TE ARA AHI Thermal by Bike TE ARA AHI – THERMAL BY BIKE

Whakarewarewa Forest MTB Park © Vaughan Brookfield / Tourism NZ Thermal Springs. Each is unique in TRAIL INFO to its amazing geothermal features and flora and fauna, and steeped in Maori history and mesmerising folklore. Other unique features along the 2 days 48km trail include Rotorua’s Government 2 Days Gardens, the Lake Okaro 48km restoration project (re-established wetland), Rainbow Mountain, Te Ara Ahi, meaning ‘pathway of fire’, Te Ranga Hot Pools (better known delves into a geothermal wonderland as Kerosene Creek), and the Waikite Geothermal Field. Most TRAIL GRADES: of steaming vents, bubbling mud pools of the geothermal areas are well ROTORUA TO WAIMANGU and spectacular . established tourist attractions, with VOLCANIC VALLEY GRADE 2-3 a wide range of amenities such as (EASY TO INTERMEDIATE) cafés, souvenir shops, toilets and bike A 30km ride taking 3-4 hours. his 48km trail winds its way adventure just waiting to be had. storage facilities. WAIMANGU VOLCANIC past some truly magnificent Between the trail heads at Rotorua We recommend you take at least VALLEY TO WAIKITE VALLEY geothermal features. and the Waikite Valley Thermal T THERMAL POOLS two days to ride this trail. And if you Add sparkling lakes, lush forests, Pools, this trail takes riders to GRADE 3 (INTERMEDIATE) want more after that, Rotorua will significant cultural sites, soothing four significant geothermal fields: An 18km ride taking 2-3 hours. oblige – the city is a mountain-biking thermal pools and adrenalin- , Waimangu mecca, with a range of world-class MOBILE PHONE COVERAGE: pumping adventure activities to the Volcanic Valley, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal trails to explore. There’s good mobile phone mix, and you’ve got one incredible Wonderland and Waikite Valley coverage from the start of the trail at Princes Gate through to but no reception on Waikite Valley Rd. look out for... The Redwoods DRINKING WATER: Don’t miss Whakarewarewa Fresh drinking water is available Tamaki Maori Village traditional Maori way of life by learning Forest and its area known at cafés at the Rotorua mountain the haka, a poi dance or warrior bike car park in the Waipa Valley, Experience manaakitanga – Maori as ‘The Redwoods’, which training, and enjoy weaving, carving Waimangu Volcanic Valley, hospitality – during an evening is always popular for its and facial tattooing displays. This Wai-O-Tapu Thermal of ceremonial rituals, cultural towering Californian coastal pre-European Maori village is nestled Wonderland, Waikite Valley performance, storytelling and a redwoods and the walking within a stunning 200-year-old native Thermal Pools and at Lake Okaro delicious hangi feast at the Tamaki and biking tracks that wind tawa forest. and the Waiotapu Tavern. Maori Village. Immerse yourself in the their way beneath them.

