While on Your Cruisetour

Make the most of your extra time in this incredible port with two quintessentially Kiwi experiences. The first is a trip to Rainbow Springs Trout Hatchery and Wildlife Reserve, where wild trout swim in fresh water springs and the rare and endangered kiwi bird, New Zealand's national icon, flourishes in a natural, protected habitat. Follow up the day's actitivities with dinner and an authentic Hangi and Maori Concert Experience.

The One Thing You Don't Want to Miss

No visit to "Nature's Spa of the South Pacific" would be complete without a soak in its steamy, therapeutic waters and, of course, the opportunities abound. The Art Deco-style Blue Baths may be the most famous but there are countless others. For the full perspective on the history of taking to the waters in Rotorua, check out the award-winning Rotorua Museum, a Tudor-style manse and the region's original "great spa."

Other Fun Things to Do

	Get to know the locals at an authentic pre-European Tamaki village. Experience the culture, history and unique Manaakitangi spirit of the Maori people through song and dance - and, if you're really lucky, a traditional hangi feast, where food is cooked in earthen ovens.
	Experience the “kiwi farm culture “ at a real working New Zealand sheep farm. Hop on a tractor-drawn trailer tour and get the chance to pat and feed lambs, calves, emus and other farm critters.

Sporting Adventures

Thanks to the several millennia's worth of volcanic activity that has formed and reformed the landscape (and spawned all that geothermal activity), Rotorua is something of an adrenaline junkie's paradise, with mountains for world-class biking and hiking, waterfalls for rafting, and rainforests for horseback riding or four-wheeling. And yet the same geological turbulence has also made the region ideal for quieter pursuits, namely trout fishing. Within Rotorua's borders is a chain of sparkling lakes teeming with trophy-sized trout.

Get a Taste of Local Flavor

Long ago, the natives discovered that Rotorua's natural geothermal steam served a purpose beyond the merely therapeutic. They used it for cooking. And thus was born "the hangi pit," a Maori earth oven consisting of hot stones and steam. Descendants of the early Maori still use the hangi method today to cook up elaborate meals of New Zealand lamb, sweet potatoes (kumara) and even stuffing, complimented with rich brown gravy and a thick mint sauce. A must taste!

Local Currency

Currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZD). Credit cards are widely accepted and ATMs are everywhere. Moneychangers are widely available so don't expect any real trouble converting currency or travelers checks, but do shop around for the best rates.

Weather in Rotorua, New Zealand