Travel Answers

Travelling December this year and will arrive in Rotorua at 1.00/2.00pm maybe earlier if we need to get there to catch a tour. Departing next day in the morning for the East Cape. Maybe go to Hells Gate in the morning when we leave. What suggestions of things to do in the afternoon and evening? Are there any afternoon tours etc? Also do you know of any accommodation that has undercover parking for motorbikes and air conditioning
Thanks

Can I leave my luggage at bus dtation for 2 hours?

What is quickest route from Tauranga to Rotorua Airport . State Highway 33 or Highway 36 ( Pyes Pa Rd)

We will be visiting Rotorua coming from Auckland, and heading towards Lake Taupo and Turangi. I am looking for accommodations now, and wondering if there is a particular area where sulphur fumes are strongest, and which to avoid if one won't be able to tolerate the smell. Would Lake Road area be better off?

I was wanting to know if any one has ran up the mount for training if so what is it like and are you allowed to use the track anytime.

Which of the three is the best attraction - Te Puia, Waiotapu or Waikite? Or are they all too different?

We are a family of 9 (4 adults, 1 senior and 4 children between 8-15 years), from INDIA. We shall be arriving in Rotorua on the 11th May 2012, at about 6.30 pm or so, after our visit to Waitomo caves, enroute from Auckland. We are staying the night at Novotel Lakeside. The next day at 12.25 we have the Air New Zealand flight to Queenstown, from the Rotorua Airport. What is your suggestion that we do in the few hours we have in hand. Should we do Whakarewarewa/Te Puia (or other Like Wai-O-Tapu, Waimangu Volcanic Vally, any other?) thermal area on the 12th May morning? Or should we go somewhere else or even avoid this completely? All suggestions to make this stay worthwile will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I'm landing at AKL and taking a couple of days to explore Rotorua before flying out of Rotorua to Wellington. I'd like to rent a car so I have freedom to explore at my leisure, but it seems that the fees for renting a car out of AKL and dropping off at Rotorua airport are really high. - Any thoughts on a good / reasonably priced car rental service? Would you recommend taking a bus to Rotorua and then renting a car from there? Any advice would be appreciated.

I have only about 6 hours in Rotorua. What is the one thing I should do? Is it easy to get to different things to do or are they all distant? I like natural things to see more than manmade. Any advice will be appreciated.

Dear all, I and family will be visiting New Zealand on Aril 15-26 and will have 2 night and 1 day in Rotorua. we would like to get some advise from member here on the best driving route to visit places(also get it from forum) below. 1. Waitamo Cave 2. Kiwi House 3. Tamaki Maori Village and Hangi 4. Government Gardens 5. Wai-o-tapu 6. Waimangu 7. Buried Village We will be arriving Auckland on April 15 around 11am, we will likely start to hit the road with our rented car around 1pm. We wil spend 2 nights in Rororua before taking a flight over to Christchurch where we will spend the rest of the trip in south island. btw, do we need to pre-book entry tickets for the above mentioned places please. kindly advise if there is any other good places to visit Thank you. JM

Could any one give me information on visiting cheese factories and chocolate factories nearby Hamilton and Rotorua? Thanks a lot.

Our family will spend around 10 days in Rotorua, Taupo and Waitomo Caves this end of June to early July. We have figured out the following places to visit but do not know how to arrange them among these places and make an itinerary. Any ideas? Thanks a lot. Rotorua (6 days) Gondola and luge Frying pan lake- www.waimangu.co.nz/ Hobbiton movie set and farmstay Agrodome- www.agrodome.co.nz Te Puia Thermal Reserve Pohutu Geyser Hells Gate Whakarewarewa Forest polynesian spa Waiotapu Thermal activity- www.waiotapu.com Farmstay (1 night) Taupo (2 days) Taupo Lake Waitomo Caves (1 day) Waitomo Caves

Things to do, places to see, and paces to dine for groups. Email addresses

My husband and I will have one day and two nights in Rotorua and would like to know which option would be most worthwhile. We've never been anywhere with geothermal activity, volcanic lakes etc. and we love to walk/hike. We're not so keen on very touristy attractions. I think we might be leaning toward the Waimangu Volcanic Valley, but we're open to any recommendations. Also, is it possible to pay one entrance fee and do all the hikes/walks in the Waimungu Valley, or are they all separate?

