NZ: Rotorua

After the fantastic Waimangu Valley we stopped off in Rotorua for an hour on the way back to Hamilton. Wikipedia sez: “Rotorua is nicknamed Sulphur City, because of the aforementioned thermal activity. The sulphur gives off an odour unique to Rotorua that adds to the visitor experience.” In other words the whole place stinks of rotten eggs and farts.

Rotorua is known by some as “Roto Vegas” as it’s apparently the most blatantly touristy town in the country. Indeed, the heritage there all seems to be about the history of tourism in the area from the first time people traveled to soak in the hot springs and mud pools. While this is still a major part of the town it’s also got a vibe that, qyite frankly, I didn’t like and I felt my misanthropy rising somewhat. It was probably the banner outside a hotel promising a Maori dinner and show that did it. The whole place had that air of California, and not the good bits of California either.

But, being New Zealand, it couldn’t help but be nice in places. We parked up by the museum…

…and went for a walk along the sulphur flats. Here there were mudpools and hot springs that turned the water a milky white, like someone had poured a load of chalk into the lake and mixed it up. The birds loved it so I got out the long lens and pretended I was an ornithologist. New Zealand does that to you.

But yeah, I wouldn’t recommend Rotorua as a place to spend any time. Not only is it kinda over-commercialized (and you can get a good volcanic bath elsewhere) but it smells awful.

Photos from Rotorua are here.