Sights in Rotorua & The Bay Of Plenty
-
A
Rotorua Museum of Art & History
This impressive museum, better known as the Bath House, is in a grand Tudor-style edifice in the Government Gardens. Originally an elegant spa retreat (it opened in 1908), displays in the former shower rooms give a fascinating insight into some of the eccentric therapies once practised here, including 'electric baths' and the Bergonie Chair.
A gripping 20-minute film on the history of Rotorua, including the Tarawera eruption, runs every 20 minutes from 9am (not for small kids – the seats vibrate and the eruption noises are authentic!). Also here is a collection of taonga (treasures) of Te Arawa, featuring woodcarving, flax weaving and jade. Other exhibits relate the stori…
reviewed
-
B
Blue Baths
Within the Government gardens are the gorgeous Spanish Mission–style Blue Baths, which opened in 1933 (and, amazingly, were closed from 1982 to 1999). Today you can visit a small museum (open 10am to 5pm) recalling the building’s heyday, with recorded anecdotes and displays in the old changing rooms. If it all makes you feel like taking a dip yourself, the heated pool awaits. Ask about occasional dinner-and-cabaret shows (per person from $125).
reviewed
-
C
St Faith’s Anglican Church
The historic St Faith’s Anglican Church is intricately decorated with Maori carvings, tukutuku (woven panels), painted scrollwork and stained-glass windows. One window features an image of Christ wearing a Maori cloak as he appears to walk on the waters of Lake Rotorua.
reviewed
-
Hell’s Gate
Known as Tikitere to Maori, Hell’s Gate is 16km northeast of Rotorua on the road to Whakatane (SH30). Tikitere is an abbreviation of Taku tiki i tere nei (My youngest daughter has floated away), remembering the tragedy of a young girl jumping into a thermal pool. The English name originates from a 1934 visit by George Bernard Shaw. The impressive geothermal reserve covers 10 hectares, with a 2.5km walking track to the various attractions, including the largest hot thermal waterfall in the southern hemisphere. Here you can also see a master woodcarver at work, and learn about flax weaving and other Maori traditions.
reviewed
-
Wai-O-Tapu
South of Rotorua, Wai-O-Tapu, meaning ‘Sacred Waters’, is one of the most famous of the thermal reserves. It has many interesting features packed into a small area, including the boiling, multi-hued Champagne Pool, bubbling mud pool, stunning mineral terraces and the Lady Knox Geyser, which spouts off (with a little prompting from an organic soap) punctually at 10.15am and gushes up to 20m for about an hour. A fairly commercial attraction, it has a large shopping area and cafe, which makes for a reasonable pit stop.
reviewed
-
Kiwi Encounter
The highlight of the Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park is Kiwi Encounter, home to NZ’s largest kiwi recovery program − a nationally significant nonprofit conservation project. It offers visitors a rare peek into the lives of not only these greatly endangered birds, but the people trying to save them from extinction. Be prepared for an emotional roller coaster on the excellent 45-minute tours that have you tiptoeing through the actual incubator and hatchery areas. A combo Kiwi Encounter/Wildlife Park ticket costs adult/child/family $42/23/110.
reviewed
-
D
Te Puia
Pohutu and the Prince of Wales’ Feathers geyser are part of Te Puia, the most polished of NZ’s Maori cultural attractions. Also here is the National Carving & Weaving School, where you can discover the work and methods of traditional Maori weavers and woodcarvers. More of these arts are displayed at Rotowhio Marae, which has a carved meeting house. Also here are a cafe, two museums, a Kiwi reserve and a gift shop that stocks an excellent range of arts and crafts.
reviewed
-
Buried Village of Te Wairoa
Fifteen kilometres from Rotorua on the Tarawera Rd, which passes the pretty Blue and Green Lakes, is the buried village, the site of one of the most dramatic natural events to occur in NZ in the last 150 years − the 1886 eruption of Mt Tarawera. Here you can see the buildings submerged by the eruption, creating an odd time capsule of NZ in the 19th century, with highlights such as the Rotomahana Hotel, a blacksmith’s shop and several whare (houses).
reviewed
-
E
Whakarewarewa Thermal Village
Whakarewarewa Thermal Village, on the eastern side of Te Whakarewarewa, is a living village, where tangata whenua (the locals) still reside, as they and their ancestors have for centuries. It’s these local villagers who show you around and tell you the stories of their way of life and the significance of the steamy bubbling pools, silica terraces and the geysers that, although inaccessible from the village, are easily viewed from vantage points.