Hi, I shall be arriving by cruise ship in Tauranga later this year, spending just the day there, however I would like to visit some of the attractions at Rotorua, ie: Whaka, how do I get from Tauranga to Whaka by bus?, allowing enough time to see the attraction and return to Tauranga to board the ship later that same day. thank you.

Hi there, my partner and I are travelling to Rotorua from Auckland and will have a night and full day to explore before leaving for Wellington. We will also have a car and we are trying to find the best way to spend our time? Does anyone have any recommendations or itineraries for that short time? Thanks!

Hi can anyone recommend a holiday park for a family reunion/70th birthday, 40-50 people. Self catering. Also needs to have a small hall or any kind of room with kitchen where we can all meet and share our time together. Early August. Thanks Jenny

We will be soending New Years Eve in Rotorua with 3 teens and were thinking of doing the Luge, buffet and wanted to see the fireworks. They have 2 seatings. Does anyone know what time the fireworks are?

Are Te Puia and the Whakarewarewa Maori Village the same place?? If not, is one better to see than the other? Thanks.

Hi can anyone suggest a good place to camp (with camper van)in or near Rotorua in August? I have checked several out on the internet and while they all seem fine, I have learned that things often are very different in person. Also, I am picking the camper up at Auckland airport and heading to Rotorua as my first stop/night. Where is the best place to stop and stock up with supplies and food stuffs between pick up and stopping at camp for night? Thank you Steve

Does the Kingsgate have a hairdryer in each room? Are there tea/coffee facilities in the room and a bar fridge?

I am planning a visit and my itinerary takes me from Auckland to Rotorua. I have learned about and found coach (bus) transportation from Rotorua to Auckland with a stop to tour the caves, but can't locate the trip in the reverse direction. Can anyone give me the name of a transport/tour company that would have such a trip? P.S. I'm having a similar problem with a one way from Queenstown to Christchurch including a stop at the Glacier in Mt. Cook, if you might have any information on that as well. I assume that the trips operate in both directions as the coaches have to return anyway.

My husband & I are looking for a hangi that is still cooked in the most traditional way - underground. I've found 2 companies that offer an "authentic" hangi. One is Mitai Maori Village & the other is Tamaki Maori Village. Any comments on which would give us the most traditional experience. Or any other company? Or if you know of one on the South Island we'll be at Nelson, Fox Glacier, Queenstown, Te Anua, Dunedin & Christchurch.

Sorry to double-post. I posted this on the NZ site before I found that there is a site for Mount Maunganui. My wife and I will be on a Princess Cruise to NZ, along with 4 other couples. We have a friend who spent her teen years in Tauranga, NZ and she said that we shouldn't miss Mount Maunganui. We were looking for a short (1-3 mile) hike and she thinks that is doable. I Googled Mount Maunganui and I think she is talking about the mountain in the Manao (sp?) reserve. Princess doesn't have an excursion there, but we'll be a full say in Tauranga and I'm thinking of booking a trip there. Do any of you know anything about where the boat will dock and what kind of local transportation is available (tour buses etc.) that could take us from the ship to the Manao (sp?) reserve?

Is this possible? I would like to visit the Paradise springs lions, mud pits, hot springs and hangi..... I am travelling alone, so not sure how to get there....is the airport a fair way out? I am hoping it can be done in a day, early out of auckland, late back etc.

We will be in Tauranga on Nov 18th and plan to rent a car to drive to Roatura and back. I have received quotes from both New Zealand Car Rental and Rite Price rental. Can anyone advise regarding these rental companies? Thanks for the help

Hi all, my soon to be wife and I are spending our honeymoon in New Zealand (can't wait!) and we're after some recommendations for car hire companies as we've been reading quite a lot of reports of hidden charges and poor service, so I thought I'd post a request for recommendations and see what other peoples experiences were and hopefully get some good advice. We're looking to hire a car in Rotorua for 7 days and would like to minimise our risk in terms of insurance liability. Many thanks in advance :)

Is there a tourist bureau in Rotorua where I can purchase a map of the CBD?

There used to be an older style hotel in the Rotorua CBD near the museum and lawn bowls. Name included Prince or Princess I think. Does it still exist.

do you know what types of facilities and enhancements are found in agrodome farm show, te puia and skyline skyrides?