Geography & Early History (Phase 1)
The geological feature (created ~240,000 years ago) that filled with water to form Lake Rotorua.
What is a Caldera?
The time period spanned by Phase 2 in Rotorua's tourism lifecycle.
What happened between 1950s to 1980?
Secondary attraction built on the urban-rural fringe offering high-speed thrill experiences like the Luge.
What is Skyline Rotorua?
The two main highways connecting tourists into Rotorua from Auckland and Tauranga.
What are State Highway 5 and State Highway 36?
Central dining precinct in Rotorua CBD developed as a facility to support both tourists and local residents.
What is Eat Street
The primary natural attraction that initially drove early tourism development in Rotorua during the 19th century.
What are the Pink and White Terraces?
The specific target market that expanded rapidly during Phase 2 due to post-war affluence and increased car travel.
Who are Domestic Tourists?
An adventure attraction on the periphery where tourists roll down a hill in inflatable plastic spheres.
What is the Zorb?
The central hub area of Rotorua where large hotels, retail shops, and restaurants are concentrated.
What is the CBD (Central Business District) or Core?
Primary local regulator managing council decisions, town planning, and civic infrastructure in Rotorua.
What is the Rotorua Lakes Council?
The primary geothermal attraction and cultural center that became the focal point after the destruction of the Pink and White Terraces.
What is Te Puia (or Whakarewarewa)?
The main street in Rotorua that developed a distinct linear pattern of motels to cater to motoring families.
What is Fenton Street?
The two sub-phases that make up Phase 3 from 1980 to the present day.
What are the Diversification Phase and the Specialisation Phase?
The spatial layout pattern taken by luxury resorts across the broader Rotorua region to maintain exclusivity.
What is a Dispersed pattern?
Global events in 2008 and 2020 that disrupted tourist source markets and reduced visitor numbers to Rotorua.
What are the Global Financial Crisis (2008) and the COVID-19 Pandemic (2020)?
The main entity heavily involved in Phase 1 by purchasing land, passing laws, and funding early spa resort infrastructure.
What is the Central Government?
: Two major family-friendly attractions built during Phase 2 to cater to domestic visitors.
What are Rainbow Springs and the Agrodome?
Strategic advantages of locating secondary attraction clusters along State Highway 5 on the periphery
What are High visibility, transport accessibility, and large/cheap plots of land?
Reason hotels and backpacker hostels in the CBD choose to build upwards.
What are High land prices in the core / smaller land footprint needs?
Natural disaster event in 2019 where regulators shut down operations due to safety concerns.
What is the Whakaari / White Island Volcanic Eruption?
The two sub-phases that make up Phase 1 of Rotorua's development (1830s–1930s).
What are the Pioneer Phase and the Consolidation Phase?
The primary reason motel accommodation developed along Fenton Street rather than inside the main CBD core.
What is Lower land prices outside the CBD?
Phase 2 expanded tourism to meet domestic demand; Phase 3 focused on this strategy to attract wider market segments.
What are Greater diversification of activities?
Location advantage of Rotorua Downtown Backpackers being situated on Fenton Street in the CBD.
What is Proximity to key transport links (visitor center and main bus stop)?
National government ministry responsible for overseeing tourism policy and jurisdiction across New Zealand.
What is the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE)?