Rotorua & Suburb
Whether seeking to experience Maori culture, geothermal earth forces, spa rejuvenation, thrills and adventure, or any of the other natural assets such as 16 lakes, some of the world's best mountain biking trails, fantastic trout fishing and myriad forest walking tracks - Rotorua delivers it all!
Rotorua is the heartland of New Zealand 's Maori culture. Enveloping warmth, a proud spirit, a deep sense of history and a quick humour - qualities you will experience in your interaction with local Maori.
Located in the central North Island, Rotorua is well connected to the rest of New Zealand, and the world, through a network of air and road links. The city is a leisurely three-hour drive from Auckland (234km), and a 5-6-hour drive from Wellington (457km).
Rotorua enjoys a pleasant climate; plenty of sun shine in summer with crisp (daytime 21-29°C), clear days in winter (daytime 9-16°C). Rotorua averages more than 2000 sunshine hours and just over 140cm of rain annually.
Must See / Visit Places
Geothermal Sites
Rotorua is one of the world's most spectacular Geothermal Wonderlands. Arrive in Rotorua and you immediately know you are somewhere like nowhere else. Just minutes from the city centre are hissing geysers, boiling water, bubbling mud and sinter formations providing evidence of Rotorua's incredible earth forces. There are four main Geothermal Areas (Te Puia, Hell’s Gate, Waimangu and Waiotapu) and in which a variety of geysers, hot springs, boiling mud pools and hissing craters can be experienced up close.
Lake Rotorua
Lake Rotorua is the largest of the 17 lakes in the Rotorua thermal region, covering an area of 89 sq km and sitting at a height of 279m above sea level. A feature of many of the launch trips based on the city’s lake front is the bush clad nature reserve of Mokoia Island, scene of the classic love story of the Arawa Princess Hinemoa and her suitor Tutanekai.
Maori Culture
The heartland of Maoridom, Rotorua is where the Arawa people have lived, worked and played for more than six centuries. Te Arawa have been guiding visitors through their geothermal backyard for more than 160 years, with their welcoming tradition passed down from generation to generation.
Polynesian Spa
Polynesian Spa is New Zealand’s leading international day spa, providing a unique thermal spa experience on the shore of Lake Rotorua.
You can enjoy this World Top Ten Spa (medical and thermal day spas), as voted by readers of the prestigious Conde Nast Traveller magazine 2004-2007, 2009
Skyline
Set high on the side of Mount Ngongotaha with extensive views of Rotorua city, Lake Rotorua, geothermal areas and surrounding hinterlands, Skyline Skyrides provides the ideal venue for a day of family fun, a romantic evening for two or an event with that all important wow factor.
Huka Falls
The Huka Falls are the largest falls on the Waikato River, near Taupo on New Zealand's North Island.
They are the most visited natural attraction in New Zealand!
The Waikato river is one of New Zealand's longest rivers and it drains Lake Taupo - the largest freshwater lake in all of Australasia.
The name Huka is the Maori word for 'foam', which is appropriate as the falling water and rapids certainly resembles foam, especially under flooding conditions.
Taupo
Taupo "the center of it all" comes naturally for this great North Island tourist town. In the centre of the North Island, Taupo is an easy location to stop and stay.
Lake Taupo is the largest lake in New Zealand spanning about 622 km2; this is about the size of Singapore. Lake Taupo was formed by a series of eruptions.
Tongariro National Park
In the summer you will find every thing you need to get out and enjoy the Tongariro and Whanganui National Park from hiking, biking and kayaking. In winter the National Park Village is the ideal base to Ski Whakapapa and Turoa Ski fields on Mt Ruapehu, you can hire your ski gear, purchase your mountain pass, and have a selection of accommodation options.
Qualmark is New Zenaland tourism's official quality assuarance agency and JTB has been a member of Qualmark since 2008.
Weather
- Auckland
- Showers.
- 16°C/ 5°C
- Rotorua
- Fair.
- 13°C/ -5°C
- Christchurch
- Partly Cloudy.
- 13°C/ 2°C
- Queenstown
- Partly Cloudy.
- 11°C/ -1°C
