Rotorua’s main drawcard is Te Whakarewarewa (pronounced fa-ka-re-wa-re-wa), a thermal reserve 3km south of the city centre. This area’s full name is Te Whakarewarewatanga o te Ope Taua a Wahiao, meaning ‘The Gathering Together of the War Party of Wahiao’, although many people just call it ‘Whaka’. Either way, the reserve is as famous for its Māori cultural significance as for its steam and bubbling mud. There are more than 500 springs here, including a couple of famed geysers.
Highlights of this volcanically active area include Te Puia and Whakarewarewa Village .
