Should those travelling from Britain to New Zealand in 2017 find themselves nursing a hangover at some stage then Rotorua will provide some much-needed rejuvenation.
Sitting within the Pacific Rim of Fire, Rotorua thrives in a unique geothermal landscape and is home to natural hot springs, bubbling mud pools and active geysers.
The colourful North Island city has been voted New Zealand’s most beautiful six times and the landscape can perhaps be best appreciated by taking advantage of privately chartered cruises on Lake Tarawera.
Rotorua has been a welcome destination on past Lions’ tours with the team unbeaten and most recently recording victory over the Bay of Plenty nine years ago when England’s World Cup winning full-back Josh Lewsey touched down twice.
One third of the city’s population is M?ori, many with roots from Te Arawa whose people were New Zealand’s first tour guides, and therefore offers many opportunities to experience its rich heritage.
At Whakarewarewa, a living M?ori village in an active geothermal setting, residents still use natural resources for cooking, washing and bathing. Guided tours include bubbling mud pools, mineral springs where families bathe, and local cuisine cooked in thermal waters and traditional hangi ovens.
With more than 70km of tracks minutes from the city centre, Rotorua is New Zealand’s leading mountain-biking destination and home to world-first adventure activities, such as the Zorb and Shweeb – the world’s first human-powered monorail racetrack.
Adrenalin junkies can also luge, raft, sledge, off-road, sky dive, bodyfly and bungy.
