NORTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND - CENTRAL

ROTORUA

Rotorua, with its thermal areas, and Maori influences is an essential part of any visit to New Zealand. Hotels and Motels of all categories are available. HOTELBOOKINGS has a good selection in all price ranges.

The city and region is focussed on tourism.

Recommendations:

ZORBING. New Zealanders invented bungy-jumping and now Zorbing ... climb into a plastic ball and roll down a hill!

It sounds daft but it is exhilarating! The 'dry' (solo) option is the toughest - one is strapped into the ball. About 24 rotations in less than 30 seconds by one count. 1 or 2 people can partake of the wet version. Here, the participants and a quantity of water enter the ball. The lubrication ensures that (more or less) the ball moves round the zorbinauts.

Dry clothes and towels are available.

If you do not want to participate it makes a great specatator sport! The ZORB area is adjacent to the AGRODOME on the outskirts of the city as one enters it from the north and there are a number of other activities in the park. see website for details.

The AGRODOME hosts a show in which trained sheep demonstrate the importance of agriculture to New Zealand. Shearing is demonstrated, audience members can participate.

TIP: Arrive soon after 9am for the 9.30am Agrodome show to beat the coach crowds and get a seat towards the front. A farm tour is available immediately after the show.

Many of the larger hotels hold Maori entertainment evenings with a hangi (earth oven) meal. The TAMAKI TOURS evening is, however, the recommended option and is good value for the money.

The Polynesian Pools are open until late in the evening and a long soak after a day in the bus is delightful!!

The museum at Rotorua has received a number of tourist awards, and the building (and the bath-house story) is very interesting. We do not feel, however, that the museum is any better than a number of other good NZ museums but it is worth a visit if time permits.

There are a number of thermal areas around Rotorua. These include Waiotapu and Waimangu.

TAUPO

The lake is beautiful and the fishing apparently most enjoyable.

Do not miss the HUKA FALLS just outside Taupo. The water tumbles 11 metres through in an impressive irridescent blue blur! A footbridge close to the car park gives you a wonderful view as over 220,000 litres of water stream over the falls every second.

Bungy Jumping is signposted from the city centre.

ZORBING - ROTORUA

Rotorua - the Agrodome

Thermal activity at Waiotapu, just outside Rotorua