Rotorua Travel Forum

is the smell bad! my friend said it was bad?

only until you get used to it

It is bad when you first got there. But soon you will get used to it.
Moreover, you will have not time to think of the smell cos the place is great! Enjoy

It is just a tiny bit sulphury.

Not bad at all.

Joan

Okay I beg to differ IT IS REALLY BAD! your clothes will reek throughout the rest of the trip!
I had trouble sleeping because the smell was so bothersome. Yet, despite this do go visit. Pack an extra bathing suit. Trust me you really won't wear the same clothes again unless you do a heavy odor eating wash! To this day my bathing suit STILL SMELLS!

Well, yes basically, but you must go & have a look. Unless you have been to Iceland you won't hve seen anything like it. Where in Rotorua were you planning to go?
Caroline

I think it was, but I can hardly remember as I had such a wonderful time in Rotorua seeing all the fantastic geothermal stuff and the Buried Village, Whakawerawera and all...fantastic. But yes, at the beginning it's a lot like rotten eggs, though I didn't find that my clothes smelled at all of it.

Hi there! Rotorua is renowned for its smell......it can be compared to that of aah fermented eggs and can be an initial shock on your nose......however you soon get over it so that you can enjoy the wonders of one of the Thermal wonderlands in NZ.

ok, as much as i like Rotorua - the place smells really bad!!!!!!! when i drove in for the first time, i thought there was something wrong with my car then i reached a junction in the town (i found out later that the locals call it Sulphur junction) and realised that it was actually the town and it smelt like rotten eggs. some of the locals i met fondly call it rottenrua.

it is an interesting and great place and unfortunatly (or fortunately) you do get used to the smell except sometimes in the morning when you wake up and the smell is all new and strong!!!

don't let it put you off though - it's great to visit :-)

hehehe

Depends on the weather. Some days are worse than others.

haha, what's asparagus got to do with sulphur smell??
but yes, asparagus does things....

Nah it doesn't smell bad. Every so often you'll smell an intense waft of Eggy farts, but within 10 mins you'll be used to the smell.

Rotorua city itself, isn't very smelly at all, only places close to Thermal areas hum a little. But then isn't that why people visit Rotorua, to experience geo-thermal wonder... and lay about in mineral spas, and sulphur rich mud-baths, see geysers and smelly boiling mud.

Travel for me, is an experience, sometimes (if you are lucky) those experiences are orafactory as well.

I guarantee, you'll love Rotorua, the eggy smell and all. Don't forget to visit Ohinemutu.

Happy New Year
Aaron

Happy New Year Aaron!! Hey I think the poster of this question may have already visited given that he wrote this in 2003 :-)
So he may not have got your very good advice to visit Ohinemutu, in time LOL.
smiles, Pam :-)

haha thats excellent... Well pam I am a little hung over.... Are we allowed to post replies 4 years too late, if we are hung over?

happy new year to you too.
Aaron

I suspected that and am totally impressed that you are even here helping out :-))
Things went pretty smoothly down here for New Year, no big problems and they have announced our lowest road toll since the 60's.

thats good news.... Since the 60's I am impressed. So you had a good one?

Just quiet, went to our flying club dinner, hardly a party. Family all safe, and that's always a worry. I always stay sober to deal with any family crisis hahahaha.