Rotorua
Jul 13th, 2013, 10:59 AM
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Rotorua
Last year we spent a week at Yellowstone National Park and have no desire to see more geysers. Are there other reasons to visit Rotorua while New Zealand, versus spending more time in Auckland and Queenstown.?
Jul 13th, 2013, 11:25 AM
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We thought the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute was pretty interesting. http://www.tepuia.com although we didn't have as much time to look around as we would have liked.
Lee Ann
Lee Ann
Jul 13th, 2013, 11:27 PM
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The scenery is lovely and there are there are lots of walks to do. The Redwoods forest is particularly lovely and it is not all redwoods. There is a nice walk at night to see glow worms. Plenty of waterfalls and lakes. Museums and gardens. Wineries etc.
Look at my trip report for all the free things to do in and around Rotorua, plus costs of other things.
It really depends on whether you like "town/city" things or nature.
The mistress of the cakes is reason enough to go to Rotorua.
http://mistressofcakes.co.nz/
She has a stall in the night market as well.
The night market has a good range of international food.
We spent a week there this Easter just gone and spent only about a day total looking at the smelly things. I love them but we had been to al the others on another trip. Like you my wife wanted to do other things. We easily filled the week and could have filled another week easily.
Look at my trip report for all the free things to do in and around Rotorua, plus costs of other things.
It really depends on whether you like "town/city" things or nature.
The mistress of the cakes is reason enough to go to Rotorua.
http://mistressofcakes.co.nz/
She has a stall in the night market as well.
The night market has a good range of international food.
We spent a week there this Easter just gone and spent only about a day total looking at the smelly things. I love them but we had been to al the others on another trip. Like you my wife wanted to do other things. We easily filled the week and could have filled another week easily.
Jul 14th, 2013, 03:49 PM
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I highly recommend the Sport of Kings hotel while in Rotorua-check out the reviews on Tripadvisor and Booking.com to see the glowing comments. The owners are amazing.Pete and Tristan run a wonderful self catering hotel that is convenient to everything in the Rotorua area.
I was doing a two week self drive tour through NZ with my adult daughter in January from the North Island down to the South Island.
Pete heard me talking to my daughter about how badly I felt that our trip didn't include going over to the caves to see the glow worms on this trip when he said he thought that he had something better" for her to see.Pete took my daughter and I along with another couple from Zurich out in his personal jeep for a 30 minute ride at night to this waterfall area in the forest. We walked for about 10 minutes(with flashlights provided by him) when we came upon the waterfall area lit up with millions of glow worms all around us (better than what I had seen 40 years ago at Waitaimo Caves). It was absolutely magical and amazing! My daughter and I both think that it was in the top ten wonders of our trip down there.
Pete has been in natural resources and is also a guide for the area. He was so interesting to listen to about the flora/ fauna and NZ stories as we went to see the glow worms.He did this at 930pm when he wasn't working,didn't want any payment and just loves to share NZ and the beauty with strangers.
Both he and his wife were very gracious to tell us things that might be a "rip off" and things that we should definitely go to while there as we were perusing their tourist brochures.
Avoid the stupid park that throws chemicals in to make the geyser spout at 10am-ridiculous. Instead go to the Native Maori center for the tour and the dancing in the afternoon instead of spending over $100 a person for a dinner and dance show. The gal at the ticket office told us that on the QT and we saved ALOT for the same thing! Have fun-
I was doing a two week self drive tour through NZ with my adult daughter in January from the North Island down to the South Island.
Pete heard me talking to my daughter about how badly I felt that our trip didn't include going over to the caves to see the glow worms on this trip when he said he thought that he had something better" for her to see.Pete took my daughter and I along with another couple from Zurich out in his personal jeep for a 30 minute ride at night to this waterfall area in the forest. We walked for about 10 minutes(with flashlights provided by him) when we came upon the waterfall area lit up with millions of glow worms all around us (better than what I had seen 40 years ago at Waitaimo Caves). It was absolutely magical and amazing! My daughter and I both think that it was in the top ten wonders of our trip down there.
