A journey Guidelines for to Rotorua, New Zealand

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Travel to Rotorua

This article is a basic guide to traveling in Rotorua highlight and evaluate the key locations in the district.

Introduction:

If you had one day in the North Island of New Zealand, and you asked me where are we going to this day, I say without hesitation Rotorua.

This article is my personal guide to Rotorua for a person who has visited more times than I can remember, and if you’re lucky, I visit it again. This article is not commercial and is intended for general information.

Location:

Rotorua is about 2.5 – 3 hours drive south of Auckland. Head south through Hamilton and Cambridge, or for a faster route via Mata Mata. Shortly after Cambridge turn left and take the number 5, which takes you right to Rotorua. From the head of Lake Taupo to Wellington and take the number 5 to Rotorua. Train and bus routes also service Rotorua.

Attractions:

Rotorua is a jewel in the North Island, with geothermal wonders, a center of Maori culture, parks, lakes, natural history and modern attractions. Most visitors comment on the smell when they arrive. It is hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg gas), and that different at first, if you stay for a long period of time you will adapt and rarely noticed.

Parks geothermal

The main geothermal parks and around Rotorua include Whakarewarewa thermal area, Waimangu Volcanic Valley, Waitapu Thermal Wonderland, Orakei Korako Geyserland and the Gates of Hell. All payments required.

Whakarewarewa:

Visit this site used to be common in any visit to Rotorua. Unfortunately the park is now divided into two parts, and personally I do not think a site sufficiently autonomous. So you used to arrive at an entry price now costs two (or warned). On the road to entry is the Hemo NZ Maori Arts and Crafts Institute with master carvers. Also includes a weaving house, kiwi house, and the Maori meeting house. Pohutu (big splash) Prince of Wales and geysers are also on this side. (Prince of Wales geyser so named because all three shots geyser like feathers on the crest of the Prince of Wales). In Tyron street entrance you get another meeting house, where a show is a cultural village, shops and hot pools, etc. Here also outside the school can find local Maori children ready to jump off the bridge into the stream below instead to drive your loose change out the same.

Waimangu Volcanic Valley:

A beautiful walk along a valley with many hot pools, lakes and near the end of the runway Warbrick thermal terrace – a colorful silica terrace, probably the most colorful terrace in Rotorua. It is worth visiting, if you’ve seen some parks and want more heat, or as a more expensive ride, you can connect with a boat. (See gallery for the site some photos courtesy Waimangu). The terraces pink and white once existed in the area before the eruption in 1886.

Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland:

My personal favorite, about 20 min. south of Rotorua to Taupo. Be prepared to walk abit. Bow many pools, the pool of artist’s palette of great champagne, sulfur vents, boiling mud and silica terraces huge. If you arrive early in the morning before 10 hours, a short drive takes you to the Lady Knox Geyser which is triggered once a day for them, is eaten with soap, the cost of this is included in your admission (to U.S. $ 25 for adults). Also on this road is a natural pool of mud that is the best display of boiling mud, I saw and it’s free.

Orakei Korako Geyserland:

Closer to Lake Taupo from Rotorua on a link road from Highway 5 to Highway 1. You need to take the ferry over the lake to explore the park. Like most parks good tracks requiring him to walk to see the mud pools, a large cave, the terrace and function of silica largest emerald in the country. Well worth a visit if you’re going through here.

Gate of Hell:

Another thermal park with a lot of hot things, including a tray of Adam, a mud volcano, hot waterfalls and one of the few places I found that I could buy colored sand in a glass container (very pleasant). Once visited by Mark Twain, who said he would gladly have paid not to. I have to disagree, I think it’s worth the visit.

Maori culture

Rotorua-based Maori has many attractions. These include Tamaki Maori Village (I have yet to visit). NZ Maori Arts and Crafts Institute (mentioned above), the Village and Hung buried many cultural performances.

The Buried Village is as it seems, half buried in the village. During the eruption, in 1886, a series of local Maori died buried in the mud. Some of these villages have been excavated and reconstructed to give tourists an idea of ??a Maori village.

I was not in the Tamaki Maori Village can not give a review.

If you really want to get a taste of the food and hospitality of Maori culture, then a book of many festivals and concerts created by local hotels. The music, food and fellowship are always top rate.

Other Attractions

Rainbow Springs Park

A nice park with trout fish as its centerpiece, beautiful clear water and a tall shrub. Beautiful walking trails and you can feed the fish. Also connected to an agricultural fair.

Skyline Skyride:

The main reason for taking this tour on a gondola is not only to reach the top for the view, the main reason is to ride the luge. Fun mass, since you do not fall. They have a small lift operation that you can ride the sled, as your budget can afford.

Agrodome:

Everything you wanted to know about sheep. An amazing show of sheep and New Zealand is interesting and fun.

Rotorua Museum of Art:

One of the first buildings constructed in New Zealand only with tourists in mind. Originally built as a home hot tub and spa water treatment that has already been converted. Good museum, but the highlight is the film about local history, sit back and be sure to be on hold – a multimedia experience. Final to do. The building itself is one of the best examples of Edwardian style and is a work of art itself. The surrounding gardens are always well maintained.

Natural Wonders

There are many things to do, totally free for nature lovers.

Huka Falls

North of Lake Taupo on the M1 is the famous Huka Falls and Huka Falls Lodge (Novu the world’s richest). Huka Falls is free for all. Top of the mighty Waikato River (NZ longest river), is not the height of fall, but the volume of water is forced through which is impressive, few people disappeared during the fall and survived. Boat trips are now running to the base of the falls for those who want a different perspective.

Whakarewarewa Forrest Park

On the way to the blue lakes and green. Contains is beautiful redwoods, hiking and walking trails. The redwood trees are relatively young, but they are already large in size.

Government Gardens:

The outside of the Rotorua Museum is well kept flower beds, rose gardens, lawns and more.

Kuirau Park

In front of the main hospital road Kuirau Kuirau Park, with numerous pools and boiling geothermal activities. Contains some pools to ease aching feet and a playground with miniature railway. On my last visit, there was a huge hole in the ground and several fallen trees and muddy due to a localized rash. It is a reminder of the area and is active geothermal has the potential to be dangerous.

Blue and green lakes:

After Whakarewarewa Forrest Park is the blue lake, ideal for swimming outdoors or boating, water clear, with a background of pumice stone, those who have been a problem with weeds. Continue on the path to get a view of Mt. Tarawera. Green Lake is prohibited and tapu (Maori for curses, sacred, special) and none is expected to enter.

Mt Tarawera:

For the adventure enthusiasts. Take the way home and the ascent of Mount Tarawera. Enter the crater and run at full speed. The huge crater was caused by the eruption June 10, 1886 that destroyed the pink and white terraces and buried many villages.

Great Lakes:

The number of lakes is just too many to name. Ideal for trout fishing, boating or picnicking. Some lakes even have black volcanic glass and / or pumice stone lying on their sides.

Hamurana Springs

If you want to see a beautiful spring feed stream, it is worth a visit pure water with a pinch of flow over a bed of blue pumice stone. There is also a nice position redwood and I would be surprised if you do not “see any trout in the stream (no fishing allowed, sorry).

This list is not exhaustive and, like any new tourist destination places are still open. I hope this gives you a basic to do list when visiting. To view photos please visit the resource box below.