Rotorua Specials

City Guide

Rotorua

Things are pretty hot in the 'Sulphur City'.

Rotorua is the most popular and, inevitably, the most commercialised tourist destination on the North Island. It has the most energetic thermal activity in the country, with bubbling mud pools, gurgling hot springs, and gushing geysers. It's also a great place to catch traditional Maori ceremonies.

Population:76000

Weather

The Bay of Plenty is one of the sunniest regions of New Zealand, with Whakatane and the Eastern Bay recording the most sunshine hours (2350 per year on average). In summer, temperatures are somewhat warm, while winter can see temperatures fall as low as 5°C (41°F), but it's slightly warmer on the coast. Rainfall is heavier inland in Rotorua, which can also have long dry spells in summer.

Communication

Areacodes : 07

Transport

Air New Zealand (tel: 07 343 1100; cnr Fenton and Hinemoa Sts) offers daily direct flights from Rotorua Airport (tel: 07 345 6175) to Auckland, Christchurch, Nelson, Queenstown and Wellington, with onward connections.

The airport is located about 10km (6.2mi) out of town, on the eastern side of the lake. If you don't want to take a cab, Super Shuttle (tel: 07 349 3444) offers a door-to-door service to and from the airport.

All major bus companies stop at the Tourism Rotorua centre, which handles bookings. There are daily buses to and from Auckland, Wellington, Tauranga, Palmerston North and Hamilton, as well as along the East Coast routes to Gisborne via Opotiki and Whakatane, and Napier via Taupo.

Hitching to Rotorua is generally easy, except on SH38 from Waikaremoana - past Murupara the road is unsealed and traffic is very light. The problem hitching out of Rotorua is often the sheer number of backpackers leaving town. You may have to join the queue and wait.

Rotorua is fairly spread out and public transport isn't good, but there are a multitude of shuttle services to many of the town's attractions. Check with Tourism Rotorua for details.

Rotorua has a host of car rental companies. The competition is fierce and all seem to offer 'specials' to undercut the competitors.