Champagne Pool, RotoruaRotoruaKnown for its geothermal activity and strongMaori culture, Rotorua is a popular destinationlittered with steamy mineral lakes, bursting geysersand bubbling mud pools. People have beenbathing in the hot springs for centuries and a soakin one of the many spa complexes is highlyrecommended. The original Rotorua Bath House,an elaborate Tudor-style building, now houses amuseum that reveals the mythology, history andgeology of the area. The city also has a large Maoripopulation, whose cultural activities are amongthe most interesting and accessible in the country.The deep-rooted concept of manaakitanga, theresponsibility of a host to give the best ofthemselves, their time and their history, is hugelyevident here.Executive on Fenton,RotoruaThis clean and comfortable motel is perfect forthose wanting great value accommodation inthe town centre. Located on popular FentonStreet, an easy ten minute stroll to centralRotorua, Executive On Fenton offers 20comfortable units all with spa baths, laundry andbasic kitchen facilities. There is also a café locatedconveniently across the road and a babysittingservice, making this a great choice for familieswith younger children.22Executive on Fenton, near RotoruaTreetops Lodge, near RotoruaOnly half an hour from Rotorua but located inten square kilometres of native bush, TreetopsLodge offers the ultimate in privacy. The lodge isdesigned in an elegant architectural style featuringtimber and stone. There’s a new spa, a library withhistoric Maori artworks adorning the walls, blazingfires, several courtyards and a conservatoryoffering scenic views. Eight separate villas aresecluded in the bush, with a further four suites inthe main lodge. Many activities are availableincluding hiking, mountain biking, horse riding,4x4 trips and trout fishing.Treetops Lodge, near RotoruaKoura Lodge, near RotoruaKoura Lodge, near RotoruaLying on the edge of Lake Rotorua, Koura Lodgeenjoys stunning views from its ten contemporaryand well-appointed rooms. Breakfast is served inthe dining room with views of the lake. Guestscan relax in a hot tub at the end of a busy dayand enjoy the charming setting. Seaplanes orboats can collect you from the lodge jetty forexcursions, otherwise it is just a few minutes’drive to central Rotorua.New Zealand film industryThe volcanic landscape of the North Island andmuch of the scenery around Rotorua has provideda suitable backdrop to a number of films but it isperhaps best known for appearing in the Lord ofthe Rings and Hobbit trilogies. A short distancefrom Rotorua is the Hobbiton movie set used as‘The Shire’ in the Peter Jackson films. There areregular tours of the site and it provides a niceday out for families, fans of the books and filmbuffs alike.
Maori cultural experiencesThermal plateau cultureThe thermal plateau, with its notably richcultural ties, is a superb place for discoveringsome of the fascinating Maori legends andtraditions. Te Puia, a complex on the outskirtsof Rotorua, comprises the Maori Arts andCrafts Institute and WhakarewarewaGeothermal Valley, as well as staging manyexcellent cultural performances. At the Artsand Crafts Institute visitors can watch studentslearning ancient skills which are in danger ofbeing forgotten and at Whakarewarewa youwill experience the natural wonder of thisexciting, erupting landscape of boiling mudpools and spectacular geysers and theirsignificance in Maori tribal history.Maori woodcarving, Te Puia, Rotoruaculture with different facets of modern Kiwilifestyle. In Auckland, the Urban MaoriExperience utilises city, forest and beachlocations to pass on ancestral knowledge in aninnovative and memorable day out. In contrast,out on the remote East Cape you can relivethe legend of the Maori ancestor Paikea, astory which was brought to international famein the film Whale Rider. In the Hawke’s Bayregion, local guide Sophie Kebbell has built upa network of Maori contacts who open theirdoors to her and her guests, sharing theirstories and their crafts, which she combineswith her insight into the local wineries, gourmetfoods and art deco heritage of the area tocreate a fascinating tour.Mitai Maori VillageSituated on the edge of Rotorua, thefamily-run Mitai Maori Village offers excellentcultural displays and the opportunity toexperience a hangi (feast). A visit consists of apowhiri (a formal welcome), traditional songsand dances, and a weaponry display bytalented local performers with Maori historyand legends relayed through their stories andsongs. This entertaining and educationalintroduction is followed by an impressive,traditionally-cooked hangi – chicken, lamb,kumara and potato cooked in an undergroundoven – accompanied by fresh salads andtraditional breads.Mount TaraweraStanding sentinel over the crater lakes, MountTarawera is the highest peak in the area and issacred to the local Maori. A massive eruptionMaori carving on display in Rotoruain 1886 destroyed the picturesque pink andwhite terraces of crystallising silica that hadbecome an early visitor attraction but eventoday the region is simply astounding. Localguides provide insight into Maori legend andvolcanology and add depth to any visit, whilethe nearby Whirinaki and Pureora Forests offeran ancient and spiritual backdrop to the Maorilove of storytelling, experiential learning andenvironmental sensitivity.Further Maori experiencesFurther afield, a variety of contrastingexperiences is available integrating MaoriA number of other Maori cultural experiencesare outlined within the relevant sections ofthis brochure, including Footprints Waipoua(page 17) and the Waitangi Treaty Grounds(page 15).Hongi, a traditional Maori greetingwww.audleytravel.com/newzealand l 01993 838 820 l North Island 23
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Getting thereNew Zealand and the So
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