Rotorua

• Rotorua has a number of galleries, flea markets and big brand stores that also make the area one of the top places to shop.
• You can head to the city centre to find the majority of shopping places. The art galleries and the boutique stores sell products and valuables inspired by the Maori art culture and history.
• You can also purchase some antiques and artefacts from the old vintage shops downtown. Ahu Boutique is one of the live examples which creates apparels and garments inspired by the Maori culture.
• The gallery of Maori sculptor and carver Joe Kemp have wood and stone products.
• Among the art galleries, Elim Art Gallery tops the list, which focuses on creativity and craftsmanship of the workers. Helium is another art gallery that is known for its contemporary art displays.
• In addition to this, there are several gift shops and souvenir stores from where you can pick up little somethings, random knick-knacks and choose from several collectables to take back home for your kith and kin.

1. Using a campervan to explore and sleep nights is a great way to save money. New Zealand is camping-friendly and is mostly free to camp anywhere except for private properties and restricted areas.

2. Drinking water is expensive when bought from stores. Therefore, it is recommended that a reusable water bottle be carried at all times to fill up at public drinking water taps and hotel taps.

3. Rotorua is a small town. Therefore, walking and exploring the town is more cost-effective than hiring private taxis.

4. There is a lot to do and see outdoors in Rotorua. It is best to avoid the rainy season for a pleasant experience.

5. Dial 111 for any kind of emergency.

• Rotorua is considered a hub of gastronomical delights. From freshly brewed coffee to world-class craft beer, delicious Hangi and other cuisines, the tiny town has got it all.
• “Eat Street” is a newly renovated street in Rotorua which is flanked by several fine dining restaurants, upmarket stores, funky nightclubs, quirky cafes and artisans markets etc.
• And the place boasts of several cuisine options which include Mexican, Chinese, Indian, Italian among many others. Because of this ‘Eat Street’, the city has also come to be called Roto-Vegas; the name is inspired by the club culture of Las Vegas.

• Rotorua is a hotbed of geothermal activities. Bustling with mineral hot springs, bubbling mud pools, and natural geysers, the city is known as an international spa destination. The volcanic landscape experienced its most major outburst in 1886 when Mount Tarawera erupted and in the process, the village of Te Wairoa (also known as ‘The Buried Village’) got destroyed. It is now desolate and deserted. The region to the west of Rotorua, in and around Kuirau Park is peppered with gushing hot mud pools. The tourists are encouraged and invited to soak their feet in here and relax and unwind.

• The city is also called ‘Rotten-rua’ because of the rotten eggs like smell that predominate the area. The smell is the outcome of the Hydrogen Sulphide emissions fizzing out from the natural hot springs. Another nickname is also ‘Roto- Vegas’, which is inspired by Las Vegas like restaurants and nightclubs flanking the roads.

• In addition to that, the area is replete with freshwater lakes which are an important spot for not only for trout fishing but also for other exciting activities like angling, swimming etc. There is also the Waimangu Volcanic Valley which was created by the eruption of Mount Tarawera, where you can see astonishing geothermal activities.