New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand
Approximately half way between the cities of Wellington and Auckland and at about four and a half hours distance from each, New Plymouth is Taranaki's main centre. From humble beginnings...
View ArticlePuke Ariki, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Almost 2000 years ago a band of adventurers left their homeland in Rangiatea and, aboard a canoe named Aotea, captained by a Rangatira (chief) named Turi, followed the stars and...
View ArticleMokau, Aotearoa New Zealand
The road that runs along the Taranaki Bight on the west coast of Aotearoa New Zealand's North Island, is a spectacular drive. It is bordered on one side by sloping...
View ArticleOhtel, a unique boutique hotel
Tucked into the side of a hill in Oriental Bay, Wellington, New Zealand is the tiny and totally different boutique hotel Ohtel. Who would have thought of setting up an...
View ArticleComing into Rotorua
No matter how you approach Rotorua, in the centre Aotearoa New Zealand's North Island, you're assured of some spectacular country. Come from the North and you'll cross the steep, rugged...
View ArticlePaepaekumana, the Rotorua Government Gardens
The magnificent Rotorua Government Gardens are unique among the great public gardens of the world. Here, you can not only do all the things you'd do in any park...
View ArticleTotal Indulgence at the Polynesian Spa Rotorua New Zealand
Set on the very edge of Lake Rotorua, on the southern fringe of the Government Gardens, the Polynesian Spa offers a taste of total indulgence. Long and widely famed for...
View ArticleRotorua, the Florence of Aotearoa New Zealand
Rotorua is to Aotearoa New Zealand as Florence is to Italy - a place where the country's art and culture is at its finest. In Rotorua a large and stable...
View ArticleRotorua, the Los Vegas of Aotearoa New Zealand
Rotorua is often affectionately referred to by the people of Aotearoa-New Zealand as Rotovegas. This is because, like Los Vegas USA, Rotorua is a show town. Many of the country's...
View ArticleTe Puia, Rotorua, Part 1; The Concert
Te Puia, The New Zealand Institute of Maori Arts and Crafts, at Whakarewarewa, is one of Rotorua's most visited tourist attractions. With its thermal park, Marae, (community meeting place) whare...
View ArticleTe Puia, Rotorua, Part 2; the geysers, the mudpools and the kiwis
Although you can browse in Te Puia's information galleries and wander perfectly safe pathways through the thermal park, it's really worthwhile joining one of the free guided tours. Guiding people...
View ArticleTe Puia, Part 3; Te Rito, the Weaving School
When the first Maoris arrived in Aotearoa, they found a place much harsher and colder than the mild, warm islands that they had come from. In their homeland, Hawaiki, clothes...
View ArticleTe Puia Part 4; Te Wananga Whakairo, the Carving School
One of the most important tools that the Maori brought from their homeland in Hawaiki was the toki, or stone adze. They found, in Aotearoa, a land rich in timber...
View ArticleTikitapu and Rotokakihi, Rotorua
High on Rotorua's list of prime attractions are its many beautiful lakes. And high on that list of lakes are Tikitapu, the Blue Lake and Rotokakahi, the Green Lake. The...
View ArticleTarawera, Part 1; the Eighth Wonder of the World
As early as 1840, Rotorua enjoyed world-wide fame as a tourist destination. Probably the most important contributor to that fame was the "eighth wonder of the world" - the unique...
View ArticleTarawera Part 2; the mountain erupts
As early as 1840, Rotorua enjoyed world-wide fame as a tourist destination. Probably the most important contributor to that fame was the eighth wonder of the world - the unique...
View ArticleTarawera Part 3; Digging up the Buried Village
After the Tarawera eruption, Te Wairoa and the surrounding countryside lay buried under metres of mud, completely abandoned by those who had survived the horrors of that fateful night. Only...
View ArticleWhakarewarewa, Rotorua, Aotearoa New Zealand
When Mount Tarawera erupted it swept away the homes and the livelihood of the local Tuhourangi tribe. Those who survived the disaster re-settled on the lands of their Ngati Wahiao...
View ArticleMitai, Rotorua, Aotearoa New Zealand
When it comes to Rotorua culinary experiences (or Aotearoa New Zealand culinary experiences, in fact) the Hangi is de rigeur. Steamed underground on a bed of hot stones, hangi cuisine...
View ArticleTe Whare Taonga o Te Arawa, Rotorua
To truly understand and appreciate Rotorua, you need to know at least a little of the forces that have shaped it. The best place to find out about them is...
View Article
