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Rotorua’s Scenic BeautyThe eruptions and activity of towering volcanoes that surround Rotorua have shaped this landscape and given rise to a geothermal wonderland, just waiting to be explored.
Volcanic activity is omnipresent in the Rotorua area. No matter which direction you travel in, you’re bound to come across pockets of land where hot mud pools bubble and spit, thermal water simmers and boils and where vents run deep into the earth.
The lakes and rivers surrounding our region are world-famous for their scenic beauty and trophy-sized trout. Experience the thrill of hooking a Rainbow Trout, then taking it home to eat fresh for dinner! There are many trout fishing guides based in Rotorua, catering for the complete novice, through to the adept angler. If it’s a great bush walk that you’re after, Rotorua has an abundance of tracks for every fitness level. For a great experience, venture to Mokoia Island, in Lake Rotorua. This small island is covered in native bush and walking tracks. So for advice on the best walking tracks around, or if you would like us to book a fishing charter on your behalf, please contact us here at our Sudima Hotel reception.
Geothermal Wonders
Mount Tarawera
Mount Tarawera erupted violently in 1886, spewing out hot mud, scorching rock and black ash. The devastating eruption (heard over 500 kilometres away), buried Maori villages in mud and ash, destroyed the world-famous Pink and White Terraces and created a monolithic crater in the mystical mountain.
Today, you can take a scenic flight over the crater and see the chain of beautiful lakes created by the eruption or join a guided 4WD climb to the sacred, remote summit where you can experience the famous Scree Slide into the crater.
White Island
To stand on a living, breathing active volcano – set out in the middle of the ocean – is the experience of a lifetime. Take a boat cruise to White Island, where (with gas mask firmly on your face) you’ll explore the island’s crater lakes, lunar landscapes, vivid sulphur deposits and more.
Learn about the hardy flora and fauna that survive in this desolate environment and the tragic history of this old mining village.
Visitors also often see wild dolphins on the journey to and from White Island.
If it all sounds a little scary, you can take a stunning scenic flight over the White Island volcano, seeing the towering column of steam that often bursts forth from White Island’s crater.
Orakei Korako
Take a scenic lake cruise or the NZ River Jet, jet boat ride to Orakei Korako – the Hidden Valley. Orakei Korako was recently described by Lonely Planet as one of the finest thermal areas in the world – making it a state-of-the-art Rotorua attraction.
Orakei Korako is one of nature’s true gifts and here you can discover a landscape unlike any other. Breath-taking natural beauty and lush native forest opens up to reveal steaming hot springs, erupting geysers, boiling mud pools and mammoth silica terraces – some of the largest in the world. One of the most marvellous features of Orakei Korako is the Ruatapu (‘sacred hole’) Cave which is 120 feet deep with a natural hot pool at the bottom.
Wai-O-Tapu
Wai-o-Tapu is another ‘must-experience’ geothermal field. See the world-famous Champagne Pool, which covers 3000 square meters and is in fact, a 700 year old explosion crater. The Champagne Pool overflows with steaming hot water (74 degrees Celsius) that is the colour of champagne. The surface bubbles as carbon dioxide is released from the earth into the pool. The pool also has a stunning ochre-coloured, petrified edge. There is so much unusual beauty to behold at Wai-o-Tapu, as well as demonstrations of the power of nature, such as the Lady Knox Geyser which erupts 20 feet into the air.
Hells Gate
Hells Gate, as the name suggests, features remarkable and other-worldly-formations, including New Zealand’s largest active mud volcano and largest boiling whirlpool. You’ll also see the largest hot water fall in the southern hemisphere and so much more at this stunning Rotorua attraction.
Waimangu Volcanic Valley
When Mount Tarawera erupted, the earth was opened along a 17km line and formed (amongst many other marvels) seven craters that we now call the Waimangu Volcanic Valley. Waimangu Volcanic Valley is an unspoilt and multi-award winning eco-tourism destination, home to such wonders as the Echo Crater, the amazing Warbrick Terrace, Inferno Crater and Frying Pan Lake – the world’s largest hot spring.
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Family Bonanza
The Family Bonanza offers a free upgrade to a Superior Room, free cooked breakfast, free hangi and concert experience, discount coupons for local attractions and much, much more! This is the perfect accommodation package for a family holiday in Rotorua!
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