Outside of Auckland, North Island
Near Rotorua
Lake Tarawara
Lake Tarawara and Mount Tarawara are standouts amongst New Zealand’s many natural wonders.

http://www.volcanicair.co.nz/ROTORUA/MT_TARAWERA_ORAKEI_KORAKO___CLEARWATER_CRUISES_IDL=3_IDT=1670_ID=9842_.html Will give you a copter tour of the magnificent region, and then you can head on to the nearest city of Tauranga.

Lake Tarawera Activities and Attractions

Trout Fishing Lake Tarawera

Lake Tarawera is deep and clear, surrounded by native bush with Mount Tarawera making a startling backdrop. It is world renowned for the size and condition of the rainbow trout yielding many fish in excess of 4kg each year. Trout fishing on Lake Tarawera is a truly memorable experience which can be enjoyed with a number of professional guides and charter boats operating from the lake, including Jeff Oakes of Fly Fish Trout NZ and Paul Connell of Clearwater Cruises. A full day excursion of 8 hours duration is recommended however shorter excursions are available. There are many styles used to catch trout on the lake including jigging, trolling, harling a fly near the surface and fly fishing. Sightseeing and an informative tour of the lake’s deep historical background is all part of the experience. So whether you are wanting to relax in the comfort of a launch cruising and fishing the lake or are a seriously keen angler wanting to fly fish the lake to catch that trophy, it is available at Lake Tarawera, a place like no other.

Mokoia has a tragic history-once the home of hundreds of Maori, one of their own warriors from a rival tribe sailed over in a flotilla of war canoes and killed or enslaved most of the inhabitants. There are some settlement remains and sacred sites on the island, including Hinemoa’s pool.
She is the famous romantic heroine of Maori legend, their Juliet, but she got a happy ending and bathed in that pool, which is in a secluded grove not far from where the jet boat will pick you up and drop you off.
You can soak in the pool for as long as you like. Arrange with the driver for when you are going to be picked up and dropped off, and you can borrow swimming gear free of charge from them before you head out to the island.
You can’t sit up to your neck for long, but you can certainly sit on the rocks and soak your feet. One reminder—never ever put your whole face or ears or nose into a hot spring pool, you can pick up microbial creatures that thrive in the hot temperatures.
You might want to save the soak for after your 30 minute to one hour hike to the top of the mountain on the island. There are various ways to get up there, a steep path and a more gentle one. Don’t make the mistake I did and go to the righthand one, because while pretty, it is quite steep, and is a path to nowhere, so you will have to come way back down and start up again on the correct one-phew!
The view from the top is well worth it though, as you get a 360 view of the lake. Your boat driver will give you your little map.
You can also do a helicopter tour of the area, which lands on top of the hill, and at various other points around the area including Hell’s Gate, the wonderful bubbling landscape we talked about in the first part of this tour of Rotorua.
Once you are back down you can visit the sacred Maori stone, and as I said, now is the perfect time for a soak in the pool. When I went, there was only one other tourist on the island and we sat and had a good soak and chat all about New Zealand—talk to the locals and you will really learn a lot. He was the head of the wine growers association in Gisborne, so I learned a lot about wine!
If you ever want to get close to the sensation of being the only person in the world, head for the island!
Once you are back in town, if you still have any energy left, you will be surprised and happy to know that Rotorua also has its own Pompeii, a buried Maori village covered in ash after a massive volcanic eruption in the region, which also blasted the unique mineral formations known as the Pink and White Terraces, referred to in the Victorian period as one of the wonders of the world.
You will see all of the artefacts that have been recovered so far and the beautiful houses they lived in, which were preserved by the shower of ashes from the eruption. It is between Rotorua and Lake Tarawara.

Outside of Auckland, North Island
Other activities at Rotorua

Believe it or not, we have still not covered all the things to do in this area. Once you are back in town, head to Lake Rotorua, and see what different boating options you might want to consider.
There is a paddle steamer that will take you around it while you dine, and various boating opportunities, including renting one yourself.
The leisure center is nearby too if you want to swim, and a number of kiosks sell ice cream and other snacks if you want to use this place as a starting off point for a walk around the glorious lake. There are of course ducks and swans all eagerly looking for you to feed them as you gaze out at the relatively unspoiled lake.
Rotorua is actually a Caldera, a volcanic cone which has collapsed in on itself and plugged itself up, and then filled with water. The fish in the lake are pretty inedible because of all the mineral in the water from this volcanic activity, and of course the hot springs, which are never far away. Everywhere you go, you will see plumes of smoke rising up, a reminder to take another trip to the spa if ever there was one.
But if you want something a bit more active, with a spa reward at the end, why not take the Karawa jet boat out to the lone island of Mokoia in the middle of Lake Rotorua.
The jet boat to the island is a fast and furious way of travel, speeding along low in the water at a rate of knots, before your young driver, does a circle with their hands to warn you, and the turns the boat 180. You will do this several times, a thrilling and often rather wet experience, then as you get closer, you’ll get a small tour of the island.
The island has restricted boat access because it is a wildlife preserve and thus far no dogs, rats or possums have managed to sneak into a boat to decimate the native species on Mokoia. There are many rare birds, and the island is remarkable, so silent and pristine.

