Hello everybody! It’s Denis and Kiwi Education.
The beautiful nature, raging oceans,
picturesque scenes from The Lord of the Rings
and other unbelievable views are often associated with New Zealand.
There is one place where you can enjoy the nature,
do extreme sport or learn more about Māori culture.
Welcome to Rotorua!
Rotorua is a small city in the heart of New Zealand’s North Island.
It is located in the Bay of Plenty and close to Hamilton, Taupo and Tauranga.
The city lies in the Rotorua caldera –
a gigantic volcano, the most recent eruption of which occurred about 25 000 ago.
Nowadays Lake Rotorua covers its crater and nothing reminds about the existence of the volcano,
except numerous geysers and hot springs.
The area was initially settled in the 14th century.
In the beginning of the 19th century, a series of battles took place among Maori,
In 1828, first European merchants and missionaries arrived here
and established a settlement that became Rotorua.
During 19 and 21 centuries, the city was growing rapidly
and today it is one of the most attractive places in the country.
The population of the city is about 58 000 people.
More than 60% of residents identify themselves as European ethnicity,
about 30% as Maori
and the rest as Asian and other ethnicities.
The Māori people revere the natural wonders of this volcanic region,
that’s why Maori love Rotorua which became a centre of their culture.
Rotorua’s economy is based on several main sectors, one of which is natural resources.
The region has a mild climate which impacts on agricultural development.
In addition, there is a major forestry and wood processing hub,
producing nearly half of New Zealand’s annual wood harvest.
Tourism is another profitable sector with an annual turnover of more than $800 million.
Salaries here may be considered attractive compared to other cities of the same size.
The average annual income is NZ$ 69 000.
The average housing cost is NZ$ 455 000
and, I should say, the house prices continue to steadily rise,
which is quite attractive in terms of investing.
Rotorua does have a rather unique sulphuretted hydrogen aroma
smelling distinctly like rotten eggs.
The smell is caused by local thermal pools and geysers,
scattered throughout the area.
Because of the Sulphur smell, Rotorua is called “rotten-rua” or “Sulphur city”.
When you get in the city the smell is quite unbearable.
However, the longer you stay, the more your body is getting used to it so the aroma even fades.
Rotorua is situated inland from the coast and surrounded by high-country,
creating a unique microclimate.
The weather here is less windy with an average temperature of 23°C in summer and 12°C in winter.
Snowfall may occur too, and since 1970 it has been recorded twice.
The city is served by the system of highways, comprehensive public bus service
and an airport, that has daily flights to Auckland and many other New Zealand cities.
Up until 2003, the city had a rail network,
but due to the improvement of the highway system in the area,
trains began to become unpopular as in other cities.
By the way, all city buses are equipped with bike racks.
Thanks to developed infrastructure and bike lines throughout the city,
bicycles became an important part of public transport.
Rotorua offers a huge range of activities and attractions to enjoy.
There are plenty of hot springs and geysers used in spa and wellness industry.
Some spa centres are located close to the houses for rent,
so tourists can enjoy the thermal and mineral spa right at the place they are staying.
Rotorua has the most popular adventure centre for zorbing,
which is "must do" in all tourist guides.
Cable gondola Skyline is also popular among tourists.
Once up top, you can jump into a luge – a go-kart with wheels and bicycle handlebars – and ride down the hills.
Rotorua is a world famous destination for mountain bikers.
Red Bull Magazine ranks Whakarewarewa (or Redwood Forest) in the top eight in the world.
The 2006 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships were held here.
In 2015 Whakarewarewa hosted Crankworx.
Located 15 minutes from Rotorua, there is the Kaituna River
that provides class 5 kayaking and rafting,
attracting professionals from all over the world.
Many activities are also offered on Lake Rotorua,
that hosted the 2007 World Waterski Championships.
Lake Rotorua was the venue for the World Blind Sailing Championships in March 2009.
There are also smaller lakes for recreation, swimming and kayaking.
Rotorua has an unlimited list of entertainments,
as besides extreme sport and hot springs the city offers family activities,
such as horse riding, trekking or sightseeing.
Car enthusiasts can enjoy off-roading, jeeping or quading.
Such diversity makes Rotorua an entertainment centre of New Zealand.
Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology is Rotorua’s major educational establishment.
The institute offers 34 specialisations and has a high employment rate among its graduates.
Here, you can be prepared for in-demand and unique careers,
such as forest manager or infection risk manager.
In Tauranga campus, you can become an experienced marine scientist.
Toi Ohomai has modern and equipped campuses,
including practical classes for most of the specialities,
and student accommodation facilities close to the institute.
For more information about programmes and discounts please contact Kiwi Education.
In the end, I would like to say that today Rotorua is one of the most attractive New Zealand cities
thanks to its developed infrastructure and economy.
For sure, not everyone likes the specific thermal activity and cultural heritage of the region.
However, everyone has a right to make a choice,
and once you are here you might not be able to imagine your life without this place.
Don’t forget to check other videos about New Zealand cities on our channel.
Thanks for watching! Bye-bye!