Image above from: Destination Rotorua Tourism Marketing
Rotorua - www.rotoruaNZ.com
Rotorua proudly claims to capture the best of New Zealand all in one place, whether you’re 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!
Air New Zealand - www.airnewzealand.com.au
Rotorua has daily air service links with Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown and twice weekly return trans-Tasman flights from Sydney.
Holiday Inn Rotorua – www.holidayinn.com
Holiday Inn Rotorua overlooks the renowned Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve and Historical Village, which makes it the perfect base to experience the natural and cultural excitement of this very unique location.
Whakarewarewa Village – www.whakarewarewa.com
Set amidst a landscape of erupting geothermal activity, hot thermal springs and hot bubbling mud pools is the Living Maori village of Whakarewarewa situated in Rotorua, the heart of the North Island. Discover our unique lifestyle and traditions. Join a guided tour and see the wonders of Mother Nature and learn how we have come to live in harmony within this unique environment.
Hells Gate and Wai Ora Spa - www.hellsgate.co.nz
Steaming fumaroles and boiling mud pools are among the attractions at Hells Gate, a 50-acre thermal park 15 minutes southeast of Rotorua. The region's most active thermal park, Hells Gate is a place of extreme contrasts. It boasts a variety of thermal features. Visitors can follow the footsteps of ancient Maori warriors through the swirling clouds of steam and see the violent geothermal activity of the Kakahi Falls, the southern hemisphere's largest hot waterfall. Here warriors would bathe in the sulphurous waters to heal their wounds after battle.
Rotorua's unique geothermal mud and water are renowned for their curative and invigorating properties and visitors can experience both at Wai Ora Spa. Traditional massage and mud treatments are on the menu here. Trained staff offer 30 or 60-minute therapies incorporating elements of Miri Miri (Maori massage technique), which has been practised by Maori for over 700 years. This technique includes elements of spirituality, energy balancing, therapeutic massage, deep tissue massage and relaxation massage. Wai Ora Spa features three semi-private mud baths - one family and two three-person baths and two mineral spas. There are also two public sulphur spas on the Hells Gate side of the reserve. Wai Ora has eight purpose-built treatment including two for couples who wish to share this unique experience. Visitors can relax in the private lounge before or after therapies.
Haka World - www.hakaworld.com
"Te Rauparaha" the famous fighting Chief of Ngati toa and Ngati Raukawa composed the Haka Kamate. It tells the simple story of pursuit, escape, fear of capture and the exhilaration of ultimate survival. More than any other aspect of Maori culture, this complex dance is disciplined, yet emotional and an expression of the passion, vigour and identity of the race. It is at its best, truly, a message of the soul expressed by words and posture.
Haka world teaches both male and female visitors to Haka World how to perform the Haka Kamate Kamate. They teach you the words, actions and posture of the Haka and then dress you in traditional warrior clothing, including having your own Moko applied to your face and then invite you to perform your version of the Haka.
View video for Hells Gate and Haka World in videoplayer above.
Rainbow Springs Wildlife Park – www.rainbowsprings.co.nz
Rainbow Springs Wildlife Park offers a unique, world-class experience allowing people to get up close and personal with New Zealand wildlife. It's a must-do activity for families, groups, couples, you name it. The park is focused on conservation and sustainability and is an award-winning tourist attraction. Walk through the 22-acre park and encounter spectacular flora and wildlife, including New Zealand natives and introduced species. There is plenty to do whatever the time of day. Feed trout in crystal clear spring-fed pools, check out NZ's native tuatara or enjoy a picnic lunch on the Fairy Springs lawn, where you'll be surrounded by sheep, donkey, pigs and chickens. Follow a daytime visit with a nature by night experience. The entry price is all inclusive. Also at Rainbow Springs is Kiwi Encounter, the only purpose-built kiwi conservation centre open to the public in the world and New Zealand's only open-to-view' kiwi hatchery and rearing facility. Here visitors can get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at passionate efforts to save New Zealand's native and iconic bird from extinction. Take a guided tour and see kiwi chicks at various stages of life, from incubation and hatching to eventual release into the wild. See the birds foraging for food and view them by night in an outdoor walk through their enclosure. Proceeds from all entry fees go towards continuing this facility's conservation work, enabling the team to increase the numbers of kiwi hatched and raised here each year.
Skyline Rotorua - www.skylineskyrides.co.nz
Perched on the side of Mt Ngongotaha, Skyline Skyrides is one of Rotorua's best-known family fun and adventure activities. Head up the mountain on an eight-seater gondola and enjoy panoramic views over the region before racing down on a luge cart with the wind in your hair. Luging is guaranteed to appeal to all ages. Designed and built in Rotorua, the luge is a three-wheeled cart with a unique braking and steering system that gives riders full control and allows them to ride at their own pace. Enjoy a leisurely trip down the mountain on the 2km scenic luge track, which has viewing bays great for photography. The 1.7km intermediate track boasts a tunnel, spirals and spectacular city and lake views. It's a must-do for any luge addicts. The advanced track is a thrilling 1km ride packed with bends and dips that is suitable for anyone aged over 10. Return to the top of the luge on double-seater chairlifts. During summer visitors can choose from two twilight luge options, ideal after enjoying the lakes by day. The scenic and intermediate tracks are lit until 8pm, depending on conditions. The Sky Swing is a must-do. Be hoisted high in the air and enjoy the view over Rotorua as you hurtle towards the ground in this adrenalin-pumping ride.