Outside of Auckland, North Island
Other activities at Rotorua
My next stop was the incredible Agrodome, a tribute to all things sheep, complete with a sheep show, sheep dog trials, herding and sheep shering demonstrations, a café, and best of all, a shop full of the most gorgeous sheep-based products, including hand made wool sweaters in the traditional aran patterns, and even some mohair, and also some possum blends.
Possum are cute little critters but devastating to the wildlife, so they use the fur fibre for tough, but lightweight and ultrawarm yarn. You could never buy the wool cheaper for these sweaters, let alone in a store, so do what I did, travel light, and buy an extra suitcase to stuff with gifts to take back.
But on to the sheep show! They have 3 trained dogs, and a dozen diffeerent breeds of sheep who aso do tricks, though they are by no means tame and can get quite rowdy, all part of the fun!
They also have lambs as part of the show, which the children in the audience can get to bottle feed. They demonstrate how to shear one and you can pet them. The sheep are very different in appearance depending on breed and type of wool which can be used for everything from clothing to carpets.
The sheep dog trials are great fun, and something you will not want to miss. They have a nice indoor and outdoor café, so depending on the weather, you can have coffee or some very yummy homemade cakes and even meals there. I have to say the baked goods in New Zealand are all excellent, very much like tea time in England and loaded with gorgeous New Zealand butter.
You could spend hours at the Agrodome and not see everything, but if you are on the tour, then another short bus ride or walk away is another incredible adventure, the Skyride gondola and luge.
A small cable car take you up the glen, to a gorgeous sky-top ayrie where you can look down on the whole of the region. It is lushy forested and unspoiled, and once you get to the top, you can go to the popular café, and make sure you bag a seat either inside or out that looks down over the valley.
When you have got used to the view and satsifed any hunger you might have had, now the action begins. You can walk the various nature trails through the woods, or you can head part way back down the mountain on a luge-a small wheeled sled similar to the little one man devices they use in the Winter Olympics.
There are different courses for different levels of fitness, and also whether you want the fast route or the scenic one, and there is a chair lift that will take you back up to the top with your sled for another go whenever you like.
Tickets for the luge are usually separate from the gondola, and can include a number of ride options, or an all day pass. If you don’t have to rush back on the tour, you can linger and enjoy yoursself—if you do, just remember some of the lines can be long, so while the ride may be fast, the waiting your turn above and below can be slow.

Outside of Auckland, North Island
Other activities at Rotorua
Next we went to Rainbow Springs to see the incredible trout. There are 4 kinds, introduced to the country by the British, who then altered the ecosystem of the country forever.
Despite the fact that it is now the most plentiful fish in the country, you will never see trout on a restaurant menu in New Zealand. If you catch it and kill it yourself, you can eat it, but otherwise, they are trying to preserve their natural resources and not commercialize them.
The other introduction by man which has proven a disaster to the indigenous wildlife of New Zealand is the dog, for they were permitted to hunt kiwi to nearly the brink of extinction.
These adorably shy little birds with long beaks have the largest egg in proportion to their body in the world, the equivalent of a human mother giving birth to a 20 pound infant. Ouch!
At Rainbow Springs, they do have kiwi in the wild, and a very successful incubation program, but they also have a nocturnal house you can go in during the day so you can see thm in what is as close to their natural habitat as possible, hunting for insects and making nests.
You can also see the tuatara, the native tiny lizard of New Zealand, also rapidly approaching extinction because of loss of habitat and climate change-they believe that because the world has heated up significantly in recent years, only males will be able to survive, and will of course eventually cause the whole species to die out in the wilds.
There is a scientific center where you can learn all about the breeding program and lifecycle of a kiwi, a gift shop, and lovely walks around the springs full of fish, and there are other native birds as well you can visit as you walk through their cages.
Some of the pools are marvelously colored, again due to the volcanic activity and minerals in the area, so it really does live up to its name of Rainbow Springs.

