Description

Yes, Rotorua is 'touristy', but for good reason. No visit to New Zealand would be complete without seeing the awesome display of nature's power. And, apart from the boiling mud pools, geysers and craters, Rotorua is the heart of Maori culture.

Lake Taupo is a massive volcanic crater and NZ's largest lake. It's a haven for natural wildlife and a popular place for water skiing, cruising, sailing, swimming and fishing.

Mount Ruapehu has the country's largest ski resorts and the longest season. There's spectacular scenery and top facilities for all levels of skier. In Waikato you'll find the magnificent Waikato River, the city of Hamilton and Waitomo, home of the famous glow-worm grotto and soft adventure.

To See and Do

In Rotorua:

• On arrival get sulphur-acquainted with a visit to the thermal reserve of Whakarewarewa (on the way into town).
  
• For a full day of thermal wonder, take a trip to the beautiful Waimangu Valley where the village of Te Wairoa was once buried in a volcanic eruption. Now excavated it is worth a visit as is a cruise to the steaming cliffs of Lake Rotomahana.
  
• Don't miss a night out Maori style - a traditional cultural dance and hangi (feast).
  
• You could also consider staying overnight in the communal Maori marae (meeting house).
  
• Pay a visit to the Agrodome and Rainbow Farm.
  
• Take the Skyline Gondola ride for great views then ride a luge back down. Great family fun.
  
• There is superb trout fishing in 14 fishable lakes - gear and licence can be arranged.
  
• Treat yourself to a massage or a hot soak at the Polynesian Spa.

Then down to Taupo:

• En route stop off at thundering Huka Falls (the view from above is free or you can jetboat to their base for NZ$45 adults, NZ$25 children).
  
• Sail, ski or fish the lake for brown and rainbow trout. (If you catch a trout, ask your hotel or a local restaurant to cook it for you - restaurants aren't permitted by law to sell trout but they are allowed to cook for you!)
  
• Go whitewater rafting or bungey jumping over the Waikato River.
  
• Suspend your fears at Rock'n'Ropes on the Giant Swing, Flying Fox and High Trapeze.
  
• Both Rotorua and Taupo have some of the best mountain bike terrain and bikes can be hired from a number of places.
  
• Try the barbequed prawns at Taupo Prawn Park.
  
• Treat the children with a visit to Deerworld farm.
  
• Hop on horseback for an hour or a day.
  
• Tee off at the glorious Wairakei International Golf Course.
  
• Visit Tongariro National Park for a dynamic landscape that includes hot springs, a lush rainforest, a desert-like terrain and the snowy volcanic peaks of Mount Tongariro, Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Ruapehu.
  
• Ski Mount Ruapehu from Whakapapa. There are slopes for beginners (with excellent instructors) and long treeless slopes for the experienced skier.
  
• Raft the Tongariro River, have fun on a 4WD-farm bike or relax with a fishing rod.
  
• Want a big walk? The 49km Tongariro Northern Circuit is one of New Zealand's Great Walks. For a small walk, the Tongariro Crossing is generally regarded as the country's best one day walks.
  
• To fully appreciate the beauty of the region, take a scenic flight.

In the Waikato area:

• Take a paddleboat cruise on the Waipa Delta from the city of Hamilton.
  
• Check out the Hamilton Zoo which has the largest free-flight aviary in the Southern Hemisphere.
  
• Spot birds of the flightless kind at Otorohanga Kiwi House near Waitomo.
  
• In Waitomo, take the Glow-worm Cave tour and boat ride through the glow-worm grotto (tours leave every half hour).
  
• Squeeze into a wetsuit, pick up an inner tube and take the original 'black water rafting' tour. A glow-worm and soft adventure combination.
  
• Abseil 100m into wondrous The Lost World chasm (not as macho as it sounds!).
  
• For Indiana Jones-style caving and abseiling through waterfalls and tunnels, try Haggas Honking Holes (just as macho as it sounds!).

Sample Itinerary 5/6 days

(Note: this is only a sample - once you tell us your areas of interest, we will construct a personal, suggested itinerary for you.)

Day 1

• Cruise the mighty Waikato River on the paddleboat MV Waipa Delta.
  OR
  
• Visit the Hamilton Zoo.
  
• On route to Waitomo, stop at the Cambridge Country Store for a huge range of craft (20 minutes drive) and the Te Awamatu Rose Gardens.
  
• Check in for the first of two nights in the historic Waitomo Caves Hotel (1 hours drive from Cambridge).

Day 2

• Take a guided tour of the Glow-worm Cave and Aranui Cave
  OR
  
• Take the adventure option of a tandem Lost World abseil.
  
• Visit the Angora Rabbit Farm.
  
• After lunch, go 'black water rafting' - it's not difficult and is fun for all ages.

Day 3

• On the way to Rotorua (2 hours drive) stop at the Otorohanga Kiwi House.
  
• Spend the afternoon at Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve and visit the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute.
  
• Top the day off with a Maori hangi (feast) and concert.

Day 4

• Visit the Agrodome and Rainbow Springs.
  
• Ride the Skyline Gondola for lunch overlooking Rotorua and ride the luge back down.
  
• Relax with a massage and a hot mineral bath in the Polynesian Spa…
  OR
  
• Try your hand at trout fishing.
  
• If you have some luck - ask a restaurant to cook your trout for you. If not, take a dinner cruise on Lake Rotorua.

Day 5

• To Mount Ruapehu and Tongariro National Park via Lake Taupo, stopping at the Huka Falls for a jetboat ride to the base.
  
• Lunch and a tour at the Taupo Prawn Park. A visit to Deerworld perhaps, then on to the Grand Chateau at Mount Ruapehu.

Day 6

• A day of leisure or pleasure - go walking, rafting or skiing.

Note: From here (right in the centre of the North Island) it's an easy few hours drive north to Auckland, south to Wellington, east to Napier, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay or west to Taranaki and New Plymouth.

Where to Stay

Click below for a choice of accommodation options in these regions:

• Rotorua
• Central North Island