Kia Ora!
New Zealand is one of my favourite countries to visit. NZ (also known as Aotearoa) is a tiny country size-wise but it sure packs a punch sightseeing-wise! There’s so much to see and do in this island nation that you if plan a trip there, make sure it is for at least 2 weeks.
However, you can only manage a short trip, then do ensure that your agenda includes a visit to Rotorua in the North Island. This charming little town is renowned for its spas/mud pools, geothermal activity (NZ is prone to earthquakes) and rich Maori culture. Kids have plenty to keep them busy too, which makes Rotorua a great option for a family getaway. If you drive from Auckland to Rotorua you will know you have reached Rotorua when you get that peculiar sulphur odour and that is the reasons why its also called sulphur city! We could see hot springs from our hotel room.
I visited Rotorua back in 2013 with my team of Fan 5 – Yeah thats what we call us Fantastic 5. LOL
Check out our list of the most amazing things to do and experience in Rotorua:
1. Agroventures (now known as Velocity Valley)
If you are in NZ, you must definitely try adventure sports! Put your fear and hesitation aside and try at least 1-2 sports here in Rotorua – I promise you won’t regret it!
Velocity Valley offers everything from bungy jumping and agrojet (high-speed speedboat) to super swings and schweeb racing (aerodynamic racing pods). It doesn’t matter whether you’re a novice or a seasoned pro – you will definitely find something to excite you and get the adrenaline pumping.
Our favourite was the swoop!
The folks at Velocity Valley take HD-quality videos and photos at each ride which you can then purchase. We took our own pics though (the advantage of travelling in a group!) ☺
2. Te Puia Geothermal reserve and geysers
If bubbling mud, pools of boiling water and stunning geysers get you excited, then you must definitely visit Te Puia, a gorgeous spot located within the historic Te Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley on the edge of Rotorua.
Te Puia is home to the Pōhutu geyser and a number of other Maori Taonga (treasures) including the national schools of wood carving, weaving, stone and bone carving. You will also see plenty of NZ’s national bird, the adorable little kiwi. We also got to see the demonstration of making a rope from plant fiber. I was fascinated to see the demonstration of rope being made out the leaf in few minutes.
NZ takes excellent care of its natural resources and assets, and Te Puia is no exception!
There are different experience packages offered here. We chose the Te Ra and Te Po combined day trip where we enjoyed traditional Māori cuisine, storytelling plus awesome sight-seeing.
The tour starts with a cultural program in the Marae- Maori village.They choose a random leader from the tourists standing there and then they start their traditional welcome ceremony. A warrior comes first doing a wero which used to be done to check if visitors were peaceful enough to let inside. Once that check is done the women sing and welcome the guests and later the men perform a Haka. Haka is a form of war dance celebration which has a lot of shouting and having angry emotions on faces. Sometimes it looks very funny but it would be rude so better control that laughter. Later they even invite you to join them on the stage to dance which is fun. It ends with a Hongi which is a tradiotional Maori greeting by rubbing noses and exchanging breath of life. After the show we left to see the mudpools and geysers. The entire tour was totally worth it!
If you choose the Te Ra package your tour would end here but since we had chosen the Te Po combo we stayed back in the evening for traditional Maori dinner. In this package as soon as it turns dark they take you again to view the geysers with light effects. after the geyser tour you are guided to the restaurant for Maori Hangi dinner. Being vegetarians, we obviously couldn’t eat anything except a few boiled veggies and bread.
3. Rotorua Museum
Like Te Puia, Rotorua Museum is another great way to learn about Maori culture and history. The museum has a number of stunning exhibits and organises many events that are extremely popular with tourists.
Note: I recently found that the museum is currently closed for earthquake strengthening, so before you visit, do confirm that it’s open.
4. Polynesian spa
I loved this one!
You must try New Zealand’s best geothermal bathing experience at the iconic Polynesian Spa in Rotorua. Rest, relax and rejuvenate at these natural mineral springs (both acidic and alkaline) and enjoy unique spa therapies. The spa was right outside our hotel and we couldn’t wait to go for spa looking at the color of the lake. We had booked lakeview private pool which had panoramic views of the lake and they are nicely done with a décor of stones.
The rates depend on what you choose (family pools are really cheap) but I think you cannot really put a price on a once-in-a-lifetime experience like this. So choose the private lake view rooms 🙂
5. Waitomo caves
If you think a cave is a cave is a cave – think again!
Take a tour around Waitomo caves and glide through them by boat for an experience that will stay with you forever. Time and space stand still in this breath-taking natural wonder of Rotorua.
The cave walls light up with thousands of glowworms that look truly magical. In fact, this is one of those places where adventure and magic exist side by side.
My pictures don’t do justice to the reality!
6. Skyline Gondola and Luge
If you want to enjoy some spectacular views of Rotorua (and trust me, they are spectacular!), jump into a Gondola – an 8-seater cabin suspended on cables, a few hundred feet in the air. Don’t worry – it’s completely safe and the ride is so scenic that you will forget that your feet are not on the ground!
Once you get to the top, you can choose to luge (like we did), mountain bike, zoom zipline or skyswing. If adventure sports are not your thing but hiking is, you can check out the nature trails as well.
So those were the 6 Rotorua attractions we absolutely loved!
We also tried one more: Off Road NZ, a self-drive, off-road vehicle experience for those who get their thrills from bumpy rides!
Off road NZ adventures
This place has activities like raceline karting, Monster 4×4 and 4wd Bush Safari. we chose the Bush safari and were totally disappointed for the price that we paid. They have made tracks which are bumpy and you have to drive the 4WD through the track. The guide walks with you all the time instructing yuo to slow down, take turns and other stuff which doesnt make it thrilling. There are one or two places where they have a downhill track. I thought only that was fun. I am from a city where there are more potholes than roads so bumpy drives are part of my daily life. In other words – not my idea of fun ☺
They even give a certificate at the end of the tour saying ” Congratulations!!! You have survived!!” Are you kidding me? We survive everyday like this in India. I was very surprised to read so many positive reviews about this but being an Indian this doesn’t attract us. LOL
If you are ever in Rotorua, leave me a comment and let me know about your experiences!
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