Pete has been in natural resources and is also a guide for the area. He was so interesting to listen to about the flora/ fauna and NZ stories as we went to see the glow worms.He did this at 930pm when he wasn't working,didn't want any payment and just loves to share NZ and the beauty with strangers.
Both he and his wife were very gracious to tell us things that might be a "rip off" and things that we should definitely go to while there as we were perusing their tourist brochures.
Avoid the stupid park that throws chemicals in to make the geyser spout at 10am-ridiculous. Instead go to the Native Maori center for the tour and the dancing in the afternoon instead of spending over $100 a person for a dinner and dance show. The gal at the ticket office told us that on the QT and we saved ALOT for the same thing! Have fun-
Jul 16th, 2013, 08:29 AM
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Dutyfree, can you name names about the 10am geyser spout (does the name of the geyser have 2 words, one starting with an L and the other starting with a K?)? Also the name of the native Maori center that you mention?
We also will be spending 2 nights in Rotorua in November, do want to see one thermal park and don't want to spend big bucks for an evening hangi and show.
We also will be spending 2 nights in Rotorua in November, do want to see one thermal park and don't want to spend big bucks for an evening hangi and show.
Jul 17th, 2013, 12:23 AM
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>>We also will be spending 2 nights in Rotorua in November, do want to see one thermal park and don't want to spend big bucks for an evening hangi and show.<<
Lady Knox is set off by soap being added to the geyser. The one at the Maori village is quite good and you can see it from one of the walks in the Redwoods forest without having to enter the village.
From:-
http://www.rotorua.nz.com/geothermal.aspx
My comments in capitals.
Lady Knox Geyser, Waiotapu, Rotorua
Whakarewarewa
Boasting the largest geyser in the country and approximately 500 hot springs, Whakarewarewa, the living village, is the most visited of Rotorua's Geothermal Areas and is a great place to experience the uniqueness of local Maori Culture.
HAVEN'T BEEN TO THIS ONE. WE ARE NOT PARTILUCLARLY INTERESESTED IN PEOPLE AND CULTURE,BUT IT LOOKED OK FROM THE LOOK OUT, MAORI CULTURE WILL BE THE MAIN ATTRACTION NOT THE THERMAL AREA.
Tikitere (Hell's Gate)
Hell's Gate is Rotorua's most fierce Geothermal Area with boiling whirl pools, the largest hot waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere and many other truly amazing features.
GREAT FOR EVERYTHING BUT PARTICULARLY BUBBLING MUD. NO GEYSER THOUGH.
Waimangu
20 minutes South of Rotorua, Waimangu Valley is a breathtaking tribute to the devastating eruption of Mount Tarawera over 100 years ago. The multi-coloured lakes and stunning landscape make this short trip a must.
VERY PRETTY VALLEY WITH LOTS OF LITTEL THERAM AREAS. YOU WALK DOWN AND THEN CATCH A COURTESY BUS BACK.THE WALK IS DESIGNED SO THAT NO STRAIGTH SECTION IS MORE THAN 50M LONG, THUS YOU FEEL YOU ARE THE ONLY ONES THERE.
THE DETOUR WALK IS LOVELY AND HAS GREAT VIEWS OF THE LAKE AND VALLEY BUT NO THERMAL ACTIVITY. THE LAKE CRUISE IS LOVELY, I DID IT WITH ONLY TWO OTHERS. THEY ARRIVE AT THE GEYSER ON TIME TO SEE IT. IT IS ONLY A FEW METRES IN HEIGHT BEU VERY GOOD.THE LAKE CRUISE IS FULL OF LOVELY SCENERY.
Waiotapu
Including some of the most colourful volcanic features such as the Champagne Pool, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is set among gorgeous native bush and is a short 20 minute drive from Rotorua.
TRUE VERY COLOURFUL AND VERY TOURISTY BUT ALSO VERY GOOD. lONG TIME SIUNCE WE VISITED.
Orakei Korako - The Hidden Valley
Scenes from the BBC’s Walking with Dinosaurs were filmed in the stunning Orakei Korako and it is not hard to imagine why. Accessible by boat, Orakei Korako, the Hidden Valley, is lauded by Lonely Planet as "possibly the best thermal area left in New Zealand and one of the finest in the world".
