New Zealand in Focus

 

 

Rotorua: Feel the spirit

Rotorua – it’s the long-regarded birthplace of tourism in New Zealand with an intricate history of welcoming visitors from around the world from the late 1800s through to today. Back then, it was the famed Pink and White Terraces and their geothermal activity that drew visitors to the destination, and while they were destroyed in the 1886 eruption of Mt Tarawera, the history, the culture and the manaakitanga (the warmth of welcoming) continues today.

While some of the attractions are centuries old and still some of the best places to visit, including Te Puia (the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute) and Whakarewarewa Living Maori Village, Rotorua is renowned for keeping things fresh and family-friendly, with new attractions added to the city’s collection every year.

If you are planning a visit to Rotorua, book in your stay at the All Seasons Holiday Park and then pop along to these attractions, new and old, to create a holiday of a lifetime.

 

A bird’s eye view:

Just opened this year, the Redwoods Tree Walk is a stunning reminder about how beautiful nature can be in its most natural form. Get a real bird’s eye view from the towering heights of a redwood tree within the forest. Just moments from the CBD, the Redwoods have always been a massive drawcard for those wanting a stroll, or a hike, while on holiday. The Tree Walk is made up of a collection of 23 suspension bridges between 22 majestic Redwood trees, with many decks along the way to stop and take a breath. Travel at your own pace, and revel in the beauty. And of course, The Tree Walk has been designed with the trees in mind, ensuring the bridges and decks adapt to the growth of the trees.

 

Relax, breathe, rejuvenate:

Long known as nature’s spa of the Southern Hemisphere, Rotorua has so many spa options available for all the family. Mum can relax and indulge in an Aix massage under streaming geothermal waters or the whole family can enjoy the newly refurbished Polynesian Spa, which caters for individuals, couples and families. The geothermal waters and mud of the region are thought to have great healing powers, and are a definite on the To Do list.

 

Explore with Mother Nature:

With 15 lakes in its district, Rotorua is the place to unwind and take a dip, fish for its famous rainbow trout, or spend a few hours in a kayak. Explore and discover the heat of Hot Water Beach on the shores of Lake Tarawera, or enjoy the Rotoiti Hot Pools. Adventure junkies can take on the Kaituna River’s Tutea Falls, the highest commercially-rafted waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere, or for those wanting something a little less adrenalin-fuelled, a cruise on Lake Rotorua is ideal.

 

Eat Street:

After a day of exploring, culture and history, visit one of the many great restaurants on Eat Streat in the CBD. Only a short drive from All Season’s Holiday Park at Hannah’s Bay, the restaurants really do have something for everyone. Top it all off with the best sweet treat in town with the iconic Lady Jane’s Ice Cream parlour on the corner of Whakaue and Tutanekai Streets, opposite the Village Green. Lady Jane’s would feature in many kids’ memories from a visit to Rotorua from way back when and is still very popular today with their range of ice creams, sundaes, shakes and more! It’s the best way to finish any meal or day out in the sun.

 

 

 

For more information on Rotorua visit RotoruaNZ

Photo credits: Rotorua NZ

 

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