The sky was gorgeous. That was the first thing I noticed about New Zealand after we left Auckland airport. Just the right shade of blue. The right amount of sunlight and cloud. Underneath the vast blue expanse, rolling green hills stretched as far as the eye could see. We were on our way to Rotorua, a city 230km southeast of Auckland, and luckily we were able to appreciate all the surrounding nature that led us to it. Plenty of sleep onboard Thai Airways' Royal Silk Class meant we landed feeling refreshed, ready to explore all the sights and adventures Rotorua has to offer.
If there's one place that can boast of truly having something for everyone, it would be Rotorua, which is part of the Taupo Volcanic Zone in the North Island of New Zealand. The city is famous for its geothermal activity, rich Maori culture, spa industry and tourism infrastructure that would satisfy anyone, from the most adventurous travellers to families with kids.
"Overall, our visitors want to experience the Kiwi life," said Patrick Dault, manager of international trade at Destination Rotorua, a council-controlled organisation owned by the Rotorua Lakes Council.
Kiwi can mean a lot of things in New Zealand. The bird. The fruit. The people. And to get the genuine feel of the three Kiwis, Rotorua may just be the perfect place to go. Don't expect big city life; prepare instead to bask in the richness of the culture and the beautiful nature that makes the city a unique concoction of adventure and leisure.
Dault further described Rotorua as the playground for Kiwis -- the people -- as there are plenty of activities and sights, from farm tours to geysers, that people indulge in. Learn the haka dance. Dip in hot pools. Stroll along the lake. Slide downhill in a giant ball. Feed sheep and alpaca. Many of these attractions are also just a few minutes' drive from one another, making it very convenient to hop from place to place to make the most of your visit.
Annually, Rotorua gets over 2.5 million visits from both international and local tourists. The tourism industry in the city has been booming for over two decades, according to Annie Clare -- director of the South and Southeast Asia market at Ngai Tahu Tourism, one of the country's largest tourism operators -- who added that Rotorua has always been able to attract Western visitors. It was in the last decade that more Chinese and other foreign tourists began visiting the city in search of something new, making the industry grow even more.
The growth of tourism benefits the city visibly in its improved infrastructure and in the construction of Eat Streat, the all-weather al fresco dining hot spot with a thermally heated public area that packs in the city's best restaurants, cafés and bars.
Tourism also helps boost interest in the local lifestyle and in the preservation of Maori culture.
"Being able to showcase the culture and having an environment where you can showcase it is very important," said Dault. "The reality is that a lot of us take for granted our heritage and culture. But when you have international audiences that say they want to see, experience and share it, it creates opportunities for people to make a living off that culture and perpetuate it."
With the abundance of natural resources and the rich culture of its land, both the public and private sectors are working together under strict charter and quality standards to ensure that the growth of tourism is sustainable. This is so both locals and tourists can enjoy the grand sights -- gorgeous skylines, hills, lakes and rivers -- that have become a part of Rotorua's attraction for decades and get the most out of their Kiwi experience.
Celebrating the 30th anniversary of its Bangkok-Auckland route, Thai Airways now offers a daily roundtrip flight on its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, the newest aircraft type in the company's fleet. The 298-seat aircraft reduces fuel consumption and noise, and comes equipped with electronic window shades. Its impressive Royal Silk Class has 30 seats that recline into full flatbeds, plus a 16-inch monitor to keep you entertained during flights. Economy class has 268 seats with 11-inch monitors. All monitors come with screen-swipe technology.Currently, Thai Airways is the only airline to offer direct flights from Bangkok to Auckland, all with premium services. The Bangkok-Auckland flight departs Suvarnabhumi Airport daily at 6.45pm and arrives in Auckland at 12.05pm the next day (total flight time 11 hours 20 minutes). For the Auckland-Bangkok route, the flight departs at 2.50pm and arrives in Bangkok at 8.50pm the same day (total flight time 12 hours). For reservations, visit www.thaiairways.com.
To get to Rotorua from Auckland, visitors can catch local flights to the Rotorua Airport, which takes around 45 minutes. Or, hop on the InterCity bus, which takes 3 hours and 30 minutes. For ultimate freedom, hire a car or camper van.
