ROTORUA Rotorua is the Tourist Capital of New Zealand. The famous pink and white terraces that were destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 1886 were the original catalyst for Rotorua's popularity as a tourist hot spot (excuse the pun). The geyser, mud pools, the smell of sulpher and now the ‘adventure’ activities make this place a magnet for young and old. The city is known for its geothermal activity, with a number of geysers, notably the Pohutu Geyser at Whakarewarewa, and hot mud pools located in the city. This thermal activity owes itself to the Rotorua caldera on which the city lies. Rotorua is also a top adventure destination and is New Zealand's Maori cultural heartland. Roturua has a population of 56,000 but each day that can swell by an extra 10,000 tourists. The place is just full of motels, hotels and holiday parks. Rotorua is geared for the tourist. The lakeshore was a prominent site of skirmishes during the New Zealand Wars of the 1860s. A "special town district" was created in the 1883, in order to promote Rotorua's potential as a spa. Rotorua has a vast number of classic Maori buildings that give the city a unique quality that is not replicated. The Church by the lake and the museum give good idea how that uniqueness is personified. Rotorua has a number of old buildings and the Fenton Street Hotel gives a great insight into the grandness of an earlier era. The Rotorua War Memorials (including the Boar War) are erected in the parks that adjunct the city. When visiting Rotorua allow at least three days to enjoy the experience.