landmark
Rainbow Springs Nature Park
Rotorua nature park showcasing New Zealand's unique wildlife including kiwi in a natural bush setting.
4 km · about 5 min drive
OceaniaNew ZealandBay of Plenty
Rotorua
Bay of Plenty, New Zealand · Oceania
About Rotorua
Rotorua is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Ohinemutu, 26km from Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.
Rotorua is in Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, with about 66,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Ohinemutu, about 4 km away.
Rotorua (Māori pronunciation: [ɾɔtɔˈɾʉa] ) is a city in the Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island, situated on the southern shores of Lake Rotorua, from which it takes its name. It is the seat of the Rotorua Lakes District, a territorial authority encompassing Rotorua and several other nearby towns. ItRead more
has an estimated resident population of 58,500, making it the country's 13th largest urban area, and the Bay of Plenty's second-largest urban area behind Tauranga.
Te Arawa Māori first settled in Rotorua in the 14th century, and a thriving pā was established at Ohinemutu by the people who would become Ngāti Whakaue. The city became closely associated with conflict during the Musket Wars of the 1820s. Ohinemutu was invaded by a Ngāpuhi-led coalition in 1823, commanded by Hongi Hika and Pōmare I. In the 19th century early European settlers had an interest in developing Rotorua, due to its unique geothermal activity and the surrounding area. Then, efforts by Māori and Europeans alike to establish Rotorua as a spa town led to a 99-year lease of land from Ngāti Whakaue to the Government. The city became a major site of tourism due to the Rotorua's close proximity to the Pink and White Terraces, until they were destroyed by the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera. Rotorua was elevated to borough status in 1922 and to city status 40 years later.
Rotorua is a major destination for both domestic and international tourists. It is known for its geothermal activity and Māori cultural tourism, and features geysers – notably the Pōhutu Geyser at Whakarewarewa – and hot mud pools. This thermal activity is sourced to the Rotorua Caldera, in which the city lies.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Rotorua?
Within an hour or so of Rotorua: Rainbow Springs Nature Park (4 km), Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland (26 km), Hobbiton Movie Set (57 km), Hobbiton Movie Set, Matamata (57 km).
Are there any good drives near Rotorua?
The nearest famous roads are Desert Road.
Where is Rotorua?
Rotorua is in Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, about 4 km from Ohinemutu.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 65,901
- Continent
- Oceania
- Country
- New Zealand
- Region
- Bay of Plenty
- Timezone
- Pacific/Auckland
- Coordinates
- -38.1387, 176.2452
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in New Zealand
Many rural bridges are single-lane. Give way as signed.
Full driving guide for New ZealandTags
Worth the detour from Rotorua
5 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
Surreal geothermal area with the vivid green Devil's Bath, the Champagne Pool, and the Lady Knox Geyser.
26 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Hobbiton Movie Set
The real-life Shire from the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films, with 44 hobbit holes set in rolling green Waikato farmland.
57 km · about 65 min drive
film location
Hobbiton Movie Set, Matamata
The permanent Shire set with 44 hobbit holes, the Party Tree and the Green Dragon Inn, built for The Lord of the Rings and rebuilt for The Hobbit.
57 km · about 65 min drive
waterfall
Huka Falls
High-volume cataract where the Waikato River narrows to a 15 m channel, with a car park and footbridge just north of Taupō.
58 km · about 65 min drive
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