Te Puia - Rotorua, NZ

My favourite part of the North Island for outdoor adventures in Aotearoa New Zealand! And it's totally underrated. Yes, Rotorua smells like sulphur... but that's because it's like, literally otherworldly. While it's nice to visit in the summer, I love a winter getaway in Rotorua because it's easy to warm up at one of the hot springs. Neither Rotorua nor Taupō are culinary destinations - but I've rounded up some decent places to eat and drink when you're in town. More details about pricing and where to find stuff on my blog: www.runawaytraveller.com/

Rotorua - a town on the North Island that is well known for its geothermal activity and Māori culture. There’s so much to see from 30m tall Geysers and bubbling mud pools, to a living Māori village! Taupō - located near the centre of North Island and known for its lake front setting on Lake Taupō. The lake is actually a volcanic caldera that drains into Huka Falls, which is a must see while in the area!! We spent two weeks living in Reporoa doing “WWOOFING” and it gave us free accommodation, food every afternoon and two days a week to travel the area and see as much as possible! Here you’ll find all of my tried and tested recommendations for the area ⤵️ I hope you enjoy this beautiful area as much as I did 🫶✨

Welcome to Tauranga, a coastal city in the Bay of Plenty region. This port is New Zealand’s largest port in terms of gross export tonnage and the region is the fastest growing one. This city has something for everyone, from beautiful beaches, dolphin watching, thermal reserves, galleries, shopping, and of course great cuisine. I spent the day at a sheep farm, shopping and enjoying some short hikes around the thermal reserve along with a traditional Maori cultural show. I even had time to enjoy the beach before I boarded the ship again. You could spend the entirety of the day just on the coast, surfing, kayaking, rafting, and refueling with the many food trucks that park just outside of it.