Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A gripping 20-minute film on the history of Rotorua, including the Tarawera eruption,
runs every 20 minutes from 9am (not for small kids - the eruption noises are authentic!).
The fabulous
Don Stafford Wing
houses eight object-rich galleries dedicated to Rotorua's Te
Arawa people, featuring woodcarving, flax weaving, jade, interactive audiovisual displays
and the stories of the revered WWII 28 Maori Battalion. Also here are two
art galleries
(with
air swabbed clean of hydrogen sulphide) and a cool cafe with garden views (although the
best view in town can be had from the
viewing platform
on the roof).
Lake Rotorua
Lake Rotorua is the largest of the district's 16 lakes and is − underneath all that wa-
ter − a spent volcano. Sitting in the lake is Mokoia Island, which has for centuries been
occupied by various subtribes of the area. The lake can be explored by boat, with several
operators situated at the lakefront.
LAKE
Kuirau Park
MAP
PARK
GOOGLE MAP
(cnr Ranolf & Pukuatua Sts)
Want some affordable geothermal thrills? Just west of central
Rotorua is Kuirau Park, a volcanic area you can explore for free. In 2003 an eruption
covered much of the park (including the trees) in mud, drawing crowds of spectators. It
has a crater lake, pools of boiling mud and plenty of huffing steam. Take care - the pools
here are boiling, and accidents have happened.
Government Gardens
MAP
GARDENS
(Hinemaru St)
The manicured English-style Government Gardens surrounding the Ro-
torua Museum are pretty as a picture, with roses aplenty, steaming thermal pools dotted
about and civilised amenities such as croquet lawns and bowling greens. Also here is the
upmarket Polynesian Spa and Ballbusters golf.
Blue Baths
MAP
BATHHOUSE
GOOGLE MAP
( 07-350 2119;
www.bluebaths.co.nz
; Government Gardens; adult/child/family $11/6/30; noon-6pm Apr-Oct,
10am-6pm Nov-Mar)
The gorgeous Spanish Mission-style Blue Baths opened in 1933 (and,
amazingly, were closed from 1982 to 1999). If you feel like taking a dip, the
heated pool
awaits. Ask about occasional
dinner-and-cabaret shows
(from $80 per person).
