Rotorua Regional Information

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Rotorua, nicknamed 'Sulphur City' is world famous for its natural attractions. It is a volcanic and geothermal wonderland, replete with bubbling mud pools, hot lakes, steaming cliffs, craters and spouting geysers. It is also a fresh water lake region, with no less than 11 lakes situated amidst lush forest and fern land. Rotorua is one of New Zealand's foremost Maori cultural meccas. The area offers a wealth of interesting and accessible cultural highlights. These include visits to Maori villages, Marae, concerts, rock drawings and traditional craft displays, such as woodcarving and flax weaving. For a mouth-watering treat, try sampling a hangi feast-food cooked in a traditional earth oven.

Visitors are fascinated by Rotorua's geothermal reputation. Closest to Rotorua City is the Whakarewarewa thermal area. Keep a lookout for Pohutu, New Zealand's greatest erupting geyser, which jets water and steam up to 30 metres high. Whakarewarewa also contains a model Maori pa, which was a design characteristic of pre-European times. Nearby is the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. A stop here is a great chance to watch highly skilled Maori craftspeople in action. Travel southeast down State Highway 5 and arrive at the Waimangu Valley thermal area. This contains the Waimangu Cauldron, one of the world's largest boiling lakes. Take in the steaming creeks and boiling crater lakes during a walk down the track that leads to the shores of Lake Rotomahana. Overall, Rotorua's intriguing combination of natural and cultural attractions make it one of New Zealand's most rewarding tourist highlights.

Rotorua offers a vast range of sightseeing attractions and activities to suit all walks of life. The heartland of New Zealand is rich in spirit and unique in character. The surrounding areas of Rotorua, a small city on the shores of Lake Rotorua, are comprised of steaming craters, mud pools and 20-metre geysers, volcanoes, lakes, parks and recreational areas. Spiritual home to Maori, the Sulphur City encapsulates much of what makes New Zealand unique. It is an ideal place to go hiking, walking and to observe some native wildlife. Although Rotorua is one of the major tourist attractions in the North Island it has retained some of its natural wonders throughout its development - including thermal springs and native bushland. Rotorua is the centre of Maori cultural activity including native song, dance, art and architecture. The Whakarewarewa steaming thermal pools is where some Maori live and they use the hot water for cooking, washing and heating. A rather unique sight is the Arikapakapa Golf Course - the only course in the world with bunkers of boiling mud and water. Many shops selling sheepskins, furs and souvenirs are clustered around a centre called the Little Village in Tryon Street. Greenstone carvings in traditional Maori shapes can be purchased from street artists and many local arts and crafts can be sourced from this area. A collection of Maori artefacts can be found at Rotorua Museum, which is located in the former bathhouse in Government Gardens and strolling the shores of Lake Rotorua leads to the city's original Maori village of Ohinemutu. We highly recommend that you take a cable car to the top of Mount Ngongotaha. This vantage point offers spectacular views of the city and lakes and there is the option to take a dare devil flying fox or toboggan for the journey down. For all the nature-lovers amongst you, Waipu River Mouth and Estuary at the end of Johnson Point Road are approximately 3km south east of Waipu. This refuge has international significance and is the nesting area for New Zealand dotterel, variable oyster catcher and New Zealand fairy tern. Other species include reef heron, ryebill, caspian tern and banded dotterel - all are protected, rare or threatened species. Ruakaka Wildlife Refuge situated at the Ruakaka River Mouth is a breeding area for New Zealand dotterel and variable oyster catchers.