New Zealand – Rotorua & Waikite Valley

Photos and videos of the thermal wonderland that is Rotorua, New Zealand (North Island).

From Wikipedia

Rotorua (/ˌroʊtəˈruːə/, from Māori: Te Rotorua-nui-a-Kahumatamomoe, “The second great lake of Kahumatamomoe”) is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand’s North Island. It is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing Rotorua and several other nearby towns. The majority of the Rotorua District is in the Bay of Plenty Region, but a sizable southern section and a small western section are in the Waikato Region.[4] Rotorua is in the heart of the North Island, just 60 kilometres (37 mi) south of Tauranga, 80 kilometres (50 mi) north of Taupo, 105 kilometres (65 mi) east of Hamilton, and 230 kilometres (140 mi) southeast of the nation’s most populous city, Auckland.

Why visit Rotorua

There aren’t many places like Rotorua. The way the air smells, the heat that comes from the ground, and the power of nature being very visible are just a couple of things to name a few. It literally feels like you’re on a different planet here. Nothing else needs to be said. This is a must-do in New Zealand.

Photos of Rotorua

Click on photos for full-screen.

Rotorua

Bubbling mud

Waikite Valley

A waterfall of boiling water.

The minerals in the water cause interesting results.

In motion

All photos and video: 
© Dick Hoebée
All rights reserved