One of the most visited and famous destinations in New Zealand with a long history of welcoming visitors, Rotorua is the heart of New Zealand's Maori culture.  Rotorua, the 10th largest city of Kiwis and the world-renowned for its natural wonders, is located in the central North Island with over 60,000 inhabitants.

An exciting city with own history, tradition and culture, surrounded by the smell of bubbling sulphuric gersers, Rotorua is truely a remarkable experience of a lifetime which is made up of four main thermal areas, Whekarewarewa, Waimangu, Wai-o-tapu and Hell's gate.  

Area: 2,700 km²

Population: 68,000

Country: New Zealand

Time Zone: GMT/UTC +12

Telephone Area Code: 07

Rotorua is the heart land of New Zealand's Maori culture.  You will have a  huge opportunity to come face to face with Maori culture in Rotorua in performances, expertly conceived displays and in your encouters with the descendants of the original Te Arawa tribes who made Rotorua their home.

The Maori people were the first inhabitants of Rotorua District.  The earliest Maori villages in the area were situated within close proximity to geothermal sites, including Ohinemutu and Whakarewarewa.  There're around 35 marae (meeting grounds) in the District, at least 20 of which are situated in rural areas, although the Maori community is now predominantly urban.  The Maori community, culture and traditions strongly influence in the District.  They are also visitors' major interest. 

In the summer months, daily maximum temperatures are 20-27 °C (68-78 F) and around 10-12 °C (50-55 F) during winter.  The warmest months are January, Febuary, and March with July and August being the lower temperature months.  Rotorua is enjoyable all year round and does not experience a wet season like other countries because rainfall is spread fairly evenly throughout the year.

The weather experienced in Rotorua is influenced by the eastward movement of weather systems and by the bold topography of the country.  Rotorua has a sunny climate with less wind than most other parts of the country and with considerable variability of temperature and rainfall.

Snow can be rarely found and a light snowfall has been recorded only 4 times since 1964.  Hail can be expected on 3 days a year.  The mean daily temperature for January (midsummer) is 17.7 °C while for July (midwinter) is 7.5 °C.

Dining:

Rotorua is the heartland of New Zealand and spiritual home to the Maori, boasting an array of icon experiences which together encapsulate the essence of this remarkable country.

Rotorua specialises in a wide range of cuisine to cater all tastes.  Varieties include a range of inexpensive bar meals and snacks, ethnic cuisine, popular takeaway outlets, fine restaurant dining and the traditional Maori feast (hangi).

The unique and tantalizing Hangi combines a great tasting mixture of Kumara (sweet potato), lamb, chicken, wild game, pork, beef, and potato.  The preparation process involves the digging of a large hole, lined with hot stones and covered in vegetation.  The food is placed on top and sprinkled with water before the underground furnace is sealed with remaining vegetation and fresh earth.  The hot stones aid in the generation of heat and steam to cmplete the cooking process. 

Entertainment:

Rotorua offers plenty of traditional evening entertainment like lots of cafes, restaurants, and contemporary Maori theatre style options, such asThe Legends of Mauri at the Park Heritage Rotorua Hotel and the Realm of Tane at The Sacred Gardens.

Alternative options include things like  night luging at Skyline Skyrides, twilight barbecues with Duck Tours, cruising Lake Rotorua on the Lakeland Queen paddlesteamer while enjoying a buffet dinner, a hot soak and massage followed by a cafe meal at the Polynesian Spa, or a twilight paddle and picnic on one of the many scenic lakes.

This article is authored and copyrighted
by Royal Exclusive Travel