37 Prince’s Gate carving © Adrian Hodge 5 30 ROTORUA Sulphur Bay Reserve Lake Okataina

Lake Okareka Whakarewarewa Te Puia Hemo Gorge Whakarewarewa MTB Park

MAP LEGEND Tikitapu (Blue Lake) open section 5

optional route Lake Rotokakahi (Green Lake) start / finish point Stand Up Paddleboarding © Destination Rotorua point of interest Along the trail TE ARA AHI – THERMAL BY BIKE TE ARA AHI – THERMAL BY BIKE AA Centre Tamaki Maori Village hat other cycle trail indigenous culture at a Maori patterns. You can also see spine- FAMILY FUN i-SITE Visitor Centre Lake Rotomahana offers you the chance to village. Options include Tamaki tingling cultural performances. Visit Skyline Skyrides, one of town WAIMANGU “Nowhere else in the Wsee boiling mud pools, Maori Village and Whakarewarewa, Lakes also feature heavily along the Rotorua’s most iconic attractions. erupting geysers and colourful a living Maori village that relies on café/restaurant world can you get on trail, with lakes Rotorua, Tikitapu Here you can take a gondola ride Okaro Road a pushbike and ride crater lakes? Geothermal spots to geothermal power for everyday (Blue Lake), Rotokakahi (Green to the top of Mt Ngongotaha to toilets 5 Lake Okaro for 48km past four check out are Te Whakarewarewa living. At Whakarewarewa, residents Lake), Okaro and Ohakuri all enjoy panoramic views, a café and camping geothermal attractions.” Valley, Waimangu Volcanic Valley, provide a tour with a difference offering a different outlook. restaurant and a store dedicated Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland – from telling village stories to to Jelly Belly jelly beans, among car park WAIKITE VALLEY Rainbow Mountain is accessible Waikite Valley Rainbow Mountain Todd McClay, and the Paeroa Thermal Bluffs. A cooking meals and explaining how other attractions, before zooming THERMAL POOLS Road from the trail, and here you’ll find a accommodation Kerosene Creek MP for Rotorua journey along this trail wouldn’t they use the landscape for bathing, down the hill in a luge, a Rotorua- d steep and technical mountain biking ey Roa (Te Ranga) 1 state highway all be complete without experiencing laundry and predicting weather designed three-wheeled cart. V loop trail with incredible views. ite Waiotapu ik 38 At Waimangu Volcanic Valley you a W Wai-O-Tapu to Wairoa can relax in the café or pay to go for Thermal a walk on trails through one of the Wonderland world’s youngest thermal areas. 5 Whirinaki Stream e WAIMANGU VOLCANIC g n a VALLEY TO WAIKITE VALLEY R a THERMAL POOLS, 18KM d ro oa ae R P From Waimangu Volcanic Valley, Winding through ia p continue along Waimangu Rd, past o a geothermal K Lake Okaro picnic area (campsites e T available) and onto SH 38. Take care wonderland, this trail L a crossing the highway and follow the journeys past serene k e off-road cycle path around Maunga O lakes, hot pools, h 5 Kakaramea, Rainbow Mountain. a k Maori villages and u Waihunuhunu Stream r to Taupo After passing a roadside picnic area i © AA Traveller 2018 the trail climbs further around the lush forests. mountain and drops down to cross the gravel Old Waiotapu Rd. Here you can turn left to go to Te Ranga (a thermally-heated stream locally riding the trail known as Kerosene Creek) or you Rotorua Waimangu Waikite Valley can carry on straight ahead on an Thermal Pools off-road trail all the way to Waiotapu. 30km 18km 600m Parts of the trail are steep here 400m 200m and may require walking. At 0m Waiotapu you will find a hotel with accommodation, a petrol station and Guided Tour • Retail Store • Cafe Restore a honey factory with a café and shop. ROTORUA TO WAIMANGU historic Whakarewarewa Maori Village off the trail on your left). Here you will VOLCANIC VALLEY, 30KM (the village entrance is on Tryon St, find a café and bike hire etc. From the Make a 2km side trip to the Waiotapu 200m off the trail on your left). mountain bike car park, ride 150m Mud Pool and the Wai-O-Tapu AN ALL AGE, From the Rotorua i-SITE, ride east on towards the highway to the start Thermal Wonderland (paid entry). From the turn-off to the village, TOUR NOW Arawa St to the start of the trail at the of a concrete bike path, which runs From Waiotapu follow the Waikite continue following signs south past Te INCLUDING: ALL WEATHER ATTRACTION Prince’s Gate Archway a few hundred alongside the highway for several Valley Rd for 6km to the Waikite Puia, the Maori Arts and MANUKA HONEY metres away. kilometres of smooth easy riding. The Valley Thermal Pools – there is CALL TO BOOK. OPEN 7 DAYS Crafts Institute, through Hemo Gorge HEARTLAND trail then follows Waimangu Rd to the camping and a café here. Follow the trail signs through to the entrance to the Whakarewarewa VIRTUAL REALITY 0800 BEES BEES / 07 533 1987 Waimangu Volcanic Valley, which is Government Gardens then around the Forest mountain biking area (100m Note: The best time to ride is INSTALLATION 23 Wilson Road South (Off SH33), Paengaroa, Te Puke 3153 31km from Rotorua. edge of Lake Rotorua for 6km to the between November and April. Email: [email protected] www.experiencecomvita.com

38 39 Places to See Traditional Art & Craft See colourful crater lakes, shooting he Government Gardens in geysers and central Rotorua surround what was the old bath house, scalding hot mud T now the Rotorua Museum. Although pools just minutes the museum is currently closed for from the city earthquake strengthening, you can centre. still take a free guided tour of the Government Gardens at 11am and 2pm daily (weather dependant). The nearby lakefront precinct is a hive of activity with plenty of restaurants, Mountain bike mecca cafés and pop-up attractions. Kuirau Park, which is dotted with Rotorua is a mountain biking sociable Mountain Bike Hub on bubbling mud pools, hot springs and destination par excellence – Waipa State Mill Road. hot footbaths, is a free attraction. ranked one of the six pre-eminent New Zealand’s first year-round Described as a ‘thermal wonderland’, Ride Centres in the world by the gondola-assisted bike park, Skyline See traditional Maori art Wai-O-Tapu, meaning ‘sacred waters’,

