Who wouldn’t love to soak their feet in those hot mud pools and thermal springs? But, there are many unknown facts about this city.
Lake Rotorua is said to be created over 140,000 years ago but was found by a Maori leader almost 600 years ago.
The legend goes that the leader was searching for food for his pregnant wife when his dog ran after a kiwi. The dog returned wet which indicated that there was water nearby.
One-third of the city’s population is Maori (the original people of New Zealand), which is the highest in New Zealand. There are 35 Marae (meeting grounds) around.
Tourism is the largest industry in Rotorua and the city has been welcoming guests for more than 200 years. It is renowned for its resorts since the 1800s and later as a spa town. 3.5 million visitors travel every year!
The city is known for its geothermal activity. The Waimangu Volcanic Valley is the youngest geothermal system on earth.
The Lady Knox Geyser at Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Wonderland is another unique geyser. It erupts only once a day, and that too specifically at 10.15 am every day.
The region is also famous for the most colorful geothermal attractions in the country.
A tragic geothermal activity occurred on 10 June 1886. Three peaks of Mount Tarawera erupted and destroyed numerous villages within the radius of 6 km. The famous pink and white terraces were also destroyed.
The city has an unusual name, the Sulphur City, because of the characteristic scent of sulphur (similar to rotten eggs) in the air. The scent comes from the geothermal emissions. Rotorua, in Maori also means ‘second lake’.
The sulphur in the air might smell but it does have advantages. It is a non-toxic remedy for acne, arthritis, body pains, and skin irritations.
The region boasts of 17 lakes, collectively known as the Lakes of Rotorua. The lakes are known as some of the best in New Zealand for trout fishing and activities like kayaking and waterskiing.
The Kaituna River divides into Tutea Falls, Kaituna Falls, and Okere Falls. The 7-metre drop of Tutea Falls is the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall.
Zorbing, the sport of running inside a giant plastic ball, started in the city in 1998. Test runs had started in 1994 and then later commercialized in 1998.
The Shweeb Racer ride was the first human powered monorail racetrack. It was invented by cyclist Geoff Barnett in the Velocity Valley attraction.
Orakei Korako boasts of one of only two geothermal caves known, the Ruatapu Cave. There is a thermal pool at the bottom. The cave was used by BBC in their show ‘Walking With Dinosaurs’.