Rotorua

Hard to miss, Rotorua’s geo-thermal activity surrounds the city with a distinct sulphuric smell and its various attractions provide easy access to bubbling mud and gushing geysers amidst stunning lake and forest landscapes.

The city was established in the 1830’s and is on the tourist route for almost every visitor to New Zealand as it offers the  geo-thermal experience of a lifetime.

You won’t be let down in Rotorua if you are looking for Maori culture. Tamaki Maori Village for instance is an award winning attraction which will take you through a living experience in to the cultural heritage of Maori. It is the real thing, a place where Maori live and work and experience the traditions of the culture, from the traditional cooking methods to the stories and legends of Aotearoa.

Rotorua is also a prime destination for the extreme adventurer. Adrenaline pumping activities range from rap jumping down the face of a mountain, Zorbing - where you are strapped inside an enormous air-cushioned ball as you bounce down a hill or for those with the need for speed try screeching downhill on the infamous Rotorua luge or tandem skydiving at the Rotorua Airport, to challenging your spirit by rafting the rushing rapids of New Zealand’s highest commercially rafted waterfall, the Kaituna.

Your Mount Maunganui backpacker accommodation at Pacific Coast Lodge and Backpackers is located approximately 45 minutes from Rotorua.