Rotorua - Surroundings

Through the forested area that extends eastward from Lake Rotoiti to Lake Rotoehu runs Hongi's Track, on which Hongi Hika and his warriors carried their canoes overland from one lake to the other during his expedition of conquest in 1823. On the track is a tree sacred to the Maoris, said to have been planted 400 years ago by Hinehopu, a chief's wife.

Northwest of Lake Rotorua, some 20km from the town of Rotorua, is Lake Rotoiti, near which are a number of carved Maori meeting houses. Here too, on a northwestern arm of the lake, are the Okere Falls.

7km north of Rotorua, on the western shore of the lake, is Ngongotaha, with the Agrodome, which puts on shows (three times daily) of many different breeds of sheep. Expert sheep shearers and self-appointed sheepdog trainers demonstrate their skills.

5km north of Rotorua, at Rainbow Springs, are a number of attractive trails running under tall tree ferns. The pools and streams in this area teem with rainbow trout. At Rainbow Farm visitors can learn about sheep and cattle farming in New Zealand, with demonstrations of milking and sheep shearing.

In the north of the Rotorua area is Tikitere, known as Hell's Gate because of its evil-smelling springs of sulfurous water and vigorously bubbling pools of mud. The geothermal field here covers some 10 ha, with seething mud springs, a charming warm waterfall (Kakahi Falls), pools of sulfurous water and clouds of steam hovering over vegetation resembling a primeval forest. A small exhibition illustrates the character of the area.