Rotorua Travel Guide
Rotorua accommodation, Rotorua activities and attractions, Rotorua maps, transportation to and around Rotorua - the ALL NEW Jasons Rotorua Destination Travel Guide is your complete visitor guide for Rotorua.
World-class visitor attractions, vibrant Maori heritage and spectacular thermal areas guarantee plenty of entertainment in Rotorua, whatever the weather. Located at the edge of beautiful Lake Rotorua, the distinctive smell of sulphur in New Zealand’s thermal capital soon lets you know you’ve arrived. Just minutes from Rotorua's city centre, you’ll find magnificent examples of hissing geysers, bubbling mud pools and steaming fumaroles to explore.
Rotorua has a long Maori history and that makes it an ideal place to experience New Zealand’s rich Maori heritage. You can visit a Maori village, be part of a powhiri (traditional Maori welcome), hear traditional waiata (songs) and sample a succulent hangi (Maori feast).
During the cooler winter months, you can make the most of Rotorua’s thermal attractions and the huge range of adventure options. Daredevils can try their hand at a host of adventures including whitewater rafting, tandem skydiving, quad biking and jetboating, or tackle the uniquely Kiwi adventures of bungy jumping, shweebing and zorbing. You'll find plenty of family attractions to while away those winter days as well, with trout springs, farm shows and gondola and luge rides. At the end of a busy day's sightseeing, the region’s hot pools are perfect for a long relaxing soak.
The many beautiful lakes surrounding Rotorua provide excellent trout fishing and boating, and the vast Whakarewarewa Forest Park and Kaingaroa Forest add to the area's outdoor appeal with a host of walking and mountain biking tracks. The sparkling waters of Lake Rotorua are a favourite for anglers seeking to land a tasty meal of trout and there are paddlesteamer cruises on the lake.
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Geographic Location
Rotorua is situated on the Southern shore of Lake Rotorua, in the Central North Island.
Population
52,600
Climate
Rotorua has a temperate climate. Summer daytime temperatures average 23°C, while winter daytime temperatures average 12°C. Average yearly rainfall is 1511mm.