Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ROTORUA IN...
Two Days
Order breakfast at
Third Place Cafe
after which stroll back into town via steamy
Kuirau Park
. Next stop is the
fabulous
Rotorua Museum
, followed by a soak at the
Blue Baths
. In the evening, catch a
hangi
and concert at
Tamaki Maori Village
or
Mitai Maori Village
.
Start the second day with a tour of
Whakarewarewa Thermal Village
and watch Pohutu geyser blow its top.
From here, it's a quick hop to the
Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest
for a couple of hours' mountain biking.
More forest action awaits in the afternoon courtesy of
Rotorua Canopy Tours
, or pay a visit to the swooping fal-
cons at the
Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre
.
Four Days
Too much geothermal excitement is barely enough! Explore the hot spots to the south:
Waimangu Volcanic Val-
ley
and
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
. The nearby
Waikite Valley Thermal Pools
are perfect for an end-
of-day plunge.
On your last day, head southeast and visit the
Buried Village
, swim in
Lake Tarawera
, or take a long walk on
one of the tracks at nearby
Lake Okataina
. Back in town, cruise the restaurants and bars on
Tutanekai St
(aka
'Eat Street) and toast your efforts with a few cold beers at
Brew
.
White-Water Rafting, Sledging & Kayaking
There's plenty of kayaking and white-water action around Rotorua with the chance to take
on the Grade V
Kaituna River
, complete with a startling 7m drop at Okere Falls. Most of
these trips take a day. Some companies head further out to the
Rangitaiki River
(Grade
III-VI) and
Wairoa River
(Grade V), raftable only when the dam is opened every second
Sunday. Sledging (in case you didn't know) is zooming downriver on a body board. Most
operators can arrange transport.
River Rats
( 07-345 6543, 0800 333 900;
www.riverrats.co.nz
)
Takes on the Wairoa ($129), Kaituna ($105) and
Rangitaiki ($139), and runs a scenic trip on the lower Rangitaiki (Grade II) that is good
for youngsters (adult/child $139/110). Kayaking options include freedom hire ($40/60 per
half-/full day) and guided four-hour Lake Rotoiti trips ($110).
RAFTING, KAYAKING
Wet 'n' Wild
( 07-348 3191, 0800 462 7238;
www.wetnwildrafting.co.nz
)
Runs trips on the Kaituna ($99), Wairoa
($110) and Mokau ($160), as well as easy-going Rangitaiki trips (adult/child $130/110)
and longer trips to remote parts of the Motu and Mohaka (two to five days, $650 to
$1095).
RAFTING
