The famous Rotorua, 234 km south-east of Auckland, is the centre of an extensive thermal region and the focus of New Zealand's tourism where the volcanism manifests as playful geysers, gurgling mud pools and hot springs.

The city is situated on the shores of Lake Rotorua, the second-largest lake in the North Island. The 15 other magnificent bush-fringed lakes and the rivers make up the Rotorua Lakes district which provide some of the world's finest fishing waters and are renowned for their trout.

The town has been a tourist destination since the 19th century, drawing visitors with its many geothermal attractions and therapeutic hot pools. In 1882, the township of Rotorua was laid out and this area has developed as a modern tourist resort and a health spa.

Rotorua is known as the heartland of Maori culture. The curative properties of the thermal waters were known to the Maori long before the arrival of Europeans. Even today Maori's houses are closely grouped over an area alive with thermal activity, their backyards have the own private thermal baths and the women cook food in the active boiling pools or over natural steam jets.

Maori performances, concerts and hangi (food cooked in an underground oven) are on offer around Rotorua.

Known as “Whaka”, Whakarewarewa is the main thermal attraction adjacent to Rotorua city. Geysers play at regular intervals, other features being snowy silica terraces, hot springs and boiling mud pools. A Maori tribe live here and their carved meeting house built in 1873 is worth a visit.

A famous stopping place is the Thermal Wonderland Wai-o-tapu. This is the country's most colourful and diverse geothermal area and home to the reliable geyser Lady Knox which shoots water and steam up to 21 m into the air at 10:15 daily. Walks through the hot and cold pools, boiling mud pools and hissing fumaroles take 30-75 minutes.

Mt Ngongotaha is a spectacular and panoramic backdrop to the city of Rotorua. From the Skyline lookout (487m), which can be reached by gondola, you ll see magnificent 360 degree view of lake Rotorua, the city and its surroundings.

One of the best attractions of Rotorua is Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park. Well-maintained and level pathways lead through an extensive area containing perhaps the finest collection of native ferns to be seen. A regular feeding programme gives visitors the opportunity of seeing the brilliantly coloured trout at their best. Rainbow Springs is also home to Kiwi Encounter. Staff prepare, incubate and hand-raise kiwi chicks taken as eggs from the wild. Once at maximum weight, they are returned to the wild.

Visitors can also enjoy and observe the farming-related activities at The Agrodome and Agroventures. There are three live sheep shows daily, touring the organic farm, feeding and handling the animals, bungy jumping, jet-boating and rolling downhill inside a large plastic ball.