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Favorite thing: I admit, I hadn't heard of Jean Batten until fairly recently, and maybe you haven't either. Well, Auckland International Airport is named after her, and she was born in Rotorua in 1909.
Jean Batten was the first woman to fly solo from England to New Zealand, which is about as far as you can fly without coming back on yourself! The tiny Percival Gull plane she flew in (which honestly doesn't look big enough!!!) now hangs suspended from the International terminal at the airport. She made this epic flight in 1934 and set a new world record which held for a further 44 years. She died in obscurity, in Majorca in 1982, and was buried in a paupers communal grave. New Zealand and the rest of the world didn't learn of her death for another 5 years.
This picture shows leafy Jean Batten Square, Rotorua's memorial to her, set behind the tourist information building.
Updated Mar 25, 2006
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Favorite thing: "Indigienous Ale of Aotearoa" is what the Taakawa label markets itself as... but I would tell you to not waste your time on this one!
If you are beer connesieur, then this one will leave you high and dry... as there was no distinguishable taste to it in my opinion.
Skip it, and stick with a Monteiths or something!
Written Aug 6, 2005
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Favorite thing: One of the items I was most interested in seeing when I went to Rotorua was the bubbling mud pools. Because of all the thermal activity under the earth in Rotorua, some natural steam is naturally released, and if that steam is held back by natural mud, the result is a bubbling mess of mud and energy!
If you are a photographer looking for a challenge, give it a try and see if you can get a bubble just before it bursts! I dare you!
I personally was a little disappointed when I went, because of the moisture and rain, the bubbles were not nearly as pronounced as I would like.
Written Aug 6, 2005
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Favorite thing: One of the items I was most interested in seeing when I went to Rotorua was the bubbling mud pools. Because of all the thermal activity under the earth in Rotorua, some natural steam is naturally released, and if that steam is held back by natural mud, the result is a bubbling mess of mud and energy!
If you are a photographer looking for a challenge, give it a try and see if you can get a bubble just before it bursts! I dare you!
I personally was a little disappointed when I went, because of the moisture and rain, the bubbles were not nearly as pronounced as I would like.
Written Aug 6, 2005
Favorite thing: Everywhere you go around Rotorua, you will notice a distinctively funky smell. Its the smell of sulphur as Rotorua is known as the Geothermal Capital of NZ.
Honestly I don't know why people complain about the smell of durians. The durian smell is strong but it is sweet.
Rotorua smells like rotten eggs happily rotting in the sun. When we asked the locals, they were already used to the smell and thus see nothing to fuss about.
We on the other hand never quite smell a town like Rotorua. In some parts the smell was quite strong and pervasive and in others, quite faint.
The smells seem to be strongest in the morning and quite near the lake. We also saw (in winter) a lot of escaping gases from the drains around the streets in Rotorua reminding us about this geothermal town.
Again the smell is strongest in summer and many locals who can't take the heat (not the smell) retreat somewhere cooler to escape.
Written Dec 12, 2004
Fondest memory: One of my very favorite places in Rotorua is St Faith's Church, on Lake Rotorua. It just looks so peaceful and has a very nice ambience about it. The etched glass window inside of Christ walking on the water is also very unique (with the lake behind the clear glass)
In 1999 I also spent a lot of time looking at it (days in fact, from my hospital window some distance back from the lake).
So this time, in perfect health, I returned to the scene and admired the church again. I had more time this time, to admire the headstones in the small cemetery surrounding the Church, and this Angel was my favorite. (There's a bigger pic of her in the village travelogue).
Written May 25, 2004
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Favorite thing: is situated on a volcanic rift and the ensuing geothermal activity - together with lush forests, crystal - clear lakes and green pastures - has ensured a steady steam of tourists since Victorian times.
Updated Nov 26, 2003
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Favorite thing: Driving in to Rotorua, from the west, you go through this amazing "tunnel" of trees. They actually meet at the top and it really is very beautiful. Especially early morning when the fog is around and the sun is streaming through a gap, it can be stunning.
The locals do a lot of work to protect and keep this area as it is, and to stop the trees from being damaged. They also fought to keep one end of it, after it was put up for sale by the private owner. Now it is in the hands of a society and will forever be there as long as it survives.
Written Jun 21, 2003
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Fondest memory: Strictly speaking, I wouldn't call this a "fondest" memory, but rather an "interesting" memory. On the way to the coach, we saw a bunch of Maori children wearing nothing but a smile bathing in a natural spa despite the temperature not exceeding 45° (8ºC) that day.
Updated Mar 7, 2003
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Fondest memory: My fondest memory of my trip to New Zealand was meeting up with my pen friend (since 1985 and to this day) Jonathan Lambert and his family. I really met Jonathan 3 times. The first time was during the long layover in Auckland when we left Papeete and were on our way to Australia. The second time, Jonathan and most of his family drove down from the Auckland suburbs to Rotorua to meet me and "borrow" me from the group on my last full day in New Zealand.
Written Feb 21, 2003
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Travel tips and advice posted by real travelers and Rotorua locals.
My fondest memory of my trip to New Zealand was meeting up with my pen friend (since 1985 and to this day) Jonathan Lambert and his family. I really met...
20 members live in Rotorua
Q: We are a family of 9 (4 adults, 1 senior and 4 children between 8-15 years), from INDIA. We shall be arriving in Rotorua on the...
A: With so little time on your hand I would suggest only a few things. 1. You can visit a cultural Maori show at the Tamaki Village in the evening. 2. As distances are...
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Rotorua is a hub of activity, with much going on within a reasonable small area. Rotorua lies on the shores of Lake Rotorua and apart from the whiff of sulphur, is a great place! Actually, you very......
2
Rotorua ~ what a great place! I have visited a couple of times now, only managing to spend a couple of days here each time, and with so much to see, do and experience here, it is going to take me...
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Sarah and I spent a couple days here in Rotorua after several recommendations from the others we met. We definitely had a great time as there is so much to do. Hope you enjoy this place!
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Clean Steam - Smell Hell - Culture Capital
You would think Maori land should look a little more exotic. But the hills around Rotorua are as green as the pine-covered Black Forest. Ok, not all trees are pines, and the bush is dotted with old......
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Rotorua, main tourist attraction in North Island.
Rotorua is an attractive city, on the edge of a lake, with plenty of thermal activity and in the background you can see Mt Tarawera, full of character and intrigue with Maori folklore. As well as...
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