From the moment you enter Rotorua, you know you are somewhere like nowhere else. Lazy drifts of steam are emitted from cracks, crevices and culverts in parks, gardens, pathways and even residential streets. These constant steam drifts, together with the distinctive scent of sulphur, let you know you are in Rotorua, New Zealand - the centre of an active thermal area.
Just minutes from city centre, you will see geysers of hissing, steaming, scalding water roar from deep within the earth’s crust and hurl spray 100ft into the air. Pools of bubbling mud pop and belch like pots of porridge.
In geothermal fields south and north-east of the city, crater lakes are constantly refilled with hot water, rich mineral deposits paint the landscape from a multi-coloured palette from white to turquoise, steam escapes from cracks in cliff faces - and your camera will work overtime to record the stark beauty and splendour of our volcanic landscape.
Towering volcanoes, now dormant, are unmistakeable reminders of the land’s turbulent past. Over time many volcanic caldera (a basin formed when the earth slumps following the emptying of a magma chamber during volcanic activity) have formed a chain of sparkling lakes teeming with trophy trout.
Many of the district’s attractions are based around our two greatest assets - geothermal activity and lakes. Both are directly attributable to the continual volcanic activity that has formed and reformed the landscape.
At 290m above sea level, Rotorua is located on a volcanic plateau which encompasses most of the Central North Island. Geological records show ceaseless activity in this area for millennia, ranging from minor hot springs through to huge prehistoric ignimbrite flows which smothered the entire landscape. Most ‘recent’ eruptions were the Taupo eruption of around 1800 years ago and the Tarawera eruption of 1886.
Geothermal activity provides the source of Rotorua’s fame as a spa resort. Relax in pools of natural hot mineral water, wrap yourself in mud, soothe body and soul with an Aix massage under warm thermal water, and experience for yourself why Rotorua has developed its reputation as Nature’s Spa of the South Pacific. Rotorua offers the opportunity to encounter some of the world’s most incredible earth forces, so come visit us and discover the ‘Spirit of the Earth’.
From Wikipedia
Rotorua is a town on the southern shore of Lake Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand, and Rotorua District is the encompassing local authority area. The city has a population of 64,509. It is 60 km south of Tauranga, 105 km south-east of Hamilton and 82 km north-east of Taupo.
Rotorua is well-known for geothermal activity. There are a number of geysers, notably the Pohutu geyser at Whakarewarewa, and hot mud pools located in the city, which owe their presence to the Rotorua caldera.
Rotorua is connected to the north by State Highway 5, to the east by State Highway 33, to the west by State Highway 30, and to the south by State Highway 5. Increasingly though travellers to Tauranga are selecting the newly commissioned State Highway 36 via Ngongotaha and Pyes Pa.
Rotorua Regional Airport provides daily flights to Auckland International Airport and Wellington International Airport via turbo-prop services and Christchurch International Airport using turbo-props and a daily jet service. Plans are afoot to increase the runway length to allow trans-Tasman flights.
Rotorua is also connected to the rail network with a branch line from Putaruru to the north, currently disused.
History
The name Rotorua comes from Māori, the full name being Te Rotorua-nui-a-Kahumatamomoe; roto generally means lake and rua two - Rotorua thus meaning 'Second lake'. Kahumatamomoe was the uncle of the Māori chief Ihenga. It was the second major lake the chief discovered, and he dedicated it to his uncle. It is the largest of a multitude found to the north-east of the city, all connected with the Rotorua Caldera and nearby Mt Tarawera.
The area was initially settled by Māori of the Te Arawa iwi. The lakeshore was a prominent site of skirmishes during the New Zealand Wars of the 1860s. A "special town district" was created in the 1880s, in order to promote Rotorua's potential as a spa. The town was connected to Auckland with the opening of the Rotorua Branch railway and commencement of the Rotorua Express train in 1894, resulting in the rapid growth of the town and tourism from this time forward. Rotorua was established as a borough in 1922.
Modern days
Geothermal areas
Thermal activity is at the heart of much of Rotorua's tourist appeal. Geysers and bubbling mud-pools, hot thermal springs and the Buried Village (Te Wairoa) - so named after it was buried by the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption - are within easy reach of the city.
Kuirau Park, to the west end of the central city, is also remarkable - hot bubbling mud pools dot the park, lending a surreal air to the setting. Visitors can soak their feet in hot pools.
Mud pool, Tikitere ("Hell's Gate"), Rotorua.
Rotorua is nicknamed Sulphur City, because of the aforementioned thermal activity. The sulphur gives off an odour unique to Rotorua that adds to the visitor experience.
The especially pungent smell in the central-east 'Te Ngae' area is due to the dense sulphur deposits located next to the southern boundary of the Government Gardens, in the area known as 'Sulphur Point'.
Lakes
With 17 lakes, the Rotorua region is an aquatic paradise. Fishing, waterskiing, swimming and other water activities are popular in summer. The lakes are also great event venues; Rotorua hosted the 2007 World Waterski Championships. Lake Rotorua is also used as a departure and landing point for float planes.
Other activities
Downtown Rotorua, Lake Rotorua, and Mokoia Island.
Rotorua is also home to botanical gardens and interesting historic architecture. Known as a spa town and major tourist resort since the 1800s, many of its buildings hint at this history. Government Gardens, close to the lakeshore at the eastern end of the town, are particularly worthy of note.
Northern Rotorua, Lake Rotorua, and Mokoia Island.
Another of Rotorua's attractions is the mountain biking. Whakarewarewa (also known as the "Redwoods") Forest has been described as 'the Disneyland of mountain biking' and has some of the best mountain bike trails in New Zealand. Rotorua hosted the UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships, in August 2006.