Travel Guide Rotorua

With its 57,900 inhabitants, Rotorua is the twelfth largest urban area in the country. Located on the shores of the eponymous lake, it is known for its intense geothermal activity and its equally intense activity... tourism! In the country, it is nicknamed "Roto-Vegas". And in fact, here, almost everything is exploited for tourism. The city itself is of little interest if you don't have money to spend. On the other hand, if you have a small budget for its exploration, there is enough to come out of it amazed.What strikes you immediately when you arrive in Rotorua is the smell of sulfur and the fumaroles that rise up everywhere. There are few places on Earth where you can feel the power of tectonic phenomena; Rotorua is one of them. The Wai-O-Tapu reserve, the local Yellowstone, is certainly the best example.One suspects that with such natural advantages (hot water and steam ovens - the famous hangi - for free!), the Māori populated this area with enthusiasm. Today Rotorua is the city where one can most easily be introduced to their culture, as the local Iwi (tribes) have exploited the city's tourism potential by adapting their villages and living areas to accommodate visitors. Haka demonstrations, dances and songs, traditional cuisine, and an introduction to crafts are some of the aspects that are presented.Europeans settled the area in the 1880s and made Rotorua a spa in the 1890s. Today, there areplenty of natural hot springs to choose from if you want to relax and enjoy their benefits (beware: you'll smell the sulfur afterwards!)As for outdoor activities, Rotorua is an excellent area for rafting. It is also popular with mountain bike enthusiasts who can have a blast in the Redwood forest or come and admire the prowess of the athletes at the international Crankworx competition. In Māori, Rotorua means "second lake", as it was only discovered by the Polynesians after Lake Rotoiti (the small lake).[NB: to help them through the Covid crisis, many of the city's motels and hostels have been used as emergency accommodation for the homeless; the transition back to a tourism-only business is likely to take some time. Check online reviews for updates]