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From the moment people arrive in Rotorua they know they're somewhere quite different. There is a scent of sulphur in the air, and at nearby geothermal hotspots there are geysers spouting, acrid-smelling mud pools bubbling and belching and warm geothermal springs and ponds that create a kaleidoscope of color.
The Rotorua region is fast becoming known as nature's spa of the South Pacific. Visitors can begin their journey by relaxing with a soak in the healing waters of the geothermal hot springs, indulge in a selection of therapeutic spa and health-massage therapies, or a rejuvenating dip in a mud bath.
Rotorua boasts a strong relationship between Maori and European cultures. With one third of New Zealand's population Maori, Rotorua is a strong hold of Maori culture. For the Maori people, it is considered an honor to share their cultural treasures with visitors, whether it be through one of the many Maori performances where stories are relayed through beautiful song and dance, taking in a traditional hangi feast, where food is cooked below the ground in an earthen oven, or visiting a Maori village to view a wide range of traditionally crafted arts.
Geothermal Attrations
• Waimangu Volcanic Valley: the Valley is famous for the Pink and White Terraces, which were destroyed by the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption. It is recognised as the largest eruption in the history of New Zealand since European settlement. It has had significant impact on the history of the region, because it totally destroyed New Zealand's most famous visitor attractions - the Pink and White Terraces. Visitors from all over the world journeyed to Rotomahana to view these natural features and bathe in the warm mineral pools and springs
• Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley: visitors can observe Pohutu Geyser, which can shoot water 30 metres (100 feet) skyward, see Maori carvers, weavers and sculptors at work, and experience a cultural performance
• Hell's Gate Thermal Reserve, located on the Rotorua-Whakatane Highway: well-known for its violent geothermal activity
Parks/Walking Trails
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Whakarewarewa Forest: visit the giant Californian redwood trees . With Rotorua becoming well known as a mountain bike adventure mecca, one of the main activities in the Forest is mountain biking through a network of trails. Mountain bikes can be hired and guided trips are available. Other activities in the forest include running, walking and horse riding
• Mt Tarawera: hike to the top of this majestic volcano (a day trip). For the more adventurous, enjoy a scree run down into the crater!
• Urewera National Park: drive to the closest national park to Rotorua (62 km/39 miles to the edge of the Park from Rotorua). Further into the Park is Lake Waikareiti, where visitors can take a short walk to idyllic surrounds, and Lake Waikaremoana,
where visitors can set out on a four-day walk around the Lake.
Heritage and Culture
• Rotorua Museum of Art and History: join a film show that traces the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption. Enter the spiritual world of the Te Arawa people, and investigate the fascinating past of the Rotorua Spa
• Blue Baths: in this meticulously restored building visitors can bathe in crystal-clear, thermally heated waters. A museum in the old changing rooms showcases the building's colourful past with videos and displays. Dine upstairs in the elegant 1930s tearooms, with views over the beautifully manicured Government Gardens
• Te Wairoa: experience a village that was buried by the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption and is now on display as an archaeological site. The museum of Te Wairoa and excavated sites, combined with natural beauty and wildlife, make a walk through the Buried Village a unique experience
• Maori culture: discover the customs of the Maori people at one of the Maori concerts and traditional hangi meals staged daily
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