Luxury Property - New Zealand - Rotorua - Waitangi Lodge

Rotorua

Rotorua is a town on the southern shore of Lake Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand, and Rotorua District is the encompassing local authority area. The city has an approximate population of 64,500. It is 60 km south of Tauranga, 105 km south-east of Hamilton and 82 km north-east of Taupo.

Rotorua is well-known for geothermal activity. There are a number of geysers, notably the Pohutu geyser at Whakarewarewa, and hot mud pools located in the city, which owe their presence to the Rotorua caldera.

Rotorua is connected to the north by State Highway 5, to the east by State Highway 33, to the west by State Highway 30, and to the south by State Highway 5. Increasingly though travelers to Tauranga are selecting the newly commissioned State Highway 36 via Ngongotaha and Pyes Pa.

Airport

Rotorua Regional Airport provides daily flights to Auckland International Airport and Wellington International Airport via turbo-prop services and Christchurch International Airport using turbo-props and a daily jet service. Plans are afoot to increase the runway length to allow trans-Tasman flights.

The name Rotorua comes from Māori, the full name being Te Rotorua-nui-a-Kahumatamomoe; roto generally means lake and rua two - Rotorua thus meaning 'Second lake'. Kahumatamomoe was the uncle of the Māori chief Ihenga. It was the second major lake the chief discovered, and he dedicated it to his uncle. It is the largest of a multitude found to the north-east of the city, all connected with the Rotorua Caldera and nearby Mt Tarawera.

The area was initially settled by Māori of the Te Arawa iwi. The lakeshore was a prominent site of skirmishes during the New Zealand Wars of the 1860s. A "special town district" was created in the 1880s, in order to promote Rotorua's potential as a spa. The town was connected to Auckland with the opening of the Rotorua Branch railway and commencement of the Rotorua Express train in 1894, resulting in the rapid growth of the town and tourism from this time forward. Rotorua was established as a borough in 1922.

Population

More than six centuries ago the Te Arawa people moved inland and settled in the Rotorua area. Today, Rotorua is a multi-cultural District of over 64,500 people. Rotorua is an international tourism icon and a renowned heartland of Maori culture in New Zealand. Four out of ten Rotorua residents are of Maori descent, and one out of ten are affiliated with Te Arawa. The communities of the District are unique, diverse and constantly changing as a result of migration and other factors.

The current population of Rotorua is approximately 64,500. This is less than 2.5% of the total population of Rotorua. This total population has remained relatively unchanged in over ten years.
Rotorua has a youthful population profile with a median age of 33, which is slightly younger than for New Zealand as a whole.
The population for the area of Tarawera, where Waitangi Lodge is situated, is just over 1,500. This has remained stable for over the past ten years.

For more information go to Government Population Rotorua Stats

Volcanic Valley

The area around Rotorua is famous for its hot springs and spouting geysers. The Waimangu Volcanic Valley Trail can be found nearby, as well as the Rotorua Thermal Reserves.

Sport and Recreation

The area around Lake Tarawera caters for a wide range of interests. There's a wealth of sporting and recreational activities to choose from, including horse riding, golf and whitewater rafting.

You can even take a helicopter ride to the top of Mount Tarawera (an ancient volcano responsible for shaping much of the local landscape).

There are also a wealth of fascinating tourist attractions in the area, many of which offer an enlightening insight into Maori customs and ancient traditions.

The exciting city of Rotorua is less than 30 minutes away and offers a wealth of tourist attractions and activities.