reviewed
-
F
Tauranga Art Gallery
The Tauranga Art Gallery presents historic and contemporary art, and houses a permanent collection along with frequently changing local and visiting exhibitions. The building itself is a former bank, although you’d hardly know it − it’s an altogether excellent space with no obvious compromise (cue: applause!). Touring the ground and mezzanine galleries, with a stop to poke your nose into the video cube, will take an hour or so.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park
Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park is a must-do for nature-lovers. At the heart of the park are the natural springs, home to wild trout and eels, which you can see from the underwater viewer. There are walkways for wanderings with interpretive displays along the way. Animals abound, both introduced species such as wallabies, emus and rainbow lorikeets, and interesting native birds such as kea, kaka and pukeko.
reviewed
-
Hukutaia Domain
Around 8km south of the town centre is Hukutaia Domain, home to one of the finest collections of native plants in NZ. In the centre is Taketakerau, a 23m puriri tree estimated to be more than 2000 years old and a burial place for the distinguished dead of the Upokorere hapu (subtribe) of Whakatohea. The remains have been since been reinterred elsewhere.
reviewed
-
G
Whakatane Museum & Gallery
Whakatane Museum & Gallery is an impressive regional museum with artfully presented displays on early Maori and European settlers. Of particular interest are the taonga (treasures) of local Maori tracing their lineage back to the Mataatua waka, while the art gallery presents a varied program of NZ and international exhibitions.
reviewed
-
Paradise Valley Springs
In Paradise Valley at the foot of Mt Ngongotaha and eight kilometres from town is Paradise Valley Springs, a six-hectare park with trout springs, big slippery eels, and various land-dwelling animals such as deer, alpaca, possums and a pride of lions (fed at 2.30pm). There’s also a coffee shop and a new elevated treetop walkway.
reviewed
-
H
Pohaturoa
Beside the roundabout is Pohaturoa, a large tapu (sacred) rock outcrop, where baptism, death, war and moko (tattoo) rites were performed. The Treaty of Waitangi was also signed here by Ngati Awa chiefs in 1840 and there’s a monument to the Ngati Awa chief Te Hurinui Apanui.
reviewed
-
Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust
Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust is dedicated to conserving three threatened NZ birds: the falcon, hawk and owl. Learn about the birds in the museum display, then take a sneaky peek into the incubation area before walking through the all-weather aviary. Go in time to see the 2pm flying display.
reviewed
-
I
Opotiki Museum
The excellent Opotiki Museum offers a chance to learn much about the rich history of the area. Run by volunteers, the museum has interesting heritage displays including Maori taonga (treasures) and militaria, and agricultural items including a horse-drawn wagon.
reviewed
-
Whirinaki Forest Park
The exceptional feature of this forest park is some of NZ’s finest podocarp (conifer) forest, although there is much more to see here, including canyons, waterfalls, lookouts, and many streams and rivers. The Oriuwaka Ecological Area and Arahaki Lagoon are also here.
reviewed
-
McLaren Falls Park
In the Wairoa River valley, 15km southwest of Tauranga just off SH29, McLaren Falls Park is a 190-hectare lakeland park with great trees and picnic areas. There are three basic modern hostels here and campsites. Also accessible from McLaren Falls is Marshalls Animal Park which has family fun such as animal petting, a flying fox, playground and pony rides.
reviewed
-
Waimangu Volcanic Valley
This interesting thermal area was created during the eruption of Mt Tarawera in 1886, making it young in geological terms. Waimangu (Black Water) refers to the dark, muddy colour of much of the water here.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
J
Tangata Whenua Gallery
In the middle of the town’s shopping street is Tangata Whenua Gallery, stocking Maori- and New Zealand–themed arts and crafts, including kete (baskets) and pounamu jewellery.
reviewed
-
Huria Marae
If you’re interested in marae (meeting house), Huria Marae is on a nondescript suburban street but has sensational carvings both inside and out. Call to organise permission to visit.
reviewed
-
K
Elms Mission Station
Built in 1847, Elms Mission Station is the oldest building in the Bay of Plenty. Furnished in period style, it sits among other well-preserved mission buildings in leafy grounds. The spooky Mission Cemetery lies not far away at the intersection of Marsh Street and Dive Crescent − good for a little epitaph-reading.
reviewed
-
L
Hiona St Stephen’s Church
Known by the local Whakatohea tribe to have acted as a government spy, Rev Carl Volkner was murdered in 1865 in the Hiona St Stephen’s Church on the main street.
reviewed
-
Te Ngae Park
Three kilometres beyond the airport, Te Ngae Park is a 3-D, 1.7km-long wooden maze that entertains kids for an hour or so and makes a pleasant picnic spot.
reviewed
