Rotorua is one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand, known for its spectacular natural beauty, enthralling adventures and interesting Maori culture. This article offers a quick guide for first-time travellers boarding flights for this North Island’s jewel.
Set by a captivating lake, amidst rolling meadows and forest-clad hills, Rotorua, by many, is considered the tourist heart of the North Island, New Zealand. It’s a small town, about a 3 hour drive south from Auckland, and enjoys a well-deserved reputation as the thermal wonderment of New Zealand to go with its heart-throbbing adventure tourism. From the fascinating naturally hot pools to the picturesque bike trails and awe-inspiring lakes and hills that abound the town, there is literally something magical about Rotorua which prompt many to search for flights’ tickets and holiday deals for the destination.
Well, if you too are contemplating a trip to this heavenly corner in New Zealand, this quick travel guide may help you make better decisions.
What to See and Do
Mountain Biking: Hire a bike for the ride of a lifetime through the fascinating trails in the Whakarewarewa Redwood Forest! Be it the novices or the experienced mountain bikers, Whakarewarewa Forest has trails for all. Take a guided tour or follow a map, the choice is yours.
Hot Natural Pools and Geysers: Exciting geothermal activities in Rotorua allure hordes of tourists from far and wide. Head to Te Puia or Whakarewarewa Thermal Village to take a dip into the various bubbling mud pools and geysers! Tourists have to pay for the entry tickets, but once inside the park they can enjoy free guided tours. There are even private pools for couples.
Canopy Tour: Up in the hills, a short car ride from Rotorua is this exhilarating excursion that never fails to delight thrill-seekers who have spent on flights for holidays in this part of New Zealand. Voyaging through these virgin patches of North Island’s primeval rainforests, from a wire, is truly enthralling, worth every penny spent on travel tickets and other deals!
Maori Cultural Centres: Another highlight of any visit to Rotorua is taking in the interesting Maori culture at any of the designated centres that dot the region. Learn Maori carving and weaving, relish impressive cultural shows and gorge on exquisitely cooked Maori meal ‘the Hangi’– a visit to one such ethnic enclave is sure to teach travellers’ a lot about this age-old civilization.
Getting There
The major airlines that offer air tickets from London Heathrow to Auckland, the main gateway to New Zealand, are Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand and Virgin Atlantic. These carriers operate indirect flights between the destinations. From Auckland, tourists can hire taxis or take bus to reach Rotorua. The total distance is approximately 230kms and the journey takes around 3 hours.
Getting Around
Bus service in Rotorua is slightly limited, yet it is a cheap way to get around the city. Tagged as “CityRide”, the lime green coloured buses operate on all major routes in and around Rotorua. Those looking to take buses more frequently should get a ‘CityRide Card’ which allows one to get up to 30% discount and avoid waiting in queues for travel tickets. Taxis are expensive, but offer a private and comfy ride to anywhere in and around Rotorua.
Where to Stay
From luxury hotels to rental homes and a number of camp grounds, Rotorua has a stay for every need and budget. Novotel Rotorua Lakeside, with its awesome amenities, delicious dining and a superb location within a walking distance from the downtown, is a great choice for extravagant travellers who grab flights and holiday deals for this NZ city. The Malfroy Motor Lodge has its own thermal pool, while the Ibis is a popular budget-friendly option.
