5 wonderful places which are worth to visit 

1. KUIRAU PARK

In Rotorua, you shouldn't miss this beautiful park with natural geothermal activity. Besides, Kuirau Park is surrounded by an interesting Maori legend, but let's talk about this some other time...  (Although, it is much better to have Maori legends told directly by the locals.) 

During my stay in Rotorua, I lived about a 5-minute walk from the park, and I must say that sometimes the unpleasant smell of rotten eggs blew into the house where I lived. This often very relentless stench is annoying for many foreign tourists at first, but over time you will somehow get used to it and stop perceiving it (although not everyone has it that way).

Be sure to take extra caution when heading to Kuirau Park. Geothermal activity is really very high here. There are several mud lakes in which it is bubbling loudly. In the park, you will also see a larger geothermal lake with boiling water, from which thick smelly steam will roll over you throughout your visit. Yes, the smell of sulfur is very strong here, sometimes even stunning, but don't worry, in a while, you will "really get used to that" (or at least the locals will keep telling you this). Personally, this specific smell bothered me much less on my second visit to the park. The bigger problem seemed to me to be the ubiquitous, rolling grey steam you're practically going through. It is often quite dense inconsistency and sometimes it surrounds you so much that you remain disoriented in place, which can be a bit scary. In addition to geothermal activity, you will also find beautiful flowers and trees in Kuirau Park. Just a paradise for photographers.

If you are travelling with children, be sure to stop with them on the playground, which you will find next to the park. Or, in case of nice weather, let them refresh themselves in a small paddling pool. There is probably no one among the locals who would not swim in this small pool as a child. And don't forget to relax for a while at the "small wellness", designed for footbaths. The water in this pool is sometimes warm, sometimes cold ... Try and you will see. However, I recommend you to bring something to sit on (at least a small towel). They have wooden benches here, but they are often wet. And if you have time to stay in Rotorua for a long time, be sure to wait until there is a weekly flea market next to the park. It's worth it!

2. THE REDWOODS FOREST

Redwoods Forest is one of the oldest exotic forests in New Zealand. Here you can see a diverse range of native plants, trees, and shrubs. It's a great place to relax, whether you decide to go for a walk, prefer cycling, horse riding, or jogging here ... it's up to you. There are really a lot of marked lengths. And one trail also leads above the ground ... but it's already for a fee. Adults pay $ 30 and children from the age of five pay $ 20. For some, it may not be the cheapest thing, but believe me, it's worth it. You will enjoy a truly unforgettable walk above the ground. And it is possible both during the day and at night when the entire trail is magically lit by lanterns. The whole route will take you about 40 minutes, is 700 meters long and you will reach a height of 20 meters above the ground, which gives you a unique opportunity to see giant, 118-year-old redwoods a little differently. Such an experience really takes your breath away, especially when the trail leads over 28 suspension bridges ...

More information on the website of the Redwoods Treewalk: https://treewalk.co.nz/

3. LAKE ROTORUA 

Lake Rotorua, formed after the massive eruption of a volcano many thousands of years ago, is the second-largest lake on the North Island. Geothermal activity is still evident in some places. The water still has a high sulfur content, so the colour of the water is sometimes magical. In the middle of the lake is the island of Mokoia, where one big love story took place ... But I will not reveal more. It would be better to let some locals tell you more, or you can go on a tour of the island with a guide who will surely tell you this famous New Zealand story. 

4. LAKE TIKITAPU

Lake Tikitapu, better known by locals as Blue Lake, is located near the city of Rotorua. You can drive here in about 15 minutes. There are plenty of parking places, as well as rubbish bins, public toilets, and barbecue areas. You can also visit the viewpoint, from which is a beautiful view.

Like Kuirau Park or Lake Rotorua, "Blue Lake" is also surrounded by a very interesting story. The Maori really have many. And as you may have guessed, I will not share with you a story related to Blue Lake.

Whenever you are in New Zealand, remember this article and ask a local to retell one of the famous legends. And preferably in places where everything allegedly took place.

There is nothing more magical than listening to Maori people telling legends.

5. PARADISE VALLEY SPRINGS

Paradise Valley Springs is just a 10-15 minutes drive from Rotorua. From my point of view, a trip to this "paradise" can be completed in practically any weather (we were there in quite heavy rain and we didn't mind it at all 🙂). 

Admission for an adult: 30$ / for a child under 15: 15$

In Paradise Valley you have a unique opportunity to walk in treetops walkway and on wooden paths, reaching somewhere up to a height of 6 meters above the ground. You can easily identify trees and other plants using information boards, on which you will learn, among other things, many interesting facts about the life of the original inhabitants, the Maori. Sometimes there is a lot to read, but I recommend looking at these boards at least briefly on the way there if you want to learn more about this beautiful country. You will find a lot of information about the history of New Zealand, Maori legends, and interesting facts about fauna and flora.

Of course, you will also see many different species of animals in Paradise Valley. From the water kingdom, you will find trout in particular, but also one of the largest eels in the world, the New Zealand eel, which will certainly attract the most attention.

As for the bird kingdom, in addition to many species of ducks and turkeys, you can see, for example, the following unique species of New Zealand birds:

- KAKARIKI

Here you can see two of the five species of Kakariki birds - Yellow-crowned Kakariki and Red-crowned Kakariki. Kakariki occurs only in New Zealand and adjacent islands.

- KEA

The Kea bird is usually well known to all visitors to New Zealand. It is an alpine parrot, which inhabits mainly the western part of the South New Zealand island. This bird, listed on the Red List of Threatened Species, is considered one of the most intelligent birds in the world. When you are in Paradise Valley, don't forget that the Kea parrot is not allowed to feed there!

- EMU

You can also see this, the second largest bird in the world, here. Emu is bred in New Zealand mainly for its low-fat meat.

- KERERU

The Kereru bird is a very widespread species in New Zealand. You can see him all over the country.

- PUKEKO

You will also find this fast runner and good swimmer here. You will recognize the reluctant Pukeko flier mainly by his dark blue to purple head and neck, black wings and red beak, forehead, and eyes.

- TUI

This species of bird occurs throughout New Zealand. It can imitate the sounds of other birds and even human words (if they are in captivity).

Of the mammals, you will, of course, come across sheep here, which will probably not surprise you at all. In addition to sheep, you can also see kangaroos, possums, llamas, Himalayan tahrs, and several species of wild pigs - such as the rare breed Arapawa or the very friendly pig Kune Kune. They also have several species of goats - such as the rare goat Arapawa. And surprisingly, you will also find lions in an enclosed space. A lot of people are always waiting for their feeding, which takes place in the form of a show every day from 2.30 pm. It's just such an interesting attraction after all.

And when you are in this beautiful natural paradise, don't forget that you have a unique opportunity to drink pure New Zealand water directly from the Te Waireka spring.  

More information can be found directly on the Paradise Valley Spring website: https://www.paradisev.co.nz/