With a Hiss and a Roar

When visiting Rotorua, “think Yellowstone or Lassen, but with some key differences,” describes The Sacramento Bee’s Mike Melnicoe. “For one, the mud pots, hissing vents and hot springs do not, for the most part, erupt as geysers. But they make up in sheer size and diversity what they lack in spectacle. You want big? Here you will find the world’s largest hot springs. For another, you’re in New Zealand, so you have a rich array of fun and fascinating attractions nearby. Once you’ve had your fill of inner Earth’s relentless capacity to amaze, you can go bungee-jumping, zorbing (rolling down a hill inside a huge ball), riding a land luge, jet-boating, caving or partaking in the area’s myriad other adventures.”