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Thread: Must do in Rotorua?

  1. #1
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    Feb 2007
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    Default Must do in Rotorua?

    We're off to Mount Manganui (sp?) for a weeks holiday soon and figure its within range of doing a day trip to Rotorua so my question is what is a 'must do' in Rotorua? We have the in-laws (who have never been to NZ before) with us and a 6yr old child with a short attention span!

    Any tips gratefully received.

    Thanks, Anneliese

  2. #2
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    Quite a few ideas here.

    http://www.enz.org/forum/showthread....hlight=rotorua

    Our favourites were the geysers and the mud pools at Te Puia, the gondola/luge and hubby loved zorbing (that would be a good one for the inlaws )

    Also rainbow fairy springs went down well with the toddler as did a bit of swimming in one of the local hot pools.

  3. #3
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    Hi

    We had a great time at the Themal park, Waio Tapu (?? sp). It was great and very interesting, our 5yr old loved it.

    Sharon
    x

  4. #4
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    We had a great time at the agrodome
    http://www.agrodome.co.nz/
    It caters for all ages, the sheep shearing/show is good for kids to adults.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by sharon thomas View Post
    Hi

    We had a great time at the Themal park, Waio Tapu (?? sp). It was great and very interesting, our 5yr old loved it.

    Sharon
    x

    Just looked back at our blog, and its Wai O Tapu, Rororua.
    We went there back in May if you want a look at some pics.
    It was amazing

    Sharon
    x

  6. #6
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    Sep 2007
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    Wanganui
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    Just to add my voice to that - Wai-o-Tapu was really good. The museum was good, too - a stunning building that was originally a spa/mud/thermal/hydrotherapy hotel.

    Some photos here from our 2006 NZ expedition.

  7. #7
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    Jun 2007
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    If you're looking for cheap options, try the Craters of the Moon - which is a DOC site covered in steaming vents - it's free There another set of boiling mud pools out on the Taupo road - also DOC and free.

    If it's a nice day take a trip down to Orakei Korako. It's a bit less touristy than most of the other geothermal areas - and you get a boat trip across the river for starters.

    Dougie

  8. #8
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    May 2007
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    Quote Originally Posted by DMcG View Post
    If you're looking for cheap options, try the Craters of the Moon - which is a DOC site covered in steaming vents - it's free There another set of boiling mud pools out on the Taupo road - also DOC and free.

    If it's a nice day take a trip down to Orakei Korako. It's a bit less touristy than most of the other geothermal areas - and you get a boat trip across the river for starters.

    Dougie
    Would recommend the Orakei Korako (Hidden Valley) it is a very good.

    It does have a lot of steps etc so may not be so good for some visitors e.g. pushchairs etc. I would have suggested this myself but thought that it is quite a distance from Rotorua and if you are just visiting for the day from Mount Manganui then there is more than enough to do within Rotorua.

    If you did decide to go down to the Craters of the Moon (again a fair distance from Rotorua), then also check out Huka Falls and the Huka Prawn Park where you go fishing for prawns.

    Ian

  9. #9
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    All already mentioned but our boys enjoyed:

    1) Luge & Skyline (& scary sky swing) - Give about 1 - 2 hours (big cafe)

    www.skylineskyrides.co.nz/rotorua/

    Fantastic for all ages and has different levels for different abilities, our boys liked it so much they even did it in the rain. It was quieter earlier and later on, worth considering as if a tour group comes in you may have to queue a while.

    2) Rainbow Springs - can take between 30 mins to 2 hours

    www.rainbowsprings.co.nz

    Practically next door to the Luge, more of a sedate wander around the pools and a way to 'calm down' after the Luge.

    3) Agrodome - give about 2-3 hours if you do show and farm tour

    www.agrodome.co.nz

    Further down the road - The thought of a sheep show really didn't appeal but it was really good and surprisingly funny. The boys liked the farm tour where they let you get close to the sheep, alpacas, pigs etc. Also got to try some feijoa wine. I noticed zorbing down the hill as we entered the farm, so nice and near for those interested.

    I enjoyed all three but would definitely go back to the luge and the agrodome. Rotorua is fab have fun!

    Cheers

    Tia

  10. #10
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    Forgot to mention (allow about 3-4 hours if you do everything):

    www.whakarewarewa.com

    There are a couple of places like this but we felt this place had the whole geyser, bubbling mud, show thing in one place.

    Our oldest boy, then 5, got invited up to do the Haka at the show and one time they got to ride around on the land train (it wasn't running the other time).

    When the geysers go off it really is amazing and there are places where you can lie on the stone and its like underfloor heating. This is a great place to get those allimportant NZ photos sometimes it feels like another world - the boys thought it was like being on the moon - it really captured their imagination.

    We really enjoyed the tour but the boys weren't so interested. They've recently improved it and it has an interactive room which they loved - lots of buttons to press and things lighting up as it told you about Maori history and culture.

    Its also got a small Kiwi house.

    We have been to this place twice and would go again.

    Cheers

    Tia

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