Rotorua, New Zealand

The first thing you need to know about Rotorua is that parts of it stink. The area is considered to be the youngest geological hot spot in the world, and you can smell the sulfur in the air in certain places. So be forewarned. 

The upside of that is that can be an interesting place to visit. Hot springs and bubbling mud pots don't come along all that often, so it has led to an unusual set of attractions in the town. Tourism is the main industry of Rotorua. During a drive to an attraction, we stumbled on a road that was filled with hotels on both sides. The number was really a surprise. 

There are about 55,000 people in this city, and almost half have connections to the Māoris. That's the highest number of any city in New Zealand. Walking around downtown gives the impression that the city may have a weak economic base. Several social service agencies have offices in that area, and pedestrians probably feel like it should be more crowded down there. 

It's not the usual tourist stop, but some interesting features such as the lake and the mountains can keep almost anyone occupied. The view from the mountains at dusk is good too.