| Rotorua | ||
|---|---|---|
| Urban Area | Population | 55,100 |
| Extent | Ngongotaha to Owhata | |
| Territorial Authority | Name | Rotorua District |
| Population | 65,901 (2006 census) | |
| Land area | 2,614.90 km² (1,009.62 sq mi) | |
| Extent | On the North Island Rotoma; Tokorau to Golden Springs | |
| Regional Councils | Name | Bay of Plenty and Waikato |
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 a population of 64,509. It is 60 km south of Tauranga, 105 km south-east of Hamilton and 82 km north-east of Taupo. The District is divided between the Bay of Plenty (61.52 percent of its land area) and the Waikato (38.48 percent) Regions.
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 travellers to Tauranga are selecting the newly commissioned State Highway 36 via Ngongotaha, Kaharoa and Pyes Pa.
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.
Rotorua is also connected to the rail network with a branch line from Putaruru to the north, currently disused.
