LOCATION  The city of Rotorua sits on the southern shore of Lake Rotorua in the north-eastern part of the Central Volcanic Plateau of New Zealand's North Island, Te Ika a Maui. With a population of just under 60000, it is the 12th largest urban centre in New Zealand. Rotorua is a veritable wonderland of geothermal activity, with bubbling mud pools, hot springs, and geysers. It is world-renowned for its Maori culture and heritage, and it also sits in a region with 18 freshwater lakes of varying sizes and depths - a true scenic gem of the North Island. ARRIVING BY AIR  Rotorua is served by the Rotorua Regional Airport, 10km from the central city around the south-eastern lake shore. There are multiple Air New Zealand flights each day to and from the major centres and international airports of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, providing easy access to the city from all parts of New Zealand, including domestic and international connections. Air New Zealand along with some smaller airlines, including Sounds Air and Air Chathams, provide services between the regions, while Air New Zealand and Jetstar are the primary airlines that operate between the main centres. ARRIVING BY ROAD  Rotorua sits in a fairly central position in the North Island, with the closest other cities being Tauranga, 63 kilometres or 1 hour away to the north, and Hamilton, 108 kilometres or 1.5 hours away to the north-west. By car, Rotorua is 215 kilometres or 2.5 hours away from Auckland International Airport, and 460 kilometres or just under 6 hours drive from Wellington International Airport. If public transport is your thing, Rotorua is also served by the InterCity bus service. There are busses available to Rotorua from most areas of the North Island. ACCOMMODATION Accommodation in Rotorua and the surrounding Lakeland area is plentiful with options to suit all levels of budget - from camp grounds, campervan sites and budget motel accomodation, to exclusive spa resorts and hotels. Also within easy driving range are the accommodation centres of Hamilton (1.5 hours drive), Tauranga (1 hour drive) and the resort town of Taupo, located 1 hour drive to the south, on the shores of Lake Taupo, New Zealand's "Great Lake". CAMPERVANS We appreciate that many Block Party attendees will arrive in campervans, and will be keen on overnight parking. Rotorua is a motorhome-friendly location and the Rotorua Lakes Council and Department of Conservation have information about overnight camping locations in the area. Overnight parking is available in a number of areas for either free or a small fee, for up to two consecutive nights. There are a number of camping grounds and holiday parks in the Rotorua area, all with powered and non-powered sites available, along with a New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA) park located in Ngongotaha, exclusively for NZMCA members. | 