View Rainbow Springs and Skyline Roturua video.
Multi-Day Adventures Mountainbiking – www.redwoods.co.nz/mountainbiking.php
Whakarewarewa Forest has one of the oldest mountain bike networks in the country. These master-crafted trails are an unbeatable blend of riding surfaces, topography and scenery. With around 90km of continually evolving trails, there is something to cater for all levels of rider, from beginners and family groups through to experts looking for extreme action. The trails weave through lush native ferns beneath soaring forest canopies of Redwood, Radiata, Douglas Fir, Eucalyptus and Larch. Riders are often afforded glimpses of Rotorua's beautiful lakes, geothermal activity and brooding Mt. Tarawera. It is no wonder Rotorua is renowned among mountain bikers as the location for a huge range of premier mountain biking events such as the 2006 World Mountain Bike & Trails Champs, the Single Speed Nationals in 2008 and the annual 12 and 24 hours Cateye Moonride, Xterra and N-Duro Winter MTB Series to name but a few.
Pure Cruise - www.purecruise.co.nz
Pure Cruise is based at the Amora Lake Resort Okawa Bay Rotorua and offer a luxurious eco-tourism sailing experience with a choice of an Exclusive Private Charter or regular daily cruise with other travellers. Your cruise can be as relaxed or as active as you like, with a range of activities on offer from trout fishing, sight-seeing, sailing, swimming, or taking a soak in Lake Rotoiti natural hot pools that are only accessible by boat. Pure Cruise offers visitors the chance to experience a unique lake cruise on Tiua, a luxurious 53-foot catamaran. Lake Rotoiti is one of Rotorua's most stunning lakes and is rich in cultural history and wildlife. Tiua is newly refurbished, featuring contemporary comfort throughout and is capable of hosting up to 50 guests. The catamaran is designed specifically for entertaining, making it perfect for social events, incentives, meetings and private charters. Its licensed bar features premium New Zealand wines matched with fine cuisine. On-board facilities include three bathrooms, two luxury en-suite cabins and a spacious foredeck. Your cruise can be as relaxed or as active as you choose, with a range of activities on offer including trout fishing, swimming or soaking in hot pools only accessible by boat. Enjoy an exclusive private charter or mingle with other visitors on a regular daily cruise.
View Mountainbiking and Pure Cruise video
Agroventures - www.agroventures.co.nz
Agroventures is a one-stop adventure spot home to an array of adrenalin-pumping activities. The adventure park, just 10 minutes' drive from the Rotorua city centre in the Agrodome complex, boasts the world's only Shweeb, Rotorua Bungy, Agrojet, New Zealand's only Swoop and the southern hemisphere's only Freefall Xtreme. Designed with environmentally friendly urban transport systems in mind, the Shweeb is the world's first human-powered monorail ride. Race 600m around the track in an enclosed bicycle pod with seven gears, swinging sideways along the way. Up to four people can Shweeb at once, with team races available. The current world record is 57.1 seconds, held by a UK male in the under-25 age group. Minimum height requirement is 1.4m tall. With Agrojet, New Zealand's fastest jet boat ride, visitors experience death-defying laps of a 1km sprint course. The state-of-the-art water boats can accelerate to 100kmph in just 4.5 seconds, providing a thrill like no other. The 43m-high Rotorua Bungy is guaranteed to get the pulse racing. Dive out over the Ngongotaha Stream on a single or tandem jump. The bungy ropes used have internal safety cords capable of holding two tonnes. Minimum age is 10, with anyone under 15 requiring parental permission. Minimum weight is 35kg. On the Swoop, visitors will swing towards the ground at 130km/h from 40 metres in the air. Up to three people can swoop at once in specially designed harnesses. Minimum height requirement is one metre. Freefall Xtreme is the only body-flying attraction in the southern hemisphere. Following training and the provision of a flight suit visitors are launched on to a giant column of air to simulate skydiving. Experienced flight masters offer guidance. A net four metres high offers an extra safety measure. Minimum weight requirement is 25kg. Try one activity or try them all - there are plenty of packages to choose from and every moment can be recorded. Agroventures also boasts an outdoor entertainment area with barbecue facilities.
Zorb – www.zorb.com
ZORB Rotorua is a must-do New Zealand activity, and was the Winner of the Visitors Choice Award for the things to do in New Zealand. ZORB is a New Zealand company and brand name which began life over 14 years ago. The ZORB experience, generically called 'globe riding', was invented in New Zealand and developed by ZORB since 1995 using original ZORB globes. Using this truly innovative and unique device, the crazy kiwi's took it a step further and decided it was a good idea to roll down a hill inside the ZORB globe. And what an idea it was – the sport of globe riding was born!
ZORB globe riding (generically known as globe riding) is the experience of rolling down a hill in a large inflatable globe at a dedicated ZORB site. You’re placed inside an original ZORB globe and roll you down a hill, wet or dry (which ever tickles your fancy!). There are two types of ZORB globes available - the harness, or ZORBIT (dry) variety; and the non-harness, or ZYDRO (wet) variety. What's more, you can choose to roll down one of the track variations for a completely unique experience.
View Agroventures and Zorb video
