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Sunday, April 27, 2025

New Zealand: Rotorua

Only 80 km north of Taupo, Rotorua is heavily promoted for its geothermal activities, near and far outside of town. As a weather front is expected the next day, we decided to use the rainy day to bus north, rather than being holed up in our room in Rotorua, so we only had time for a walk around town. Not only can geothermal activities be seen at places, the smell of sulfur is literally everywhere. Our motel even had a thermal sulfur pool (spa) for us to have a quick soak.

On the rainy walk from the bus to our hotel, the wind was too strong to put up our umbrellas.
Another 3 blocks to our Hotel - Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand

The route for our walking tour.
Geothermal Walking Tour Map - Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand

The first stop is Kuirau Geothermal Park, with some steaming ponds, foot soaking "spas", and beautiful flower gardens.
Kuirau Geothermal Park - Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand

Geothermal Foot Soak - Kuirau Park, Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand

Kuirau Geothermal Park - Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand

Kuirau Geothermal -Park - Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand

We walked along the very windy waterfront promenade to the colorful Government Gardens.
Lakefront Boardwalk - Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand

Government Gardens - Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand

Our final stop on the tour, the marshy Sulfur Point, was pungent with a stark landscape and bubbling mud pools. Nevertheless, on one point of land there were hundreds of sea birds. First below is a mud pool thermal vent video. Link here.
Sulphur Bay Wildlife Refuge - Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand

Sulfur Point - Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand

Sulfur Point - Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand

DANGEROUS AREA - Sulfur Point, Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand

Sulfur Point - Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand

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