Rotorua, Geothermal city in Bay of Plenty Region, New Zealand
Rotorua is a city on the southern shore of the lake of the same name in the Bay of Plenty Region in New Zealand. Steam rises from many street corners, while nearby parks and reserves show mud pools and springs that shape the landscape.
European travelers arrived from the 1830s because of the hot springs that local communities had used for centuries. After a major eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886, the place continued growing as a spa and recovery town.
The name comes from Te Rotorua-nui-a-Kahumatamomoe, referring to the second lake discovered by the navigator Ihenga. In many parts of the city you see traditional carving and hear songs passed down through generations.
The smell of sulfur is in the air and becomes more noticeable in the morning and evening when the temperature drops. Most accommodations are within walking distance of parks and thermal baths, so you can move around on foot or by bicycle.
The city has a public park where you can warm your feet for free in small hot streams while sitting among trees and flowerbeds. Some residents dry their laundry over steam vents in the ground, a habit practiced for decades.
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