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Rotorua Travel Guide: 481 reviews and 1,224 photos

Rotorua and Mount Tarawera - Rotorua
Rotorua and Mount Tarawera
THE LAKE, THE CITY, THE MOUNTAIN AND THERMAL AREA.

Rotorua is an attractive city, on the edge of a lake, with plenty of thermal activity and in the background you can see Mt Tarawera, full of character and intrigue with Maori folklore.
As well as being the tourist hub of NZ, Rotorua is the centre of our large forrestry industry.

CENTRE OF MAORI CULTURE
Maori warrior. - Rotorua

Maori warrior.

One of the main attractions of Rotorua is the rich Maori culture and there's plenty here to be found. Be sure to take advantage of the array of opportunities (tours, in other words) to see this cultural experience.

THERMAL REGION
Pohutu Geyser - Rotorua

Pohutu Geyser


Another of the main attractions is the thermal activity natural to this area. Again there are many tours and opportunities to view this phenomenon.


A lot of the activities in Rotorua cost quite a lot to visit. So after a day or two, it can end up costing a lot of money. I can give you some small tips on a few freebies, that may help you save a few dollars.

Boiling Mud
There is a small pond of boiling mud right beside the road, opposite the entrance to Te Puia. Drive south west from that entrance and before you get to the intersection with Old Taupo Road, on the right hand side, there is a pulloff bay beside the road. You can park there, and right beside you is a pool of hot mud behind the fence. Be sure to remain behind the fence, as the ground here is unstable and falling into the hot mud would surely bring about your demise. Great for seeing it close up and for free! And you can get really good photos of the "plopping" mud.

Geysers and steam
You can see free geysers and steam, and maybe some more boiling mud, at the central Kuirau Park. This can be accessed via Lake Road or Ranolf Street, near Rotorua Hospital to the west of the downtown area. It's very close to the Lake frontage. Degree of pressure changes daily so it's not guaranteed to see a guyser, but there is certainly plenty of volcanic activity to see here.
Again you must respect the barriers, as these earth cavities carry boiling water and will kill you if you fall in.

Pros and Cons
  • Pros:Amazing natural phenomena and the Maori culture.
  • Cons:Rotten egg smell of the sulphur.
  • In a nutshell:The tourist centre for Maori culture and Volcanic activity.
  • Last visit to Rotorua: Mar 2012
  • Intro Updated Mar 8, 2012
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Reviews (15)

Wingspan - Rotorua Wingspan Birds of Prey Centre Things to Do (7)

Wingspan is a very interesting bird recovery and education centre that specialises in Birds of Prey. Injured birds are... more travel advice

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Great and appealing cafe food, with a flare and individuality. Friendly and interesting staff, always happy to oblige. I... more travel advice

Rotorua War Memorial - Rotorua Free Entry to Maori Village and War... Things to Do (7)

The historic marae at Ohinemutu also provides an opportunity to visit the Maori War Memorial on the lake's edge. This is... more travel advice

Ohinemutu Marae - Rotorua Free entry to Maori Village Things to Do (7)

One of the oldest and established, authentic Maori villages is open to the public with no entry fee. This is Te... more travel advice

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