TE ARA AHI – THERMAL BY BIKE International Mountain Biking TE ARA AHI – THERMAL BY BIKE Gravity Park takes the grunt out of a and craft being created at is a globally renowned attraction Association. 200m vertical rise, giving easy access a Maori village or check out about 30km south of Rotorua, just off ‘The Redwoods’ in Whakarewarewa to a 13km network of world-class, the public art works in the the trail. It features stunning mineral Forest is one of the biggest trail downhill mountain biking. With 12 terraces, lots of bubbling mud pools, networks in the country, with 85 trails trails ranging from grade two (easy) to city’s gardens and buildings. hot and cold springs, the fantastically spanning 140km in total. Comprising grade five (expert) and an assortment coloured Champagne Pool and the lush native bush, magnificent of different terrain, you can soak up Rotorua has a thriving cultural These time-honoured art famous Lady Knox , which Californian Redwoods and other the scenery cruising, descend hills community where art and forms have been practised erupts at 10.15am every day. exotic trees, the trails here ensure effortlessly or consign the trees to a craft reflect the spirit of the here for around 800 years. Pick The Waikite Valley Thermal Pools are awesome year-round riding. Trail blurred backdrop when you rip into people. Maori art is practised up a Rotorua Public Arts Trail the place to go to experience the grades range from one (easiest) to 6 steep, technical terrain. The dedicated here in the form of wood, brochure from the Rotorua ‘living waters’ of the Waikite Valley. (extreme). The most popular access gondola cabins can take up to four Geothermal greenstone and bone i-SITE and Visitor Centre and A variety of geothermal hot pools point to The Redwoods is the highly bikes and riders per journey. carvings, weaving and discover exemplary examples Hotspots and private spas are available. While tattooing (ta moko). throughout the city. you’re here, follow the Eco-Trail to the Rotorua City magnificent Te Manaroa Spring. second lake • 108km SE of Hamilton on SH 5 otorua’s geothermal hotspots flair. Te Puia also offers Maori cultural

T A ROAD Cosmo give a fascinating insight into experiences, including carving o Club TITIRAUPENGA ST SP KAIMANAWA ST No rth the inner mechanisms of Earth. demonstrations and performances. Boulevard Motel ANZ Bank R The smell of hydrogen sulphide in Visit Waimangu Volcanic Valley, which & LICENSED RESTAURANT TAMAMUTU ST TONGARIRO ST parts of the city is a small price to pay T A ROADInformation Cosmo was formed by the Mt Tarawera o Club TITIRAUPENGARSA ST SP KAIMANAWA ST No Centre for being in one of the world’s great Reservations 0800 348 207 rth eruption. The force of the eruption ANZ Bank Town Centre geothermal zones! split the mountain in two, creating TAMAMUTU ST TONGARIRO ST Information One of the city’s most famous a 17km rift in the Earth’s crust and RSA

Centre ROBERTS ST geothermal attractions is the Pohutu seven impressive craters. Explore Town Centre LAKE TERRACE 1 To South Geyser in Te Puia, the living Maori the colourful lakes, geysers and cultural centre just five minutes silica terraces. A short drive out of ROBERTS ST from central Rotorua. Erupting up to the city is the colourful landscape of GIBSon Court1 To South LAKE TERRACE 20 times a day, this geyser reaches Wai-O-Tapu geothermal park, home heights of more than 30m, displaying to the Lady Knox Geyser and the vivid MOTEL Mother Nature’s power with dramatic Champagne Pool.

