Rotorua, named after the lake on whose southern shore this city lies, is located in the Bay of Plenty Region, part of ever majestic North Island area of New Zealand. This city holds the main position where the seat of districts of Rotorua is concerned, that includes the territorial authority over the city of Rotorua and neighboring towns. Although most of the district area of Rotorua comes under Bay of Plenty Region, a noticeable southern part and western region of it is located in Waikato region. To reach Rotorua, passengers have to book connecting flights as the city only caters for domestic flight. Rotorua airport is a regional airport and caters for domestic flights of Air New Zealand and Sunair. As it is located right in the middle of North Island with few km away from all the surrounding cities, namely 60 km from Southern Tauranga, 80 km from Northern Taupo, 105 km from Eastern Hamilton and about 230 km from Southeastern Auckland, the airline connectivity to these cities is quite smooth.
As per the census taken in 2013 for New Zealand, the Rotorua population and its statistics stated the following:
Rotorua region of New Zealand garner mild weather throughout the year. It is located a little away from the coast and on other sides is protected by country on south and east. That makes for the region to get limited wind as compared to other areas of New Zealand. Although winters from June to August might face chilly weather with temperature going just below 0 with the city also experiencing snow for the first time in more than 50 years in the year 2011.
The mild and mellow weather of Rotorua ensures that the tourists can come in at any time of the year. Depending on your holiday activity you can plan vacation in Rotorua in summer as well as spring months for pleasant weather or opt winter season to sight-see the place in cold mornings getting warmed up by the sun. Rotorua is known for having pleasant weather and just the place to spend some quite time with your family and friends with winter season being the best time to visit as at this time tourists can take part in almost all the activities without getting dehydrated or sweaty.
The Rotorua Regional Airport is located in Rotorua of New Zealand. It is constructed on the Te Ngae Road in the suburban area of Rotokawa which is about 6 km away from the Central Business District (CBD) of Rotorua. The airport has only one two storey terminal that has 6 gates along with a cafe for dining option, bookstore and a meeting room. Although the airport does not cater for International airlines, it does offer many facilities that take comfort of the passengers to another level. Some of these facilities are:
To transport to and from airport, passengers can make use of various rental car services situated right outside the airport with their own dedicated desks. Another option is to take the shuttle service, bus and taxi accorded by the airport itself. Details for all the services are listed below:
Phone: 07 345 7790
Free Phone: 0800 SHUTTLE (0800 748885)
Website: supershuttle.co.nz
Phone: 07 345 9047
Website: www.budget.co.nz/Rotorua
Phone: 07 348 4081
Website: www.hertz.co.nz
Rotorua airport comes equipped with a meeting room in the terminal itself which is convenient as it connect many neighboring places around Rotorua. Passengers can combine board meeting with their flight schedule for any important business meeting. The meeting rooms cater for 10 to 12 people in one go comfortably along with equipment’s needed like projector, white board etc. Proper catering can also be arranged if needed from reputed cafe called Robert Harris cafe which can be contacted through 07 345 5239. For more information and detailed requirement for your meeting contact on the following details:
Phone: +64 7 345 8807
Email:[email protected]
Passengers travelling through the Rotorua regional airport have another benefit of free internet connectivity. The airport now offers free Wi-Fi which can be accessed by any and everyone. This service is available to all passengers in both departure as well as arrival lounges. All they have to do is log on with the service by clicking on the option called Free Airport Wi-Fi within their internet settings of their gadget – phone, tablet or laptop.
As the Rotorua airport is a regional airport, it caters for domestic flights flying between different cities of New Zealand. No international connectivity with other International airports of different countries around the world is possible as the airport do not allow for International airlines to lad on the airport. However domestic connectivity is a possible route for tourist to enter and enjoy mesmeric opportunities available with Rotorua. The two airlines working on the airport are:
Air New Zealand is one of the major domestic airlines of New Zealand that connects many cities and region of the country together. Different aircrafts are used as per the need and requirement including Q300, Beech 1900 and ATR 72-600
This airlines’ main hub is based in Tauranga, however small crew bases are located in Gisborne, Napier, Hamilton and Whitianga that make up a route that structures as follows:
Hamilton > Tauranga > Rotorua > Napier > Gisborne > Whitianga > Great Barrier Island > Auckland International Airport
This connectivity of all the cities of North Island by Sunair offers travel links that reduce need of bypassing Auckland and Wellington.
