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In almost all respects, Rotorua's central location is most significant. Four state highways (5, 30, 33, and 38) converge on the City. The cities of Auckland, Hamilton, and Rotorua are linked by rail. Rotorua Airport is served by New Zealand's key domestic airlines. The City is an important agricultural and forestry service centre for the surrounding rural district. The fact that from almost any position in the City it is possible to see pasture or forest clad hills, illustrates the importance of this rural/urban relationship.

The District of Rotorua is also centrally located in terms of attractions in the surrounding Region. Within a 150 kilometre radius (two hours drive) are the surf beaches of Waihi, Mount Maunganui, and Ohope; the National Parks of Tongariro and Urewera; Lake Taupo; the Whakatane, Rangitaiki, Kaituna, and Waikato Rivers; and the urban centres of Hamilton, Tauranga, Taupo, and Whakatane. Other attractions within this radius include the Waitomo Caves, Huka Falls, the Wairakei and Orakei Korako thermal areas, and the Atiamuri and Matahina hydro schemes.
Click here for a New Zealand map showing Rotorua and the surrounding regions>

Volcanic History - Within the District itself, most attractions are based around its two greatest assets - geothermal features and the lakes. Both are directly attributable to continuing volcanic activity, which has formed and reformed the landscape. At around 300 metres above sea level, the District is located on the Volcanic Plateau which encompasses most of the Central North Island. The geological record shows that there has been ceaseless activity in this area for millennia, ranging from minor hot springs through to huge prehistoric ignimbritic flows which smothered the entire landscape.

Most recent volcanic events have included the Taupo eruption of around 1,800 years ago and the Tarawera eruption of 1886 AD. The District lakes are ancient explosion craters. While Lake Rotorua itself is a shallow caldera - a basin that slumped after volcanic activity emptied the magma chamber beneath. Both Mount Ngongotaha and Mokoia Island are formed after this collapse occurred about 100,000 years ago. The devastation caused by these various events, and the type of volcanic material that they deposited has made for soils that are more suited to pastoral farming and forestry than horticulture.

Because of its relatively high altitude, the District's climate, while changeable, can be expected to provide warm dry summers and cool, dry, frosty winters.

The numerous volcanic based attractions include:

Whakarewarewa, Waimangu, Waiotapu, Kuirau Park, Hells Gate Thermal Reserves
Rainbow Springs, Paradise Valley Springs, Hamurana and Golden Springs, Waikite Hot Pools and the Buried Village.
Mount Tarawera, Mount Ngongotaha and Rainbow Mountain.
The eleven major lakes: Rotorua, Rotoiti, Rotoehu, Rotoma, Okataina, Okareka, Blue (Tikitapu), Green (Rotokakahi), Tarawera, Rotomahana, and Rerewhakaaitu; and a host of minor ones.
The lakes are used for a multitude of recreational activities including trout fishing, regattas, water skiing, sailing, and swimming.

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