ROTORUA - Thermal Wonderland. Experience Maori Culture

ROTORUA

Rotorua, with its thermal areas, and Maori influences is an essential part of any visit to New Zealand. Hotels and Motels of all categories are available. BETTERPRICE HOTELS have a good selection in all price ranges. Please use the map above to find your preferred accommodation.

The city and region is focussed on tourism. Some activities that we recommend include:

ZORBING. New Zealanders invented bungy-jumping (well, the Pentecost Islanders of Vanuatu did really as the men leap off towers with vines attached to their legs to demonstrate their courage and offer themselves and their injuries to the gods in exchange for good harvests. However in the modern sense we believe we are correct, though some Britons also claim the honour!) No contest with Zorbing though. A kiwi invention, climb into a plastic ball and roll down a hill.

Silly though it sounds, it is exhilarating! Our 52 year old principal did (and enjoyed) the 'dry' option which is the toughest, where one is strapped into the ball. About 24 rotations in less than 30 seconds by one count. Dry rolls are a solo activity but one or two people can partake of the wet version. Here, the participants and a quantity of water enter the ball. The lubrication ensures that (more or less) the ball moves round the zorbinauts.

Dry clothes and towels are available for those who have not got their own zorbing gear.

Certainly worth a look! The ZORB area is adjacent to the AGRODOME on the outskirts of the city as one enters it from the north. Details

The AGRODOME offers a show in which trained sheep are used to demonstrate the importance of agriculture to New Zealand. Shearing is demonstrated and audience members get the chance to participate. As well as Zorbing, a number of other activities are offered in the complex. Check out the agrodome website for details.

BETTERPRICE HOTELS TIP: Arrive a little after 9am for the 9.30am Agrodome show to beat the coach loads and get a seat towards the front. A farm tour is available immediately after the show but in our opinion it is a little tame and can be given a miss in favour of other activities in the area.

Many of the larger hotels hold Maori entertainment evenings with a hangi (earth oven) meal though these can be somewhat stylised. The TAMAKI TOURS evening is, however, recommended and, on the evening we visited, was good value for the money.

The Polynesian Pools are open until late in the evening and a long soak after a day in the bus is a heavenly experience!

The museum at Rotorua has received a number of tourist awards, and the building (and the bath-house story) is stunning. We do not feel, however, that the museum - though worth a visit if time allows - is any better than a number of other good NZ museums.

There are a number of thermal areas around Rotorua. These include Waiotapu and Waimangu.

TAUPO

The lake is beautiful and the fishing apparently most enjoyable. The HUKA FALLS must not be missed. The water tumbles through in an impressive irridescent blue blur!

Rotorua Map/Accommodation search