Undeniable New Zealand Destination-Tourism

The land of Rotorua is located on Lake Rotorua, right in the middle of the Taupo volcano, known as the “hot water capital” of New Zealand. Groundwater and lava flows give Rotorua numerous hot pools. With its fascinating natural landscape, Rotorua is an irresistible destination when visiting New Zealand.

Rotorua welcomes anyone who loves to explore.

Outdoor heaven

The most fascinating experience in the city of Rotorua is taking a hot bath. Every few years, hot water in the ground suddenly erupts, forming a new lake. Open-air hot springs are available in parks and swimming pools for people to freely bathe in. Government Gardens is a popular destination for tourists because of its large hot springs. Not only that, this park is also close to the city museum, stadium and many world-class golf courses.

If you want a bath combined with sauna and massage, go to the beauty areas. Here, people dig their own hot pools, then add minerals and herbs with good health effects.

Rotorua is heaven for cyclists. It owns the most beautiful mountain climbing routes in the world. When the weather is clear, cyclists can see the mountain scenery. The gray color of the rock is dotted by the blue of the clear lakes. The route that many cyclists love is from Rotorua down to the Bay of Plenty, about 70-100km long, depending on the turn.

However, the passes in Rotorua will become dangerous if visitors do not prepare well before exploring. Many sharp turns, lack of mirrors and signs and low grip on the road are the three factors that cause the most accidents. Visitors who want to go mountain biking in Rotorua should go in groups led by a guide, carefully study the terrain and prepare first aid supplies.

Around the city of Rotorua, there are 14 different large lakes formed on the crater. Lake Rotorua is chosen by many tourists because there is the island of Mokoia in the middle of the lake. That island was actually the tip of a crater, and today, visitors can still dive to the bottom of the lake to pick up volcanic rock. Visitors to Mokoia often spend many hours fishing for rainbow trout – a fish that is abundant on the coast; they grilled fish to eat on the spot along with sweet kumara sweet potatoes grown on fertile volcanic soil.

Animal lovers will have two choices. The Motutara route passes many hot springs and fissures where sulfur gas escapes from the soil. This is a place where migratory birds from the North stay during the winter. The second option is Okere Falls at the end of Lake Rotoiti. Some salmon species have the habit of migrating upstream in late spring. The sight of hundreds of fish swimming upstream to the spawning place makes a strong impression. In addition, near the waterfall, there are two caves – where a species of worm that glows in the dark lives.

In addition to the salmon spawning season, Okere Falls is a place that specializes in water sports activities. Many kayakers and windsurfers have tried their hand at the Okere River, where the Tuteas waterfall is the highest waterfall in the world that professional boaters are allowed to go through. Not everyone has the courage to sit on a kayak dropped from a height of 7m. Those who do not want to be adventurous can choose to walk through the forest, both to enjoy the scenery and visit some of the ancient Maori ruins.

Immerse yourself in local life

In the city of Rotorua, there are international standard hotels, but tourists often choose homestays in indigenous villages, such as Te Puia village in the middle of the Whakarewarewa valley. Coming to Te Puia, visitors will discover geological wonders such as mineral mud springs and “gods of water”. It is a fissure where hot water continuously gushes out into columns up to 3-4m high. Evening is the time for visitors to immerse themselves in traditional Maori activities such as collective cooking, dancing and listening to epics.

The nearby village of Whakarewarewa is essentially the same as Te Puia, but with a much older history. Members of the Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao tribe started building here about 700 years ago. During that time, they learned to live with volcanoes. The women still use stoves that use geothermal heat to cook. Meanwhile, the men dug mineral clay around the village to make pottery. The pottery is then fired in kilns built of black stone (cooled lava) which retains heat better than ordinary brick or stone.

New Zealanders know that nature has given them a treasure, so they take care of Rotorua very carefully. From the topography to the culture of this land is treated with respect. If you want to know what New Zealand was like in the beginning, head to Rotorua to realize the country is a paradise on earth.