is the blue lake, |
| you arrive early in the morning, before 10am, a short | | | | great for swimming or boating activities, clear water |
| drive leads you to the Lady Knox geyser that gets set | | | | with a pumice bottom, those further out there is a |
| off once a day by them feeding it with soap, cost of | | | | problem with weeds. Keep going on the road to get a |
| this is included in your admission (was $25 an adult). | | | | view of Mt. Tarawera. The green lake is banned and |
| Also on this road is a natural mud pool which is the | | | | tapu (Maori for cursed, sacred, special) and no is |
| best display of boiling mud I have seen and its free. | | | | supposed to enter it. |
| Orakei Korako Geyserland: | | | | Mt. Tarawera: |
| Closer to Lake Taupo than Rotorua on a side road | | | | For the true adventure fanatics. Take the back road |
| connecting route 5 to the main route 1. You need to | | | | and climb Mount Tarawera. Enter the crater and run |
| catch the ferry across the lake to begin exploring the | | | | down to the bottom at full speed. The massive crater |
| park. Like most of the parks good tracks requiring you | | | | was caused by the 10 June 1886 eruption which |
| to walk to see mud pools, a large cave, the emerald | | | | destroyed the pink and white terraces and buried |
| terrace and the largest silica feature in the country. | | | | many villages. |
| Worth the visit if you are passing that way. | | | | Lakes: |
| Hell's Gate: | | | | The number of lakes is simply too many to mention. |
| Another thermal park with numerous boiling things, | | | | Great for trout fishing, boating or picnics. Some lakes |
| including Adam's frying pan, a mud volcano, hot water | | | | even have black volcanic glass and/or pumice stone |
| falls and one of the few places I found I could buy the | | | | lying on their shores. |
| multi-colour sand in a glass container (quite pretty). | | | | Hamurana Springs: |
| Once visited by Mark Twain who stated he would | | | | If you want to see a beautiful spring feed stream, this |
| have gladly paid not to have gone there. I'll have to | | | | is worth a visit, pure water with a hint of blue flowing |
| disagree; I think it's worth the visit. | | | | over white pumice bed. There is also a nice stand of |
| Maori Culture | | | | redwoods and I would be surprised if you didn't' see |
| Rotorua has plenty of Maori based attractions. These | | | | any trout in the stream (no fishing allowed, sorry). |
| include Tamaki Maori Village (I've yet to visit). The NZ | | | | This list is by no means exhaustive and like any tourist |
| Maori Arts and Crafts Institute (already spoken about), | | | | destination new venues are always opening up. I hope |
| the Buried Village and numerous Hungi and Cultural | | | | this provides you with a basic to do list when visiting. |
| Performances. | | | | To see pictures go to the website in the resource box |
| The Buried village is what it sounds like, a half buried | | | | below. |
| village. During the 1886 eruption a number of local Maori | | | | |