The city of Rotorua is located in the Bay of Plenty region on New Zealand's North Island & has a population of roughly 55,600 people. The city's full name in Te Reo Maori is Te Rotorua-nui-a-Kahumatamomoe, meaning 'The second great lake of Kahumatamomoe.' The two main lakes in the area are Lake Rotorua & Lake Roto Iti. Kahumatamome was the uncle of the Maori chief Ihenga, whose Te Arawa iwi (tribe) settled the area before the arrival of the Europeans. The city is a major tourist destination because it's a major centre of Maori arts & culture, and due to geothermal activity meaning geysers, mud pools, and hot springs. This would be the fourth & final city my brother & I would visit on our North Island Trip.
Our bus left the small Napier Bus Terminal at 1130 on April 14th, and made its way to the town of Taupo to drop off the passengers transferring to the double decker Auckland buses, before continuing on to Rotorua. The 4 hour bus ride was mostly uneventful & I passed the time listening to my MP3 Player. Once in Rotorua, my brother & I walked to the 5 star YHA Treks hostel just north of the town's centre. Our Twin Ensuite room was small but had two separate beds & a private washroom. My only complaint is that there is no lock on the washroom door (sliding door in this case)! I can't understand why some hotels overlook privacy concerns. There must always be a lock on the washroom door, regardless if you trust the people you're travelling with.
The town's centre is similar to Nelson: two/three storey buildings with shops, cafes, fancy restaurants, and fast food outlets. A large white tarp sits above the Hinemoa & Tutanekai intersection for street performances and buskers. I'm not sure if this happens frequently, but during our two day stay, upright pianos had been placed in random locations in the city centre for people to play. Some pianos sounded good while others needed tuning.
Rotorua's major inconvenience are the hydrogen sulfide emissions that drench the area in a constant 'rotten eggs' smell. The city's two unofficial names are Sulfur City & Rotten-rua. At first, I couldn't smell it, but when I walked down to the lake to explore the Government Gardens, the stench immediately made its presence known. The intensity depends on the wind; one minute the smell is light, and then the next minute it's unbearable. I had to spit several times to get the rotten eggs taste off my tongue. Sulfur is Mother Nature's gas. If I had known how bad it can be, I would have brought a gas mask.
The Government Gardens were created as a recreational area along the southern shore of Lake Rotorua during the late 19th century. The 50 acres of land were given to the city as a gift from the original Maori owners. The Gardens is also where the Rotorua Museum & restored bath houses are located. Hundreds of birds flock & swim along the southern shore, hoping to get some food from tourists. The black swans are friendly & will come really close to you expecting food. Other introduced birds include mallards, red billed gulls, and black billed gulls. I should warn you that these birds have a nasty habit of leaving feces on the public walkways so be careful where you step.
Kuirau Park is one of the best places to experience & photograph Rotorua's geothermal activities. Located just a few blocks to the east of the city centre, this park contains many hot bubbling mud pools and lakes with floating mist. And the smell isn't bad either! For safety, the mud pools are surrounded by wooden fences, and you're only allowed to walk on designated wooden paths when exploring the lakes. I'm not surprised because we're dealing with extreme boiling temperatures. You know those bubbling sounds you hear when you boil water on a kitchen stove? Those are the sounds the bubbles from the mud pits make. The best time to visit the park would be in mid to late afternoon because it's quieter & peaceful.
To Be Continued . . .
(Post 9 of 10)
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