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Top Places: Rotorua. Whakarewarewa, Waimangu, Waiotapu, Hell's Gate and the Hidden Valley thermal reserves. Mt Tarawera, Lake Tarawera, Tauranga and Mt Maunganui.
The
Bay of Plenty is New Zealand's most active volcanic region and Rotorua one
of the major towns here is New Zealand's most popular tourist attraction.
Rotorua is conveniently located near Auckland the biggest city in New Zealand
and hence it is very accessible by visitors who have only a few days in New
Zealand. The surrounding area of Rotorua offers the best volcanic reserves
in the country.
Whakarewarewa,
Waimangu, Waiotapu, Hells Gate and the Hidden Valley are the most popular,
and they all have
great examples of geysers, mud pools, thermal rivers, volcanic terraces and
bubbling water pools. Everywhere you go you in Rotorua you will see steam
rising from the ground.
Even
the motels offer thermal baths and some of this volcanic energy is tapped
to provide electricity to the locals. New volcanic vents often appear in the
most unlikely places. Roads, properties and even golf courses have heat rising
from the ground. You can normally smell a sulfur aroma when you are near a
thermal area.
The area around Rotorua is also famous for its many beautiful lakes and offer fishing, swimming and other water based activities.
Tauranga,
another major town in the Bay of Plenty has spectacular beaches, including
Mt Maunganui.
Just off the coast is White Island an active volcano that erupts everyday.
Sightseeing flights over White Island are a must with some flights also taking
in the 3 volcanoes in the Tongariro National Park and Mt Tarawera. Mt
Tarawera last erupted early this century totally destroying the famous
Pink and White Terraces,
which was nicknamed the" 8th wonder of the natural world".
The
Bay of Plenty is one of the most scenic and diverse regions in New Zealand's North Island,
and visitors to New Zealand have been known to spend most of their time here
at the expense of seeing the rest of the country. It becomes obvious when
you are here just how much this area has on offer.
Original versions of our photos can be purchased & web versions can be shared subject to conditions.