Rotorua's fancy loos at (from left) Waipa, the Redwoods and Tikitapu (Blue Lake). Photos / Jo Knox and Graeme Murray
Rotorua's fancy loos at (from left) Waipa, the Redwoods and Tikitapu (Blue Lake). Photos / Jo Knox and Graeme Murray
The front cover. Photo / Supplied
When you need to go, the chances of finding a top spot to relieve yourself in Rotorua are pretty good.
A new book detailing the country's most fancy flushers and lovely lavs shows Rotorua is not just a great place to stop and check out Maori cultural experiences, geothermal wonders and adventure tourism.
Kiwi-As Toilets - Where to go when you need to go in New Zealand has been released today and features three Rotorua toilets - at the Redwoods, Waipa mountain biking carpark and Tikitapu (Blue Lake).
The book has been written by Jo Knox, who has put in a lot of research to hunt out 62 of the most tasteful toilets in New Zealand.
On her travels, she's found Kiwis have been on a roll, revamping revolting restrooms you'd only go to if you were desperate into places you would want to go even if you didn't need to.
She said her research had found New Zealand did loos like no other, yet most of the pretty porcelain were some of the best-kept destination secrets.
The book has high praise for Rotorua and is one of the few cities that features more than once.
Redwoods Shroud Art Toilets. Photo / Graeme Murray
Knox describes the Redwoods Shroud Art Toilets as being cleverly made from weathered corten steel to be camouflaged within the forest.
She describes how Darryl Church, of DCA Architects, had created each metal cylinder to depict a different native North Island bird that was extinct or endangered.
The loos at Waipa Valley Bike Park. Photo / Jo Knox
The Waipa Valley Bike Park public toilets, south of Rotorua, were described as having clever modern Maori design that incorporated references to the forest and bikes.
The book said Rotorua was the biking capital of New Zealand and the new toilets were cleverly concealed, being cut into either side of what resembled a hobbit hill with a mountain bike track running over the top (the track's official name is Gotta Go).
Lake Tikitapu (blue Lake) Public Toilets. Photo / Jo Knox
The book said the artwork for the Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) public toilets was commissioned by the Rotorua Lakes Council in 2015. It used a community-based panel to select a winning artwork which consisted of a five-panel mural that "encapsulated the lake's spiritual energy".
Rotorua Deputy Mayor Dave Donaldson said he knew all three toilets "intimately" given his love of mountain biking and role on the council.
He said the power of having nice toilets in a city couldn't be underestimated.
"The Waipa toilets have been instrumental in a surge in women and kids to mountain biking in Rotorua. It's become a much more family friendly environment out there because, frankly, the old ones were a turn-off."
He said the royals travelling through Rotorua on Wednesday might have the opportunity to try the Redwoods toilets as part of their visit to the forest if they happened to need to "go".
He said it was fantastic Rotorua had been acknowledged.
"Our toilets are in keeping with our manaakitanga and a premium visitor experience."
I-Site visitor services executive manager Graham Brownrigg was rapt with Rotorua's mention in the book.
"One of the common questions visitors ask at the i-Site is 'where can I find the nearest loo? 'It's great to know that as well as providing a valuable public service, we're also helping to promote important Rotorua attractions."
The region's top toilets • The Redwoods Shroud Art Toilets, Rotorua • Waipa Valley Bike Park Public Toilets, Rotorua • Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) Public Toilets, Rotorua • Sheepdog Public Toilets, Tirau • Outhouse Public Toilets, Tirau • Taupo Central Public Toilets, Taupō • Hipapatua/Reid's Far Recreation Reserve, Taupō