Rotorua IMAGES: Waikite Hot Pools © Graeme Murray • Central Location TOP LEFT: Mountain biking, Rotorua © Alick Saunders Photography • Quiet, friendly atmosphere in a peaceful residential location LEFT: Weaving kakahu © Te Puia • One, Two and Three-bedroom Suites • Rooms with natural thermal pool available TE NGAE RD s Kitchen / Bathroom • Spa Pool Suites To CBD •s Quiet,Non-smoking friendly atmosphere units in s Kitchen / Bathroom TE NGAE RD 30A Devonwood Motel • Genuine Private Mineral Pools a peaceful residential location To CBD s • Quiet,Kitchen friendly /atmosphere Bathroom in • 35 units & spacious grounds s Rooms with natural thermal pool available 30A Marguerita St s aNon-smoking peaceful residential units location Hilda St • Close to city & thermal attractions • Heated Swimming Pool • RoomsFREE with wireless natural thermal internet pool available s Peace St • Sky TV 50+ channels • FREE WIFI s Free wireless internet MarFENTON ST guerita St s Non-smoking units Hilda St • Heated swimming pool, BBQ, • Games Room Peace St FENTON ST s Free wireless internet Maida ValeGibson St St sauna, private spa pool, playground CloustonGIBSON Cr COURT • Underfloor thermal heating • Excellent Licensed Restaurant Maida ValeGibson St St CloustonGIBSON Lucas Cr Pl COURTMOTEL • Off-season, group & corporate Rotorua rates available Lucas Pl MOTEL • Free Wireless Internet Ward Ave Rotorua Jameson Av Ward Ave McIntyr ES:TX4 Tr Jameson Av McIntyr

• 32 TV Channels including Sky 10 Gibson Street, , igg Av

Tr 312 Fenton St (PO Box 6052), Rotorua

10 Gibson Street, Fenton Park, igg Av ROTORUA 3010 e Av

e RESERVATIONS: 0800 806 100 e ROTORUA 3010 e Av e e Cnr Fenton & Seddon Street, Rotorua 07 346 2822 e P: +64 7 348 1999

07 346 2822 e [email protected] F: +64 7 346 2855 Phone: +64 7 348 2074 Fax: + 64 7 348 2072 Email: [email protected] [email protected] www.gibsoncourtmotel.co.nz SALA STREET 30 E: [email protected] www.gibsoncourtmotel.co.nz SALATo TAUPO STREET 30 www.boulevardrotorua.co.nz To TAUPO www.devonwoodmotel.co.nz

40 41 Couple at Polynesian Spa © Destination Rotorua

The variety of TE ARA AHI – THERMAL BY BIKE TE ARA AHI – THERMAL BY BIKE wildlife in Rotorua Wild at Heart impresses both kids and adults alike. Whether you’re itness an outdoor flight encounters with some exquisite that showcases New Zealand’s Getting into checking out our show at the Wingspan creatures. Trout can be fed in ecological evolution and finishes HOT WATER native species, WNational Bird of Prey pools among the native bush, while with an adrenalin rush. getting close to a Centre. You will be spellbound as wallabies, donkeys, pigs and sheep At the Agrodome, watch the you watch the New Zealand falcon/ are also on display. You can even award-winning sheep show with etting into hot water should be one of your goals in this region. Famous for lion or watching a karearea being trained to hunt and get close to a lion at feeding time! live sheep-shearing its pure spring waters and thermal bathing pools, Rotorua’s hot spas take full live show, there are survive in the wild. Flying displays Check out Rainbow Springs demonstrations, and join the advantage of this soothing, healing natural resource, with many also offering all kinds of creatures G start at 2pm daily. Nature Park where you can see interactive farm tour to hand-feed sumptuous spa therapy and beauty treatments. One of Rotorua’s more unusual to see and interact At Paradise Valley Springs you kiwi, tuatara and more, plus have all sorts of friendly animals. offerings is a mud bath at Hells Gate – one of Rotorua’s geothermal parks. The with. detoxifying mineral-enriched mud works wonders on the skin! can have an up close and personal fun on the Big Splash, a water ride Kiwi © Rainbow Springs

With more than 100km of purpose-built mountain biking trails just a 5- to 10-minuteWith more bike than ride 100kmfrom our of purpose-builtpark, you won’t mountain find a bikingbetter trailslocation just fora 5-10min bike ride from our park, you won’t find a better location for your Rotorua’s premier accommodation your forest adventure. Enjoy mountain bike hire, sports massage, and FREEforest hot mineraladventure. pools. Enjoy Stay our in free our hot campervan/caravan mineral pools, on-site or tent massages sites, fully self-containedavailable. Stayflats, in authenticour campervan/caravan log cabins and orstudios, tent sites, all surrounded motel units, by maturefully trees self-contained and gardens. flats, Rotorua authentic has log become cabins a andmecca studio for cabins,mountain all bikerssurrounded from all by over mature the world.trees and Come gardens. and join Rotorua the fun! has become a mecca for mountain bikers from all over the world. Come and join the fun!

Bicycles for guest use

An eco adventure 1000 years in the making...

