Uncovered 7 Rotorua gems
BEST THINGS TO SEE
- Outstanding Rotorua Museum with its interactive exhibits
- Pompeii of the Pacific, New Zealand’s Buried Village is a testament to the Smith Family
- Te Puia gallery and studios showcasing Maori creative spirit
- Hot glass studio, Amokura Glass is a perfect special moment destination for a gift
- The Arts Village where contemporary art and New Zealand fusion art between the aesthetic and indigenous meet in a cooperative setting
- Rozcraft a pioneer in NZ made souvenirs factory shop is where fluffy woolly sheep wait patiently
- Portico a potpourri of carefully selected gift items showcasing NZ arts and crafts
Rotorua Museum: Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa
A comprehensive assessment of Rotorua Museum has shown it falls well below earthquake safety standards and will need to remain closed to the public for the foreseeable future.
From carefully selected chisels and carving tools visitors observe the creative process in action. Maori cultural values, the world of indigenous New Zealand wood carving, pounamu (jade), whale bone, bronze, and textiles ranging from wool to flax are on display. The exquisite detail is apparent in the finished pieces displayed in the Āhua Māori Art Gallery. Just browsing and what to discover more about the Maori creative process visitors are welcome to simply observe. The serious shopper is in for a treat.
WELCOME TO AMOKURA GLASS
Amokura Glass is Rotorua’s hot glass studio & glass art gallery. Run by artist Heather Kremen, the studio aims to create beautiful works of glass art while putting on a show for visitors. There is nothing like molten glass swirling into shape with the fire of creativity making it happen. A great place for families to be introduced to the age-old art of glass making. The hot shop is open between 9:30AM- 2:00PM (Friday to Monday).
PORTICO GALLERY
Where photography meets art. The core of the shop is framing with a glorious section devoted to John Miles superb landscape photographic fine art pieces. For the dedicated home photographer Portico Gallery offers fine art digital print or Giclée (gee-clay) is an individually produced, high resolution, high-fidelity reproduction done on a special fine art printer. Giclées are the most acceptable form of fine art reproduction for museums and galleries and your home or workplace. The gallery is beautifully presented and you could linger for several hours absorbing the fine art prints.
SHOPPING ROZCRAFT SOUVENIRS
Possum clothing anyone or interior design items crafted from local materials then this is the place to go. As Roz herself describes it, ‘ The focus in on absolute quality NZ made products at a price that competes with imported items.’
THE ARTS VILLAGE
The Arts Village Rotorua merges three historic buildings into a contemporary visual space. The not for profit arts based community centre gives visitors an opportunity to view exhibits showcasing new local talent.
THE ORIGINAL BUILDINGS: Lewis House, built in 1885 is the oldest of the three buildings and was the accommodation for Rotorua’s Dr Lewis. In 1908, Wohlmann House was built as accommodation for Dr Arthur Stanley Wohlmann, a renowned balneologist who was the designer and first director of the Bath House (now the Rotorua Museum of Art and History). Make sure to look downwards. The floor of the ambulatory gallery is a mosaic of 350,000 glass tiles in a design by local muralist Marc Spijkerbosch, glued onto 116 pieces of mesh by more than 1600 members of the public over 3500 hours.
ROTORUA MUSEUM & BATHHOUSE
Rotorua Museum buildings are undergoing seismic repairs. While the interior of the museum is temporarily closed the exterior is open. The Museum doors may be closed free guided tours outside the walls guided tours that take in the stunning and historic Government Gardens and bath house. Tours depart from Government Gardens.
ETHNOGRAPHIC / ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM – ROTORUA BURIED VILLAGE
The entire museum and open air archeological site is about a single day and night when a massive volcanic eruption (Mount Tarawera) blew its top off. The volcanic eruption destroyed the well known geological marvel pink and white terraces, took the lives of 125 people and devastated communities. The personal stories of heroism, of bravery and events are narrated visually with supporting objects and photographs. The collection is not static, the immersive nature of the museum wraps visitors in the terror of the moment and the thoughts and feelings of the people caught up in the events.
The outstanding Rotorua Buried Village is justifiably a highlight of a visit to Rotorua.
BEST BITS TRAVEL GUIDE