October Tourism Attraction News

This blog post highlights tourist attractions that opened in Rotorua during the month of October. There were also other related events mentioned that occurred in the month of October.

Related Events of Note in Rotorua

October 1895	Tolls were in introduced for those visiting Mokoia Island
6 October 1900	First outbreaks of Waimangu Geyser noted
October 1963	‘Rotorua Māori Arts and Crafts Institute Act’ (New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute Act 1963) passed by Parliament. This act was to preserve Māori heritage and culture and promote and foster an awareness of and appreciation for it.

Tourist Attractions Rotorua

Rainbow Springs

22 October 1938              Rainbow Springs opens as a tourist resort

Daily Post 22 October 1938

Tourism Leaflet 1969, Rotorua Library
Photo Provided

Located at the foot of Mount Ngongotahā, Rotorua. Early visitors paid a toll of sixpence where they could see the rainbow trout in the clear icy cold pools. One visitor included the Prince of Wales who fed the trout during a 1920 tour. 

23 October 1939              Paradise Valley opens as a tourist resort

Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19060412-4-5

Located 6 miles from the Rotorua Township. The new attraction includes native bush, gardens, pumice paved walks, a large spring and terraced pools. Visitors can enjoy afternoon teas and other refreshments.

11 October 1960              Toot & Whistle Railway begins operating in Kuirau Reserve

Daily Post 12 October 1960

15 October 1986              Rainbow Farm opened

23 October 1986              Paddlewheeler, Lakeland Queen, launched on Lake Rotorua 

Daily Post, 23 October 1986

This Post was written by Ani Sharland with thanks to the Daily Post and Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection.

Fairy Springs and more from Rotorua

Rotorua has many natural springs

Over the years Rotorua's springs have been tourist attractions, water sources for the city and great fishing spots as well.

Click this link to read James Cowan's 1910 article published in a number of newspapers of the day
Otago Witness 27th July 1910

Information with thanks to the Don Stafford File, Tourism 1862-1939 :
Fairy Spring was free to visit and fish, until 1897 when the visitors were charged 6d for the privilege.

The next was Rainbow Springs opened in 1928, where people could put their hands in the water 'tickle the trout' and also to feed the two famous fish 'Elsie' and 'Hori', sadly Elsie died in 1949, no mention is made of Hori's demise.  Rainbow Springs Camping Ground was opened and run by Mr E. Bruce in c1928.

  In 1973 the Rainbow & Fairy Springs merged to become one business and the new owners set about planting trees and upgrading walkways between the two.  Today this is known as Rainbow Springs Nature Park.

Paradise Valley Springs is written as being open to the public in the Rotorua Morning Post 23.10.1939. However as the link below shows, this area was being visited in the early 1900's.

Hamurana Springs was a thriving business as one of the best trout fishing areas of the region as early as 1887, also one could "gaze into an immense hole, which in every 24 hours emits 5,000,000 gallons of cold water" from New Zealand Tablet 11 June 1903, page 5.
A Fishing Lodge was available for keen anglers to stay from c.1923.

Tourist at Hamurana Springs, November 1961 from Kete Rotorua

Click these links to read about these springs from Papers Past :
The Paradise Valley Spring Evening Post 1st October 1904
The Hamurana Springs NZ Herald 10th March 1891
The Rainbow Springs NZ Herald 21st November 1936
The Fairy Springs NZ Herald 7th March 1906

From Kete Rotorua :
The Taniwha Springs Fairy Springs and Taniwha Springs

Taniwha Springs was opened to public prior to 1955 when it was reported that a two-toned trout named 'Harvey' underwent an operation. [what for is not known]