Rotorua

Rotorua, NZ

Rotorua is the geothermal capitol of NZ. It sits on a crater lake from a volcano that exploded thousands of years ago. There are natural hot springs all over, which give the city a steady smell of sulfur. And since it’s at the bottom of a crater, the city is surrounded by large hills that give it a picturesque backdrop. (That’s also why this is one of the two main places for skydiving).

It also boasts Great Mountain biking in the redwood forest as well as some legendary white water rafting on the Kaituna River. The rapids here are used in the off season by international teams training for the Olympics and World Championships. I ended up doing the white water rafting, mainly because it has the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world, Okere Falls, at roughly seven meters. The whole river had sort of an Amazon feel to it, with bush and trees rising to the sky on either side. It was hard to imagine a rainforest after driving through rolling green hills. It was a little shorter than I expected, but I still had a great time. They do offer a longer, more intense trip that’s only offered every other Sunday that I would love to do when I come back. (It’s only offered every other Sunday because the city opens the dam at those times to drain the lake)

I'm not pictured below, and the picture doesn't give justice to the size of the falls...