The city is located 60 km south of Tauranga, 105 km south-east of Hamilton and 82 km north-east of Taupo.

Rotorua is a spa resort, well-known for the geothermal activity in the area. There are a number of geysers (notably the 20 m Pohutu geyser at Whakarewarewa) and hot mud pools located in the city, which owe their presence to the Rotorua caldera.

Rotorua is home to not only geothermal interests, but botanical gardens and some interesting historic architecture. Known as a spa town and major tourist resort for more than a century, many of the buildings hint at this history. The formal Government Gardens close to the lakeshore at the eastern end of the town are particularly worth of note.

Kuirau Park, to the west end of the central city, is also remarkable - hot bubbling mud pools dot the park, lending a surreal air to the setting.

Thermal activity is at the heart of much of Rotorua's tourist appeal. Geysers and bubbling mud-pools, hot thermal springs and even a village buried by a major volcanic eruption, Te Wairoa, are all located within easy reach of the city.

Rotorua was prominently featured in a music video by The Beastie Boys for their song Gratitude. Rotorua is also near many lakes. All these lakes are formed from huge volcanic activity which affected this region. The largest lake is Taupo which 45 minutes' drive from Rotorua. All these lakes are famous for their abundant stock of Rainbow Trout, a fish introduced for its sporting value.

Rotorua is commonly known amongst the locals as "Rotovegas" due its abundance of tourist attractions, but to non-locals as "Rottenrua" due to the rotting egg-like odour of the Hydrogen Sulphide gas produce by the prolific geothermal activity. The odour is most noticeable on cooler and rainy days, although most locals are immune to it and are usually unaware of its presence.

Source: Wikipedia