Out & About in Rotorua

As you may have seen in my previous posts, Rotorua, Bay of Plenty Region, New Zealand is a great getaway destination for adventure seekers and nature lovers.

There's a huge array of adrenaline rush activities and nature trails to do - Geothermal hot spots, 18 lakes, world class mountain bike trails, authentic Māori culture and food to try and experience.

Here are a few ideas of Things to Do and See while you are in Rotorua:

Visit a Living Māori Village at Te Whakarewarewa, take a guided tour, watch a Māori cultural performance, see Pohutu Geyser and enjoy a trail through geothermal wonderland.

Forest Bathing in the Redwoods, Whakarewarewa Forest. Explore the Blue Lake Track and if it interests you, walk high up on suspension bridges at the Redwoods Treewalk. Better yet, check out the Treewalk at night for the magical Redwoods Nightlights.

Mountain Biking in the Redwoods, Whakarewarewa Forest

Picnic and Stroll at Lake Rotorua and surrounding city attractions, Rotorua Museum and Garden and Sulphur Point Wildlife Sanctuary

Kayaking or White Water Rafting at Okere Falls or Hike along Okere Falls Track

Rotorua is home to the largest commercially rafted waterfall in the world. In 2007, Yohann and I went rafting along Kaituna River through this Level 5 rapids and experienced riding a raft falling down from this waterfall. That was the most exhilarating experience of my life, especially having fallen off the raft, which I might write about in a separate post.

Explore Rotorua's Lakes - Lake Rotoiti (The Little Lake), Lake Tikitapu (The Blue Lake), Lake Tarawera (Burnt Spear) and Lake Okataina (The Lake of Laughter)

Bathe in Geothermal Waters

We went to Polynesian Spa during our first trip here and we spent an afternoon soaking in soothing water. Notable places are Hell's Gate, Polynesian Spa, Waikite Valley Thermal Pools, Blue Baths, QE Health and Terume Hot Spring Resort

Enjoy a mouth watering authentic Māori cuisine at Te Puia with an evening concert and cultural show.

Adrenaline activities such as Luge Rides, Skyswing, Zoom Zipline and Mountain Bike Gravity Park at Skyline Rotorua

Visit Te Wairoa The Buried Village

Where to Eat

After our walk in the Redwoods, we celebrated our Christmas Eve Dinner at Eat Streat along Tutanekai Street. We grabbed fresh pints of beer before a sumptuous family dinner at Papa Tazio, one of the many restaurants in this cool hotspot.

Yohann and I came to this very pub 10 years ago for a fresh pint after a death defying afternoon of water rafting. This historic bar brought us back to those memories seeing it again a decade later. They offer a wide selection of drinks including 12 beers and 3 ciders on tap. Enjoy the warm atmosphere with comforting pub food.

Day 6 - Christmas Day, Santa delivered his gifts to our hotel in Rotorua and we opened the presents before checking out. Once our bags were loaded in the family bat mobile, we were on the road again.

To be continued...

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