Hey…what’s that smell?! It’s the sweet smelling sulphur of Rotorua. If you’re travelling around the North Island of New Zealand, you’ve got to stop in what the locals refer to as ROTOVEGAS. Locals are silly! It’s not a casino town! This is a spa town, so get ready to get down and dirty in the mud.
Mud is your Bud
Rotorua’s geothermal water and mineral-enriched muds are absolute must-do’s. These rejuvenating therapies spring from Rotorua’s thermal activity and you won’t see anything like them elsewhere in the world. You can go for a simple soak or book out a private pool for you and the whole family. There are plenty of spas that also traditional Maori massage that uses indigenous herbs. Whatever your budget, there’s some mud here for you. People have been enjoying the muds here since 1874!
Let’s Get Physical
Before you start pampering yourself you should probably do something to deserve it. Make sure you bring your hiking boots because RotoVegas has 18 sparkling lakes and incredibly exotic forests to explore. Just five minutes from downtown Rotorua, the foxiest forest in the world awaits you. It’ll be easy to reach this beauty with your Transfer Car rental…The 5600 hectare Whakarewarewa Forest has more than 70 trails for walkers, hikers, and mountain bikers from amateurs to experts.
Wet ‘n’ Wild
If walking isn’t your thing, get yourself to the rafts at Kaitiaki Adventures. The Kaituna River in all her glory is on display here and she will wow you with the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall: the 7 METRE Tutea Falls. You don’t need to worry about bringing any gear as they supply everything for you. Just pack some bravery. And a touch of madness.
If you manage to survive…
Nom Nom Nom
…then you’ll want to get yourself to Te Puia and the NZ Maori Arts and Crafts Institute where you can stuff your face with an authentic Maori steam-cooked lunch as part of the guided tour to Te Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley. After upgrading all your mad weaving, greenstone and wood carving skills, you’ll get to select your lunch from a range of traditional options, like kumara and lamb, which are then taken to the valley and cooked above the steam vents in the ground. That’s just crazy! You mean crazy delicious! You’ll eat your snack packs overlooking the infamous Pohutu Geyser while wondering to yourself why you’ve never been here before.
You’ve saved money on transportation, thanks to us, so maybe you feel like splurging. Te Puia also offers a dining option, the magnificent Te Pō Indigenous Evening Experience. It includes a traditional Maori concert, an authentic hangi within a lavish buffet, and a moonlight visit to the geothermal valley for hot chocolate. And you can roast marshmallows in a volcano. No, no you can’t. But you can take another relaxing soak in the springs! There’s just no other place in New Zed that can make you feel this good. You’re welcome.