463463 Old Old Taupo Taupo Road Road (south (south end),end), RotoruaRotorua • PH +64+64 7 7346 346 3140 3140 [email protected]@rotoruathermal.co.nz • www.rotoruathermal.co.nzwww.rotoruathermal.co.nz 42 43 xplore the canopy tops of an hether it’s rafting, jet ancient native forest on a zipline boating, off-roading, The city that Eadventure of a lifetime with Wluging, soaring through boasts several . During three Rotorua Canopy Tours the sky in a giant swing, tumbling Thrills & Spills claims to fame hours of magic you will be guided downhill in a plastic bubble, through the marvels of Forest tackling high-speed mountain in the adventure on a network of ziplines, swing bridges bike trails or parasailing, Rotorua department has and treetop platforms high in the forest. certainly knows how to give you an experience for Keep an eye and ear out for robins, the ultimate rush. Navigate the everyone! kereru, tomtit, tui, bellbirds, whiteheads, highest commercially rafted kaka and fantails – around 20% of the waterfall in New Zealand (7m) on forest is free from pesky predators and the or skydive over the aim is to return the eco-system to Rotorua’s raw natural beauty – it’s the one Captain James Cook discovered utterly enchanting. Ride a flying when he first arrived in this country fox through ancient treetops on a in 1769. Lovable magical eco journey, or enjoy the thrill of a bungy jump. Instead of walking among the giants at Whakarewarewa Forest, a world where Lakes Experience the Shweeb, or go flying towering Californian coastal redwoods – literally – at the freefall wind tunnel.

TE ARA AHI – THERMAL BY BIKE For something a little less scary, TE ARA AHI – THERMAL BY BIKE reign, you can now see the forest from Taupo may have Australasia’s there’s a treetop walk and horse a different viewpoint – suspended in largest lake, but what the mid-air. The new Redwoods Treewalk Rotorua region lacks in size it trekking. is a walkway made up of 21 suspension makes up for in numbers, with a The region’s many lakes and rivers bridges up to 12m high among the staggering 18 freshwater lakes, are used for a variety of water sports. 115-year-old redwoods. The bird’s-eye 14 of which are easily accessible. Adventure-seekers make the most of view captures the true beauty of the The lakes are of volcanic origin, the awesome rivers that wind their forest like never before. filling craters, calderas or valleys way through the region, with white- blocked by lava flows, and In addition to the day-time treewalk, water rafting on the Wairoa, Rangitaiki, many are ringed by forest and from 6pm onwards the lights are Motu, Mohaka, Tongariro and Kaituna Among the Treetops farmland with fantastic walking rivers. Sledging takes place on the switched on for the enchanting trails. Lake Rotorua is the largest You may well have seen Rotorua’s incredible Wairoa River and you can jet boat Redwoods Nightlights show that lake in the region, while the White-water rafting on the Tongariro River on both the River and Lake © Destination Great Lake Taupō forests from the seat of your bike, but there includes 30 lanterns designed by smaller Blue and Green lakes are Rotorua. LEFT: Backwards Zipline © Rotorua Canopy Tours are ways to join the birds for an entirely the world-acclaimed sustainability just as impressive. TOP, LEFT: Blue Lake © Mark Smith / Destination Rotorua different perspective. champion, David Trubridge.

ZORB A Rotorua original, the ZORB involves rolling head over heels down a hill in a huge plastic ball. You can choose the wet or dry option.

Experience pure natural geothermal bathing waters, direct from the magnificent Te Manaroa Spring, the largest single source of boiling water in New Zealand. • Choice of pools: Settlers Pool, Pergola and Garden pools, or the Sit ‘n Soak pool and Rotorua The very heart 648 Waikite Valley Road, tubs (35-40°C) TOP 10 Holiday Park of our culture Rotorua • Private pools Phone: +64 7 3331861 Located in the central city, Rotorua • Tog/towel hire 0800 223 267 Email: [email protected] 1495 Pukuatua Street, TOP 10 is the perfect place to base yourself and experience all the culture, nature and • On-site café Rotorua www.hotpools.co.nz adventure that this region has to offer. • Eco-trail leading to the spectacular Te Manaroa Spring Motels | Units | Cabins | Sites • Free Mineral Pools • Free Offsite • 20-site campground with shower, laundry Gym • WiFi • Secure Cycle Storage and kitchen facilities • Adventure Playground • Modern Facilities • BBQ Areas • TV Room with • Close to other attractions in the area Sky • Centrally located • Jumping Pillow – just 6km from Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

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