GREAT! YOU CAN ONLY GET TO IT BY THEIR BOAT. BASIC FACILITIES AND CAFE BUT A GREAT WALK THROUGH A VARIETY OF THERMAL AREAS AND TYPES. A COUPLE OF VERY SMALL GEYSERS >1M. DELIGHTFUL WALK AND GOOD COLOURS.
Craters of the moon is near Huka falls and is interesting but only has steam vents and couple of mud pools. It is great as it is young and on a green plain. As it is run by volunteers - - very cheap $8?
FREE ONES
Lake Rotorua near the town centre has several spots of steam vents and bubbling mud.
There is at least one mud pool in the Redwoods forest. This is great as you hear it before you see or smell it. It is a small pool in a fern glade. Fantastic.
Near Waiotapu
is the largest of the mud pools. It was going crazy on our most recent visit.
On the same road is a hot creek you can sit/swim in. The road loops from the highway to all these and back.
WARNING WARNING WARNING
DO NOT PUT YOUR HEAD UNDER WATER IN A THERMAL POOL!
There are signs because:-
Amoebic meningitis is caused by an amoeba that lives in hot pools. If you put your head under water it forces water up your nose and thus they can get into your brain.
If you are going to the Bay of Island and want a more low key thermal pool experience like it was before tourism made it trendy, there is one called Waiariki Pools, Ngawha and it only costs $4 each. Much like the old local pools of yesteryear. VERY low key and basic. Very few tourists.
Lady Knox is set off by soap being added to the geyser. The one at the Maori village is quite good and you can see it from one of the walks in the Redwoods forest without having to enter the village.
From:-
http://www.rotorua.nz.com/geothermal.aspx
My comments in capitals.
Lady Knox Geyser, Waiotapu, Rotorua
Whakarewarewa
Boasting the largest geyser in the country and approximately 500 hot springs, Whakarewarewa, the living village, is the most visited of Rotorua's Geothermal Areas and is a great place to experience the uniqueness of local Maori Culture.
HAVEN'T BEEN TO THIS ONE. WE ARE NOT PARTILUCLARLY INTERESESTED IN PEOPLE AND CULTURE,BUT IT LOOKED OK FROM THE LOOK OUT, MAORI CULTURE WILL BE THE MAIN ATTRACTION NOT THE THERMAL AREA.
Tikitere (Hell's Gate)
Hell's Gate is Rotorua's most fierce Geothermal Area with boiling whirl pools, the largest hot waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere and many other truly amazing features.
GREAT FOR EVERYTHING BUT PARTICULARLY BUBBLING MUD. NO GEYSER THOUGH.
Waimangu
20 minutes South of Rotorua, Waimangu Valley is a breathtaking tribute to the devastating eruption of Mount Tarawera over 100 years ago. The multi-coloured lakes and stunning landscape make this short trip a must.
VERY PRETTY VALLEY WITH LOTS OF LITTEL THERAM AREAS. YOU WALK DOWN AND THEN CATCH A COURTESY BUS BACK.THE WALK IS DESIGNED SO THAT NO STRAIGTH SECTION IS MORE THAN 50M LONG, THUS YOU FEEL YOU ARE THE ONLY ONES THERE.
THE DETOUR WALK IS LOVELY AND HAS GREAT VIEWS OF THE LAKE AND VALLEY BUT NO THERMAL ACTIVITY. THE LAKE CRUISE IS LOVELY, I DID IT WITH ONLY TWO OTHERS. THEY ARRIVE AT THE GEYSER ON TIME TO SEE IT. IT IS ONLY A FEW METRES IN HEIGHT BEU VERY GOOD.THE LAKE CRUISE IS FULL OF LOVELY SCENERY.
Waiotapu
Including some of the most colourful volcanic features such as the Champagne Pool, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is set among gorgeous native bush and is a short 20 minute drive from Rotorua.
TRUE VERY COLOURFUL AND VERY TOURISTY BUT ALSO VERY GOOD. lONG TIME SIUNCE WE VISITED.
