Rotorua, Bay of Plenty and Eastland

Rotorua is centered in the internationally renowned thermal resort of Rotorua. The Bay of Plenty is coastal and lies to the east of the Kaimai-Mamaku Ranges and south of the Coromandel peninsula. While Eastland is a hilly North Island that reaches to the pacific ocean. It is the most easterly in New Zealand.

Rotorua has a magnificent and unique Maori culture and is the oldest and best-known resort in the whole of New Zealand. As soon as you arrive in Rotorua you will be greeted by the smells of many bubbling mud pools, geothermal pools and ponds that provide a wide range of colour. The Geothermal activity and the rich Maori culture is what will keep you amazed at this region.

The Coastal Bay of Plenty is absolutely beautiful, with its pristine beaches, also being the country’s most popular, the abundance of magnificent orchards, especially kiwi fruit and the mild, sunny climate to top it all off. Bay of Plenty is an amazing holiday spot for families who want to relax.

Like the Bay of Plenty, Eastland is known for its stunning coastal scenery and many hours of sunshine, not to mention the many vineyards and spectacular country gardens. Eastland, like Rotorua is overflowing with Maori culture and heritage, and is probably the best place to go in New Zealand to discover this.

The South Island is cooler than the North Island by a few degrees. Winter in New Zealand is from June to August and summer is from December to February. There are regional variations: It is quite warm and pleasant up in the Northland region at any time of the year. Higher altitudes are always considerably cooler, and it is usually windy in Wellington, which catches the winds whistling through the Cook Straight.

Snow is mostly seen in the mountains, although there can be snowfalls, even at sea level, In the South Island, particularly in the extreme south. Some of the plains and higher plateaus also receive snow in winter, notably the Canterbury plains and the high plateau around the Tongariro National Park, especially on the east side. Snow is seldom seen near sea level on the West Coast of either and not at all in the far north.

An important thing you must know about the New Zealand climate is that it is a maritime climate, as opposed to the continental climate typical of larger land masses. This means the weather can change with amazing rapidity.