Dining options in Rotorua are quite vast with many of the restaurants encompassing almost all kinds of cuisines. However, it is that one cuisine in which one restaurant is far above than the others in the competition that makes tourists and locals alike to flock to that restaurant and name it as the best option for that particular cuisine. Top choices for different cuisines are as follows:
Start your morning by immersing yourself in hot gossip as you dine in this barnlike comfy ambience cafe house wherein the customers can choose from scrumptious delicacies displayed in the cabinets ranging from pastries, sandwiches, cakes and salads while another blackboard displays various breakfast options.
Hip N Happening diner located in the suburbs is a must visit if not for its loud and bold décor of checkerboard carpet along with curvy wallpaper, started by the locals, then for its tummy filling delicious food. A must try dish recommended by everyone who has tried it, which literally means every customer of Urbano Bistro, is curry made of pineapple, beef and kumara which with every bite makes flavors burst out every single time it is made. Fine wine collection and the world class staff and service are an added bonus.
Accents of Spain, Morocco and Mexico accentuating the ambience of this cafe bar as the spicy delicacies ranging from king-prawn fajitas, Tijuana pork chilli to apricot and beef tagine takes the diners to whole different level of delicious satisfaction. Diners can enjoy the night weather out in the back in the beer terrace where the magical mixture of locally crafted beer and tapas take place. As advised and strongly recommended by many locals and tourists as the best hangover or early start breakfast of burrito and a bottle of Kombucha.
Authentic South Indian food prepared by love and perfection that can only be brought in by a South Indian family who owns and runs this mammoth of restaurant decorated with splashes of yellow and green colors. Along with yummylicious south Indian dishes the restaurant is also quite famous for its Sri Lankan dishes. Its Fish moilee accompanied with big glass of Mango lassi or Kingfisher beer is must try. For all the veggies out there the options are not limited.
Rotorua’s ambience is as calm and warm as its weather most of the year. It offers ‘N’ number of entertainment for almost all kinds of travelers. For history buffs, there are museums, for culture enthusiasts there are concert over Maori culture, for adventure players there are many thrill activities which will make their heart pumping. Some of the different activities for different kinds of travelers are:
This museum named after the city itself houses edifice depicting the Tudor style all with poise and perfection. Tourist can gain knowledge about the city they are touring through the history lesson of 20 minutes that includes eruption of Tarawera through a film that runs its course after every 20 minutes starting from 9 in the morning. The museum features a wing – Don Stafford – that is dedicated to the people of Te Arawa depicting flax weaving, wood carving, jade and the imperial stories of 28th Maori Battalion in WW2. Two galleries for art and comfy cafe with mesmeric view of gardens.
This historical building created to mirror the art and class of Spanish structure was constructed in 1933 but was shut down for about 17 years from 1982 to 1999. It has been reopened since then and caters heated pool for a refreshing dip.
This reserve for wildlife animals and plants alike is located near the foot of Mt. Ngongotaha that is just 8km away from Rotorua. It is a mammoth of park of around 6 hectare harboring trout springs and slick eels along with animals ranging from possums, deer and alpacas to majestic lions that all are fed at 2:30 in the afternoon. Tourists can have a cup of coffee from the only coffee shop or walk in the carved path in an elevated treetop.
Utilities | Status |
---|---|
Airport | |
Free Wi-Fi | Yes |
Wheel Chair Availability | Yes |
Currency Exchange | No |
Fine Dining | Yes |
Baggage Locker | Yes |
City Guide | Yes |
Prepaid Booth (TAXI) | Yes |
Terminal Interchanging Facility | No |
Domestic Flights Connectivity | Yes |
Extras | |
Privilege Lounge | Yes |
One Day Shelter | No |
Taxi Cost | $3.00/ km (NZ) |
Local Transport | Yes |
Apartments Rent | Starting from $200 / week |
Beer | $5.00/ 0.5l (NZ) |
Mineral Water | $ 2.50 / 1.5l (NZ) |