GAY Guysers-Gazette-issue13.pdf

My take
on what makes
Rotorua great
Taking in the views at the
summit of Mt Tarawera
I was born in Rotorua 1949, and in those days tourism
to Rotorua was only just beginning to develop into
the tourist city it has become today. The very first
European visitors began coming here to the see
famous Pink and White Terraces prior to the 1886
eruption of Mt Tarawera (before my day of course!)
I still remember the steam trains that used to transport
tourists into the city. The old railway line used to come
right into the city centre and a short walk from the
station was a number of boarding houses and guest
houses – this was before the development of the busy
motel strip of Fenton Street that exists today.
Most tourists in the early days came to Rotorua to take
advantage of the thermal hot pools for its relaxing
and therapeutic properties, especially people with
arthritis or other ailments. I still remember the days
of segregated nude bathing at the old Ward Baths
(known today as the Polynesian Spa).
Skinny Dipping in a thermal
stream, Rotota Sunclub
10-Pin Bowling at Rotorua’s
Motion Entertainment
26 Guysers Gazette
Issue 13 • Autumn 2018