Outside of Auckland, North Island
Other activities at Rotorua
You would think the Hell’s gate hot springs, spa, museum, swimming, sports, hangi, Rainbow springs, glen, glow worms, and shopping at Rotorua would be enough. But wait, there is STILL more.
And for some, the best is yet to come.
Again, you can get tours and recommendations and even private shuttle buses/taxis very cheaply to do all of these activities separately, or in combination.
On my tour we first went to the Cultural Center, where you could see traditional weaving and carving being carried out by Maori living in the region. The wood carvings in particular are fascinating, incorporating all their myths into the panels and objects, often used to decorate the community centers around the region which help preserve their culture, dance, and oral traditions, as well as craftsmanship.
Even more remarkable are their volcanic pools, including a double pair of geysers that rival Old Faithful’s in Yosemite, though they are not nearly so predictable.
When one shoots off the other burbles and froths as well, then you have two vast jets spuming upwards in an incredible display over the lunar landscape. You may have to wait for them to get going, but I have to say, as you are standing on the bridge over the stream watching them, well, you really know you are in a remarkable paradise.
Yes, I said a bridge, for strangely enough, running right through the volcanic area is a cold stream full of ducks and fish! You can head over the bridge and up the path to continue your moderate hike through the hilly landscape and thermal area, or turn back and go up another path to their kiwi house, and then back to the sacred meeting house, full of lovely carvings.
Once you have visited the craftsmen’s workshops, there is a large, extensive gift shop on site, full of wonderful treasures, many of them made on site by the craftsmen working there.
The kiwi house is fascinating, but there is an even better one at Rainbow Springs for you to enjoy, so let’s head there next.

The Hangi continued
Then it’s time for the show. Singing, dancing, martial arts, the entertainment here was great, and the women and men very fit and great singers.
They also explain the meaning of the moko, the ornamental face tattoos on the men and women. The time really flies with the show, though it is longer than the one at Tamaki.
The New Zealand accents are a bit more clipped than Australian ones, but all of the hangi participants are well spoken.
Then your master of ceremonies will lead you back to your food and bar tent, to enjoy the feast, and the evening finishes with you going down in small groups to see the glow worm grotto in the glen, a magical experience, rivalling the stars overhead.
They also give you information on the trees and shrubs in the glen, and are extremely interesting and entertaining. Though I have to admit, I would prefer chatting with them if they were still clad in their native loincloths! They are very fit men!
Each of the show’s participants are Maori or of Maori ancestry, and clearly proud of their culture and eagerly participate in it. They are very warm and passionate people, an interesting contrast with the more British aspects of life in New Zealand.
The hangi have various protocols, and you need to be respectful of their culture at all times, and of fellow guests. I suggest you dress warmly—it certainly gets cool at night.
It all goes on rain or shine, but in case of rain, they have slickers and umbrellas, and they give you little torches for you to go safely down the paths to see the glow worms. They also give you a tour of the local trees, flora and fauna in the glen.
It is a great way to spend the evening and my only rider is it can be a bit pricey and if you are not 100% fit, you might have a hard time with the paths in the glen at Mitai, whereas the Tamaki show is not so strenuous in terms of activities.

Outside of Auckland, North Island
Hangi at Rotorua continued
A hangi is an essential part of Maori culture, and you should feel privileged that the warriors are willing to welcome you into their village to share with you.
A hangi is a Maori feast, cooked in large pits, and featuring everything from appetizers to dessert, almost all cooked over a wood fire, and with a lovely smoky taste as a result. You will get meat, chicken, vegetables, fish, and the ever present kumara, the native sweet potato.
It is served buffet style, and there are lots of salads and bread on the side, and you can buy drinks at the bar. It is a great chance to try the local beers, like Tui, named after an adorable little native bird. The wines will of course be all locally grown and first-rate.
I went three times, I had such a wonderful time, two to the same place because while the food was not the best, the entertainment was second to none. Each hangi group thrives on their similarities as well as differences.  They all wish to portray Maori culture, and tell wonderful myths and stories.
The hangi at Tamaki Village is very well advertised, but the people are, shall we say, not quite so athletic at performing a haka, a ritual dance you may be familiar with from seeing the New Zealand All Blacks Rugby team perform one on the playing field before each of their games. The Tamaki performers are built like Samoans!
The women singers are also  not quite as good, but the food was first rate, and their recreated Maori village where they try to live as their ancestors would have done is very atmospheric and fun. You also get to see the food cooking, and there is a first rate gift shop full of wonderful Maori objects in paua and jade, handmade soaps and more.
The hangi at Mitai was terrific. They are situated in a wonderful glen not far from Rainbow Springs Trout Farm, where the 4 different kinds of trout thrive in pristine pools and you can see the nocturnal kiwi (you can actually do a night tour of it as well in combination with the hangi if you book ahead with the tourist center).
You will get settled into your food tent and have time to get drinks and use the facilities, before being asked to come view all the food cooking in the traditional pit. Then you will be taken down into the glen, seeing the wonderful silver fern the Maori used as navigation in the dark.
The underside of the fronds is silver, so they would turn them upside down when they were walking one way, and retrace their route and turn them back again when they were coming home.
In the glen is a stream and the warriors row up it in their war canoe, singing, and all is lit by torches. It is an impressive sight, and don’t worry, they back up and do it twice in case you missed getting good pictures the first time.

