Coming from Auckland you will
enter the Rotorua region on Route 5 at Ngongotaha and turn south with
lake Rotorua to your left. This is the thermal hot pool area of
New
Zealand and one of the most exciting places in the world to explore.
Don't hurry through. Try to see as much as you can.
The only place to call home when here is to stay at the Rotorua Thermal Holiday Park. They
have all the accommodations available plus a cafe in the Park, free
thermal pools, plus much. much more. They can help with information on
the attractions and book them for you. Check out their website above.
I recommend seeing the sheep show at the Agrodome. May not sound
exciting but I still remeber it from first going there in 1989. You get
to understand how sheep are so important to New Zealand. Also go
to Rainbow Springs and the Kiwi Encounter.
The most important is to visit Hell's Gate Thermo Reserve, Te Puia and
the Wai-o-Tapu Thermo Wonderland. Then top off the evening with a Maori
Hangi at the tamaki Maori Village. You will get a good immersion into
the Maori culture while in this area.
Rainbow
Springs http://www.rainbowsprings.co.nz/home.asp
Kiwi
Encounter http://www.kiwiencounter.co.nz/kiwiencounter/kiwi_encounter.asp
·Visit
Thermals
Hells
Gate Thermo Reserve
www.hellsgate.co.nz
Te Puia
www.tepuia.com
WAI-O-Tapu
Thermo Wonderland
www.geyserland.co.nz
A drive to Lake Tarawera and a
stop at the Buried Village if you can.
Stop by the Information Centre downtown and gathr up the info you need
iof you haven't got ot off the internet first.
Just be sure to allow time for this area. It is considered the top
place to visit in the North Island and you will see why after the
experience.
