Rotorua

About Rotorua

Rotorua on the North Island of New Zealand is a volcanic city which, as one of the greatest hot spots on Earth for geothermal activity, is a wonderfully exciting and unusual place to visit for any tourist. The city itself runs just as a traditional city does, but with the added excitement of the volcanic activity which makes the area so special.

Rotorua is full of hot springs, boiling mud pools and geysers which shoot into the air at regular intervals. In many places these are confined to parks and reserves, but occasionally a new spot will see steam rising or a hot pool forming, making any trip to Rotorua one in which anything can happen! Of course this element is the focus of most of the tourist trade in Rotorua, but with so many exciting ways to enjoy the activity, any tourist should be able to find a wonderful way to enjoy the city.

Exploring Rotorua

The Rotorua gondola cableway is a wonderful way to see Rotorua, with a vertical climb of 178.5 m (585.6 ft) it takes visitors high above the city to see their surroundings from the best viewpoint possible. The thermal activity provides several notable attractions for visitors, such as the  Pohutu Geyser in the Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley which erupts several times each day and makes for an exciting and unpredictable visit.

Another attraction is Kuirau Park, throughout which there are hot bubbling mud pools in which visitors can soak their feet. The region around Rotorua has 17 lakes, on which fishing, water-skiing and swimming are popular. Another highlight in Rotorua is mountain biking – the Whakarewarewa Forest has many great mountain biking trails to explore.