Rotorua is a fantastic place to visit and with no shortage of activities there is bound to be something to suit everyone. If you’re into cycling, there are a number of great winter bike trails to try out. From the leisurely to the expert grade these are a great activity in the winter. Read about our favorites
Thinking about a trip to Rotorua? Wondering when the best time of year may be? Stop wondering. Rotorua is great year-round, and there’ll always be something here to make your holiday special. As your Rotorua Motel hosts, and local experts on all things Rotorua, we have listed a few things we love about Winter in Rotorua below. Start the day by getting active and warm – either with a Mountain Bike ride or a nice walk through Rotorua’s many trails. Spend the afternoon enjoying some of the cultural or adventure activities, or relax in one of the many hot pools. For the evening a hangi and Maori Cultural experience is the ideal way to finish off a great day in Rotorua. Feel like another spa? Our Spa Pool Studio Rooms have private indoor spas for you to enjoy in peace and quiet. Mountain Biking Rotorua is one of the big MTB areas in New Zealand. With more than 100km of trails through fantastic NZ forest and a great community of riders, MTB fans will really be in their element here. For more information about the trails in Whakarewarewa Redwood Forest and the Skyline Graviry Park check out the Mountain Bike Rotorua website, or for […]
Rotorua is home to a vast array of cultural activities. As a real center of Maori culture there are plenty of Maori cultural activities on offer, and we do a great job of showcasing Rural NZ culture as well. Learn about some of our favourites here, and check out our Rotorua Attractions page for more. Tamaki Maori Village From their site: In 1989, two young Maori brothers Mike and Doug Tamaki began building a dream… It started with the sale of a Harley Davidson motorcycle for the purchase of a 16-seater mini bus. The vision saw the brothers and their families create a whole new encounter by taking the Maori culture outside of the city limits where they created a pre-European Maori village, 15 minutes south of Rotorua. Today Tamaki Maori Village thrives within a natural forest environment, offering to both local and international visitors an insight into the Maori culture – like never before! Journey back to a time of proud warriors and ancient traditions. Our Evening Experience offers ceremonial rituals, powerful cultural performances & hangi feasting. Sleeping in a whare moe (sleeping house) was a tradition reserved for when one tribe visited another tribe. We invite you to experience […]
Rotorua is one of the North Islands biggest tourist centers and there is something for everyone to enjoy here – regardless of the season. See below for a few of our highlights. These aren’t in order by the way – they are all amazing! Mitai Maori Village A perfect package for groups. An evening at Mitai will give you an authentic introduction to Maori culture leaving you amazed and in awe. Be enthralled by the natural bush setting, see warriors in traditional dress paddle an ancient warrior canoe (waka) down the Wai-o-whiro stream, and don’t miss your only opportunity in the Rotorua area to see glow worms in their natural habitat. Where: 196 Fairy Springs Rd, Bay Of Plenty 3015, New Zealand More Info: http://www.mitai.co.nz/ The Redwoods – Whakarewarewa Forest This has been ranked the #1 Rotorua attraction on Tripadvisor. The Redwoods are made up of several trails through the Whakarewarewa forest. The forest is enormous – around 5,600 hectares, but the trails themselves are extensive and cover around 6 hectares. From short, 30 minute walks that are fine for smaller children right up to the 8 hour, 34 km Whakarewarewa circuit. Where: The Rotorua Redwoods are located on Long Mile Rd […]
Rotorua has always had a long interesting and colourful history. It began with the discovery of Rotoura by Chief Ihenga in 1350AD. After spending some time hunting in the region, he came across a second lake and named it Rotorua, which literally translates to “Second Lake”. The Maori tribes in the area used the thermal waters for medicinal purposes, especially skin complaints and rheumatic diseases, as well as for cooking food and to soften flax. European settlers arrived in Rotorua around 1830, and by the 1888’s the Governement had become sole owner of the land. By 1894 they had built a railway which spurred great growth in the region. In early 1990’s the Government and locals developed Rotorua into a tourist destination for those visiting the “hot lakes”. During 1908, a European-style bath house was built, surrounded by ornate gardens, paving the way for the Rotorua we know and love now. A second bath house was open (The Blue Baths) in 1933 and became famous all over the world. This area would later become the heart of Rotorua, with it’s style and charm being copied through out the city. The original bath house is now home to Rotorua Museum, but still keeps it’s original style. The ornate […]
