You can visit Rotorua many times and always experience a fresh, fun and exciting side to this city that wows.
I visit for 48 hours and experience the geothermal earth forces. I do stand-up paddleboarding on one of the 18 lakes. Luckily, there were thrills with no spills. This fussy Auckland chick also got to savour some epic kai. I left wishing only I had more time in this place that's home to the world's best mountain biking trails.
Water, glowworms and wonder:
Walking on water with Paddle Board Rotorua sets my heart soaring. I'm on Lake Okareka, a 15-minute drive from the city centre. Deep blue waters are below. Blue skies stretch overhead. Sunshine warms my back. I breath in fresh air. There's a vista of green soothing hills in every direction. There are coves to duck in and out of, which light up with glowworms at night (the twilight tour is the most popular). We glimpse rare birds. This. Is. Bliss. Every parent needs to take their kids to do this.
www.paddleboardrotorua.com
Waimangu Volcanic Valley:
If, like me, you are a Game of Thrones fan then you will understand this likeness...
The Inferno Crater Lake at Waimangu Volcanic Valley has the same ice-blue as the eyes of the White Walkers. It's that darn beautiful it will leave you in absolute wonder. This is Rotorua's premier tourist attraction for good reason.
The valley formed in 1886 when Mt Tarawera erupted. There are unique geothermal features on the self-guided eco-walks of varying lengths. This protected scenic reserve is a 20-minute drive south of Rotorua. You can also do a boat cruise on Lake Rotomahana. This gives visitors a view of the reserve's volcanic displays from a cool perspective.
www.waimangu.co.nz
Jetboat thrills:
Okay, I was a bit of a wuss about doing this at first with the New Zealand River Jet crew. I was a bit wobbly, worrying about going fast and flying on water and doing 360-degree turns. But I ended up loving this thrilling jetboating trip. It winds through the spectacular Tutukau Gorge. The canyon walls rise up to 50m. The tour guide shared history of the area (and lots of laughs) along the way. He helped us spot rare birds too.
