A three-day visit to South Island, starting in adrenalin capital of Queenstown before moving to the more sedate surrounds of Te Anau which we used as a base to visit glow worm caves and the Southern Alps. The highlight of our trip was a boat ride along the incredible fjord of Milford Sound.
New Zealand: North Island – Whakarewarewa State Forest
When we got up this morning the weather looked less than promising! It had rained overnight and the sky was grey and threatened more of the wet stuff. We grabbed some breakfast and it was still day so we decided to head out to the nearby Whakarenwarewa Forest, where there was reportedly a Redwood grove. We were not disappointed as the rumours proved to be true. The redwoods are not natural to New Zealand, in fact, these are imported Californian Coastal Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens). This particular grove was planted in 1901 as an experiment to provide a local source of timber
Unfortunately, the redwood trees grow quickly in the New Zealand climate which results in large cores of soft, brittle, low-density wood – making them useless for lumber. The lumber man’s loss was our gain as we took a long walk through these magnificent trees. The shade provided by these giants has provided ideal conditions for large fern trees to thrive and the combination of the redwoods, tree ferns and misty dampness of the day created a primordial atmosphere. After a bit of debate on whether we took the 30 minute or 90-minute walk – Emily lost the vote – and we ended up taking the long walk.
The final part of the trail took us through the Redwoods, but from there we climbed upwards through more native vegetation. Whilst it was overcast it was hot and humid and we soon worked up quite a sweat, but the view through the openings at the top of the hill made it all worthwhile. The good thing was the second half of the walk was downhill!.
Planning your visit to Whakarewarewa State Forest
Getting to Rotorua
Rotorua is centrally located in the middle of the North Island of New Zealand, about a 3 ½ hours’ drive from Auckland and a 4 ½ hours’ drive from Wellington.
Rotorua is within a two-hour drive of Waitomo Caves to the west, Hamilton to the north, Tauranga to the east and Ruapehu to the south.
Rotorua Airport handles daily flights from Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown and Christchurch. There are twice-weekly flights from Sydney. Departing passengers on domestic flights are required to pay an Airport Development Levy prior to boarding their flights.
Baybus is the public bus service that runs regular services throughout the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua region.
A number of nationwide coach operators travel to Rotorua, including guided tour options that drop you off at your accommodation after visiting the attractions. GreatSights and Grayline Tours operate both single and return tours to Rotorua. There is also the option of a guided tour of Rotorua departing from Auckland and Rotorua including FlexiToursNZ.
The best time to visit Rotorua
Rotorua, based on the Köppen climate classification, falls into the Cfb category. This stands for a Marine west coast climate with warm summers. Nestled in the heart of New Zealand, Rotorua experiences a wide range of weather patterns throughout the year. Analyzing the provided data paints a vivid picture of how the weather shifts from month to month.
A noticeable pattern in Rotorua revolves around the temperature, which varies from 11.3°C to 22.7°C for the highs, with the lows ranging from 4.1°C to 12.3°C throughout the year. The humidity is quite constant, fluctuating from 78 to 87%, indicating a fairly humid environment. Rainfall is prevalent in all the twelve months with a slightly higher amount falling from 61mm to 82mm between the months of May and December. The number of rainy days ranges from 11.9 to 18.7 days monthly, with marginally more days in December.
Another important observation lies in the daylight hours, which swings from 9.6 hours in June to 14.8 hours in December. The sunshine hours experience a similar pattern, peaking in November with 8.2 hours and falling to the minimum in August with 5.8 hours. An average pressure of about 1014.2mb to 1018.4mb prevails, while wind speeds fluctuate from 8.9km/h to 11.7km/h.
An intriguing characteristic of Rotorua’s climate is that while snowfall is virtually absent, a negligible amount can occur in August.
The best time to visit Rotorua
Considering all climatic factors, the most favourable period to visit Rotorua spans from November to February. During these summer months, the highs reach from 20.7°C to 22.7°C along with plenty of sunshine hours, reaching their peak in November with 8.2 hours. While these months have rainfall, the relatively warm temperatures and extended daylight hours offer suitable conditions for outdoor activities and sightseeing.
The worst time to visit Rotorua
The least desirable time to explore Rotorua falls between June and August. During these winter months, the temperatures drop to 11.3°C and 12.6°C hot tops for high and from 4.1°C and 4.7°C for lows. Coupled with the shortest daylight hours in the year and the least number of sunshine hours, these months may not provide optimal conditions for outdoor exploration. Additionally, high rainfall, particularly in July and August reaching upwards of 74mm, along with increased humidity may dampen outdoor excursions.
Other places to visit near Rotorua
1. LAKE ROTORUA & MAORI CARVINGS
Lake Taupo. is located in the North Island of New Zealand. It is in the caldera of the Taupo Volcano. With a surface area of 616 square kilometres (238 sq mi), it is the largest lake by surface area in New Zealand, and the second-largest freshwater lake by surface area in Oceania
Taupo is about 80km south of Rotorua.
2. TE PUIA, MAORI CULTURAL CENTRE
Te Puia spans 70 hectares within the historic Te Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley, on the edge of Rotorua. It is home to the world famous Pōhutu geyser, mud pools, hot springs and silica formations. You will also find the native Kiwi bird and the national schools of wood carving, weaving, stone and bone carving.
3. WAITOMO CAVES
Waitomo caves lay about 2-hours west of Taupo. The original caves are famous for their glowworms. Here you will float on boats through the cave and marvel at the stunning display they put on. There are other caves to enjoy on foot, but there are no glowworms here just the splendour of the caves themselves.
For adrenalin junkies, there are blackwater rafting experiences here you’ll don wetsuits and float down underground rivers in tubes, with some rapids and waterfalls thrown in. The adventure known as the abyss has you abseiling into the cave, ziplining in the dark and climbing waterfalls. Sounds fun eh!
Where to stay near Rotorua
1. PEPPERS ON THE POINT LAKE ROTORUA
Peppers on the Point Lake Rotorua is an upscale resort surrounded by Lake Rotorua, Peppers on the Point is a luxury retreat featuring spectacular views towards Mokoia Island. Guests can enjoy fine dining in the restaurant or indulge in a massage or treatment at the day spa.
The resort is a 15-minute drive from Whakarewarewa Thermal Village and 10-minutes from the Museum of Art and History.
2. AURA ACCOMMODATIONS
Aura Accommodations is centrally located, a 3-minute walk from the lakefront, 4 minutes walk from the famous Eat Streat and 9 minutes’ walk from both Government Gardens and Rotorua Museum.
Guests can enjoy summer, bathing in the large outdoor geothermal heated swimming pool. The property is within walking distance of all the central city attractions and local markets on offer.
3. YHA ROTORUA
YHA Rotorua offers budget backpacker accommodation right beside Kuirau Park, Rotorua’s free geothermal attraction, and only two minutes’ walk from shops, cafes, restaurants and the beautiful Lake Rotorua. This Rotorua hostel has a choice of indoor or outdoor dining with a spacious modern kitchen as well a large outdoor deck and BBQ. Communal backpacker facilities include a comfortable separate lounge and TV room with lots of DVDs to watch and a coin-operated laundry service.
More to Explore
