Rotorua, New Zealand: 18 - 23 September 2011

All you need to know about Rotorua

How to get here

Located in the central North Island, Rotorua is well connected to the rest of New Zealand, and the world, through a network of air and road links. The city is a leisurely three-hour drive from Auckland (234km), and a 5-6-hour drive from Wellington (457km). Rotorua Airport is one of the busiest domestic terminals in the country, offering services to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. Trans-Tasman services are likely to be offered from mid to late 2009. Click here for more information about how to get to Rotorua.

How to get around

Rotorua's well-developed infrastructure and excellent public transport system means minimal travelling time within the city. To explore the outer environs and lakes, rental cars and shuttles are the best options. Most major rental cars companies have depots in Rotorua. Shuttle and coach services leave from the i-SITE Tourism Rotorua Visitor Information and Travel Centre in Fenton Street. Click here for more information about how to get around Rotorua.

What's the weather like?

Rotorua enjoys a pleasant climate; plenty of sun shin e in summer with crisp, clear days in winter. Rotorua averages more than 2000 sunshine hours and just over 140cm of rain annually.

Temperatures:

• Summer (Dec – Feb): Daytime 21 – 29ºC
• Autumn (Mar – May): Daytime 15 – 26ºC
• Winter (Jun – Aug): Daytime 9 – 16ºC
• Spring (Sep – Nov): Daytime 13 – 21ºC

To find out what the weather is like in Rotorua right now, visit the New Zealand MetService website

Goods and Services tax

All purchases in New Zealand are subject to 15% GST (Goods and Services Tax). This is usually included in published retail prices for all goods and services. Overseas visitors who get their purchase sent home directly by the retailer do not have to pay GST.

Departure tax

Passengers departing from Rotorua Airport must pay a NZD$5 departure tax after check-in and prior to proceeding to the departure lounge.

About New Zealand

New Zealand , also known as Aotearoa (land of the long white cloud), was voted in a worldwide internet poll as the most beautiful and safe country in the world. Inhabited by a peaceful, friendly people affectionately known as Kiwis, New Zealand 's spectacularly beautiful landscape includes vast mountain chains, steaming volcanoes, sweeping coastlines, deeply indented fiords and lush rainforests. Visitors are most likely to arrive in New Zealand at Auckland , the country's largest urban area with a population of just over one million.

Brief NZ History

New Zealand is the youngest country on earth - the last major landmass to be discovered. The first inhabitants, the Maori, arrived around the 10th century in double-hulled canoe from islands somewhere to the north. Even as early Maori first discovered this land and called it Aotearoa, they recognised its beauty. Traditional translations of the name Aotearoa include "land of the long white cloud" and "land of the lingering day".

NZ Geography

New Zealand is 1930km (1200 miles) southeast of Australia and consists of two major islands, the North Island (114,470 sq km/44,197 sq miles) and the South Island (150,660 sq km/58,170 sq miles), which are separated by Cook Strait .

Stewart Island (1750 sq km/676 sq miles) is located immediately south of the South Island, and the Chatham Islands lie 800km (500 miles) to the east of Christchurch.

Overseas Visitors

New Zealand is an easy country to travel to, and around. Getting to Rotorua is straightforward whether you are travelling in a group, self-drive, using the coach network or travelling by plane. Touring routes around the Central North Island make even getting to Rotorua a pleasure if you are driving.

We hope to see you soon in our fantastic part of the world.

Getting around in New Zealand

Auckland and Wellington are the closest international airports to Rotorua. Travel options to Rotorua include air, coach, train and self-drive.

• Air - Rotorua has daily air service links with Auckland , Wellington and Christchurch . Rotorua airport is a 15 minute drive from the city.
• Coach - regular scheduled services operate from Auckland and Wellington and other North Island Centres
• Self-drive - Rotorua is about three hours drive from Auckland and about five hours drive from Wellington

Once in Rotorua there is a full range of bus, taxi, shuttle and rental car services.
To find out more about getting to and around Rotorua, click here.

Rugby World Cup

In 2011, NZ will host the Rugby World Cup and Rotorua will host 3 matches.

• Saturday September 10th – Fiji v Namibia
• Wednesday September 14th – Samoa v Namibia
• Sunday September 25th – Ireland v Russia

For more information please visit the Rugby World Cup 2011 Website

Christchurch Earthquake Update

Many of you will have heard the news about the devastating earthquake which struck Christchurch on February 22nd. We assure international delegates that Christchurch and Rotorua are ~1000 km apart and the conference will not be affected.

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