Discover Rotorua in Beautiful New Zealand

I’ve been to New Zealand many times, and each time, I am able to discover something new.  My latest visit included a stay in Rotorua on the North Island.  If you’re planning a visit to Auckland, it’s easy to include Rotorua on your itinerary.

Rotorua is the islands’ population centre and has been heavily visited since the Europeans first heard of the healing qualities of the local hot springs and pools.  All around this unique land, nature has crafted a gallery of surreal wonders that includes limestone caverns, volcanic wastelands, steaming geysers, and hissing ponds.

Rotorua has a well-established Maori community tracing its ancestry back through the Te Arawa tribe to the great Polynesian migration of the 14th century.

When there, you can take advantage of New Zealand’s unique dining experience, the bangi, a Maori feast.  Traditionally, meat and vegetables placed in flax baskets were gently steamed in an earth oven lined with heated stones and wet leaves.  The delicious meal is made from lamb, pork and seafood along with pumpkin and sweet potato.  If you’re lucky, your feast will include a Maori concert with a performance of traditional songs and dances.

One of my favorite activities while in Rotorua was visiting the thermal springs.  Even the less expensive hotels feature thermal baths or you can visit the public facilities such as Polynesian Spa.  It’s amazing how relaxed and calm you feel after spending time in one of these baths. 

Of course, during your visit, you will note one of the most extraordinary sights in the country.  Everywhere you look, you will see the earth bubbling, spitting, boiling and hissing.  It really is extraordinary and is attributed to the fact that Rotorua sits smack on top of the most violent segment of the Taupo Volcanic Zone. 

Be sure to include a visit to exciting Rotorua when you plan your own visit to enchanting New Zealand – you won’t be disappointed!

Posted by on 02/23 at 02:50 PM

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