Outside of Auckland, North Island
Rotorua
Rotorua’s gorgeous Polynesian Spa is second to none, and ridiculously cheap for the luxury it affords. The scenery, the heated pools, one as hot as 41C for you to sit in, almost all out in the open air on the lake, is all a dream come true.
There are also private rooms for you and a guest, where you can bathe, have massages and other spa treatments, and generally relax and get away from it all, at very reasonable prices. Some even have their own private showers, but the public showers are impressively clean, as is the whole facility, and it is open from 7 in the morning til 11 at night.
The terraced pools and the central pool are covered over—beware of sunburn if you are in any of the other open-air pools. The terraced pools give you a great view of the lake, as does the lowest and hottest pool, which is right next to a colony of rather raucous nesting birds.
There is one indoor pool which is quite deep and reminiscent of the spa at Bath, England. It is actually small swimming pool size, but you won’t want to be too active due to the hear about about 35C.
One reminder—never ever put your whole face or ears or nose into a hot spring pool, you can pick up microbial creatures that thrive in the hot temperatures.
If you get hungry, you can pop out of the pool to get get exellent food here at the spa cafe. Everything to eat or drink at the spa is heathful, and you can also get the most amazing beauty products and soap, both made from the mud, and from natural New Zealand botanicals.
There are also the blue swimming baths for the more athletic right in the garden complex.
The Museum of Rotorua is a wonderful step back in time, both regarding New Zealand, and history of the spa that has helped the town become the prosperous tourist one it is today. It is often compared to Las Vegas, but its essential Englishness combined with Maori pride, makes it completely unique and very unspoiled despite the many tourist attractions.
Also in the gardens is a lovely huge lawn for bowls, all in a peaceful garden setting, with everything pretty much a short walk from one another and from the tourist center, spa, museum, lake path you can walk, and the welcome center for one of the hangi, Maori feasts and celebrations, which we will be talking about later.
The town is laid out in an easy enough grid pattern, so it is simple enough to walk everywhere. I stayed at a great clean backpackers, the Microtel, with a terrific kitchen, and loaded up on food from the local supermarket.
But no vacation would be complete without a couple of good dinners, and Rotorua’s dining experiences are one with a difference, for you haven’t experienced New Zealand until you’ve been to a hangi.
As I said, if you want to book a hangi, go to the tourist center to make the arrangements. They are in the know about all the ones on offer, and will recommend the best one/s. a minivan will pick you up at your hotel, and bring you to either the interpretive center first, so you can meet the other guests and your hosts, and see films or hear stories about Maori culture and how New Zealand first came to be settled, or you will head out to the site of the hangi to begin your cultural experience with the warrior’s welcome….

Outside of Auckland, North Island
I flew over to Auckland from San Francisco on Air New Zealand for only $650 round trip, and both the flights were fantastic. The time just flew by even though it was 14 hours each way.
I got even better value by purchasing an air pass that allowed me to travel to other cities in a circle, all for only $100 extra.
Never bother to take a taxi from the airport, when the shuttle buses are so good and inexpensive by comparison. The tourist board people are friendly and helpful everywhere you go. In fact, it is the best place to find out what’s on and make bookings in advance.
Rotorua
After a week in magnificent Auckland and Paihia/Russell/the Bay of Islands, I headed for the “Great South Sea Spa” of Rotorua, made famous in Victorian times for its bubbling hot springs, thought to be good for the health.
George Bernard Shaw visited here, amongst others, and named some of the pools at Hell’s Gate volcanic area after friends and family. It is an awesome, vast park like a lunar landscape, and there you can soak your feet in the absolutely wonderful mud for free, and also learn how to do a traditional Maori carving.
The airport code for this quaint Victorian town now booming is ROT, and you can tell from the smell as soon as you arrive at the adorable little airport. The sulphurous odor is not to everyone’s liking, it is true, but you stop noticing it after a time, as you throw yourself into all this region has to offer.
I had the most fabulous 4 days in Rotorua, and have to admit I was sad to leave, and thought Welllington was a huge letdown compared to everything I had done the previous week.