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Rotorua,
is located in the central North Island and is the 10th largest city in New
Zealand, with over 50,000 inhabitants. The city and surrounds is one of New
Zealand's premiere tourist destinations and is world-renowned
for its volcanic attractions. The volcanic attractions include boiling mud
pools, shooting geysers, volcanoes and many natural and harnessed thermal
pools for bathing. There are also plenty of native bush walks, trout filled
lakes, thrill-seeking attractions and a wide range of excellent accommodation.
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From the moment you enter Rotorua, you'll know you are in a place like no other. First off, there is the smell of sulfur in the air and the accompanied clouds of steam that indicate a thermal area is close by. Even within the city you can see hot streams and boiling pools of water and mud. Apart from these smaller volcanic attractions, there are also 4 major thermal areas near the city and they are as follows: Whakarewarewa, Waimangu, Waiotapu and Hell's Gate.
1) Whakarewarewa
is the most popular of Rotorua's thermal areas, which has more to do with
location as it is located within walking distance of the city. Here you will
find Pohutu geyser, which erupts about 20 times a day and can spout up to
100 feet. Other attractions include a Maori village, bubbling hot mud pools,
hot springs and beautiful native bush walks. This is also a great place to
learn about the Maori culture and you can even eat food that has been cooked
in a boiling mineral pool.
2) Waimangu located between Rotorua and Taupo, is the only hydrothermal system in the World, wholly formed within historic times, as the result of a volcanic eruption, (10 June 1886). Today you can walk through the craters of Waimangu Volcanic Valley and take the boat cruise on crater Lake Rotomahana to view the amazing geothermal activity. Internationally significant features include the worlds largest hot water spring, sinter terraces and the unique interrelationship between two huge hot springs in Inferno Crater and Echo Crater. Several endangered plants exist beside the geothermal activity together with a host of thermally adapted plants. This is one of the newest Ecosystems in the world.
3) Waiotapu near Waimangu, is another Thermal Wonderland and is known as New Zealand's most colourful and diverse geothermal sightseeing experience. Visitors to the area can view a wide range of features including: geysers, mud pools, mineral terraces, colourful hot and cold pools, steaming lakes such as the famous Champagne Pool. The Lady Knox Geyser is also a major attraction and it erupts daily at 10:15 a.m.
4) Hell's Gate is renown for it's fierce thermal activity as it is New Zealand's most active thermal area. You can feel the soft hot water of the Sulfur Lake and the finest geothermal mud packs. See steam vents, sulfur fumeroles, erupting waters, New Zealand's only accessible mud volcano, boiling mud pools and the largest hot waterfall in the southern hemisphere.
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