Whakarewrewa - The living thermal village

It was a warm & welcoming experience being a guest in this living village.

I recommend it for anyone who wants to experience the Maori culture as a member of their extended whanau (family) because I certainly felt embraced.

To maximise this experience I strongly suggest using the on-site guide services. Some of these guides descend from some of the first Maori guides who took visitors to the Pink & White Terraces before they were destroyed by a volcanic eruption.

We bought a corn on the cob that had been cooked in one of the hot pools. Definitely recommended.

Take time to watch the show. It felt like being invited into a living room to watch a family perform a routine.

The kids at the gate will dive into the river for coins that you throw for them. Apparently they make quite a lot of money doing this.

I understand that it may be possible to stay in the village. The on-site church and marae (traditional meeting house) are available for hire.

It will take at least 3 hours to experience some of Whakarewarewa and more if you want to take in the tour, walks, geysers and shops.

If you enjoy being immersed in a cultural experience then you will enjoy this. I rate it 4/5.

Rotorua - The Buried Village

A huge volcanic eruption in 1886 devastated the area, destroying the famous Pink & White Terraces and burying this village.

After looking through the small museum we were able to walk around the partially excavated site, exploring the area and going on a nature walk.

This is an excellent way to spend half a day, quietly absorbing the area and getting a taste for what early New Zealand life was like.

The Buried Village was interesting for the whole family & rated a 3/5, particularly if you enjoy history.

Rotorua - Paradise Valley

Paradise Valley Springs advertises being able to pat lion cubs as its main draw card, however in my opinion the fresh water spring was the highlight.

Make sure you take a drink bottle so you can fill it directly from this amazing spring. The water is cold & so very refreshing.

The animals are varied and interesting and you are able to pat many of them. There are lions, alpaca, wild pigs, sheep, deer, ducks, trout, thar, turkey, opossum, birds, kea, eels, wallabies,

You can buy a small bag of grains to feed the animals and trout as you walk around.

It's worth packing a picnic although a small cafe is on site.

2 of the kids didn't enjoy themselves but the other 2 loved it. Overall I thought it was worthwhile & rate it 3/5.

Rotorua - Gondola & luge

We were a little disappointed at the quality of the motel in Rotorua. Don't always believe what you see on the internet. The mineral plunge pool was more of a paddling pool.

My advice is to do your homework and check out a range of different accomodation options.

Rotorua is a very international city and as a New Zealander/ Kiwi felt like a stranger in my own country. It's a little ironic that overseas visitors come to Rotorua for a taste of New Zealand when it has such a strong international influence.

The first attraction we went to was the gondola & luge. This was a lot of fun & I would highly recommend it.

The gondola provides some great views over the lake and city. The luge is a huge amount of fun, for all ages & abilities. It is very safe. There are 3 lanes on the luge. Scenic (slow & long), Intermediate (medium & fun) and the Advanced (fast & furious). You pay for each run and buying a concession ticket reduces the cost.

There are lockers available for your bags at the top of the gondola plus food and a souvenir shop.

You can buy photos of yourself as you speed down the luge course or travelling in the gondola.

Best to go early in the day during busy periods as the course fills up but the lines were well managed.

I rate this experience 4/5

Trip tips

I thought I would share what we did & learnt on our holiday to Rotorua, Taupo & Auckland (North Island, New Zealand), so that others might also have a memorable and enjoyable experience.

We travelled by van, breaking up the journey with regular stops.

One of the best things we did was to give each family member (Mum, Dad, 2 girls & 2 boys) a sports bag. If something didn't fit, we didn't take it. This meant there was no excess luggage or cramped conditions in the vehicle.

When travelling in New Zealand in summer take:
Sunscreen
Sunhat
Sunglasses
Shorts
Pants
Tops
Socks
Swim wear
Enough underwear for the whole trip
Laundry bag
Camera
Journal or travel diary
Map
Drinks & nibbles
Good footwear

Tap water is safe to drink. River water is usually not safe to drink without boiling it first.

New Zealand is generally a safe country to travel in, but like every country has its criminal element. Lock valuables away and don't stray from groups late at night.

By planning ahead you will make the best use of your time in this beautiful country.