Introducing Rotorua
Breathe in the sulphur-rich air of Rotorua and you’ve already got a taste of NZ’s most dynamic thermal area with spurting geysers, steaming hot springs and exploding mud pools. The Maori revered this place, naming one of the most spectacular springs Wai-O-Tapu (Sacred Waters). Today 35% of the population is Maori, with their cultural performances and traditional hangi as big an attraction as the landscape itself.
Despite the pervasive eggy odour, ‘Sulphur City’ is one of the most touristed spots on the North Island with nearly three million visitors annually, bringing with them an energy and excitement typical of a true resort town.
Last updated: Sep 22, 2008
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Whirinaki rainforest.
- Oliver Strewe
- Lonely Planet photographer