Orakei Korako - The Hidden Valley
Scenes from the BBC’s Walking with Dinosaurs were filmed in the stunning Orakei Korako and it is not hard to imagine why. Accessible by boat, Orakei Korako, the Hidden Valley, is lauded by Lonely Planet as "possibly the best thermal area left in New Zealand and one of the finest in the world".
GREAT! YOU CAN ONLY GET TO IT BY THEIR BOAT. BASIC FACILITIES AND CAFE BUT A GREAT WALK THROUGH A VARIETY OF THERMAL AREAS AND TYPES. A COUPLE OF VERY SMALL GEYSERS >1M. DELIGHTFUL WALK AND GOOD COLOURS.
Craters of the moon is near Huka falls and is interesting but only has steam vents and couple of mud pools. It is great as it is young and on a green plain. As it is run by volunteers - - very cheap $8?
FREE ONES
Lake Rotorua near the town centre has several spots of steam vents and bubbling mud.
There is at least one mud pool in the Redwoods forest. This is great as you hear it before you see or smell it. It is a small pool in a fern glade. Fantastic.
Near Waiotapu
is the largest of the mud pools. It was going crazy on our most recent visit.
On the same road is a hot creek you can sit/swim in. The road loops from the highway to all these and back.
WARNING WARNING WARNING
DO NOT PUT YOUR HEAD UNDER WATER IN A THERMAL POOL!
There are signs because:-
Amoebic meningitis is caused by an amoeba that lives in hot pools. If you put your head under water it forces water up your nose and thus they can get into your brain.
If you are going to the Bay of Island and want a more low key thermal pool experience like it was before tourism made it trendy, there is one called Waiariki Pools, Ngawha and it only costs $4 each. Much like the old local pools of yesteryear. VERY low key and basic. Very few tourists.
Jul 19th, 2013, 05:53 AM
#11
oh, not again. bmk is a shorthand for marking the thread so that it will appear on my list of unread threads so i can read it when I've got time to do so.
"oh not again" because i [and others] were taken to task on another thread for doing this.
I could equally well post " this is very interesting but I don't have time to read it at the moment" but bmk is quicker.
"oh not again" because i [and others] were taken to task on another thread for doing this.
I could equally well post " this is very interesting but I don't have time to read it at the moment" but bmk is quicker.
Jul 20th, 2013, 01:35 AM
#13
<< but why the letters bmk?>>
bmk = "BooKMarking"
<<Where/what is your list of unread threads? This is new to me as well.>>
Peter - I don't know how you access fodors, but this is what I do:
find fodors in my browser. [don't have to log in, it's automatic]
go to forums
click on my name at the top - annhig
i then have 2 lists come up - "your recent topics" and "threads you have commented on"
in the "threads you have commented on" the ones at the top are in bold - that means that there has been a comment on there since I last commented ie they are unread.
so if I've clicked on a thread and want to read it later, by entering "bmk" in the last comment section, I put it back on my "unread" list, so I can come back to it later.
hope that helps!
bmk = "BooKMarking"
<<Where/what is your list of unread threads? This is new to me as well.>>
Peter - I don't know how you access fodors, but this is what I do:
find fodors in my browser. [don't have to log in, it's automatic]
go to forums
click on my name at the top - annhig
i then have 2 lists come up - "your recent topics" and "threads you have commented on"
in the "threads you have commented on" the ones at the top are in bold - that means that there has been a comment on there since I last commented ie they are unread.
so if I've clicked on a thread and want to read it later, by entering "bmk" in the last comment section, I put it back on my "unread" list, so I can come back to it later.
hope that helps!
Jul 20th, 2013, 03:20 AM
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Clear as a bell. Thanks.
I don't normally start at my profile, I have bookmarked both the Australian and the Lounge Forums in my favourites. I only go to my profile if a more interesting one has dropped off the top 25.
I don't normally start at my profile, I have bookmarked both the Australian and the Lounge Forums in my favourites. I only go to my profile if a more interesting one has dropped off the top 25.
Jul 22nd, 2013, 01:57 PM
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My daughter and I spent two nights at Lake Taupo after leaving Rotorua and went to Orakei Korako which we loved. You do take the boat/ferry across (less than 10 minutes). It is untouched by "over tourism" and is fabulous natural area.There are marked paths to walk and it is not full of tour bus people.
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