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The town of Rotorua smells of sulphur. The visitors thread upon a thin crust of earth underneath which there is constant activity. At every turn, you come upon steam, bubbling puddles, bubbling clay. Fortunate citizens have their own hot water source in the backyard. Most hotels and motels advertise "private spa" which is a jacuzzi filled with naturally hot water. Our hotel only had a communal spa, so I preferred the 100 year old Blue Bath. It wasn't as beautiful as our old mineral baths in Buda, but very pleasant with a warm swimming pool and two very hot smaller pools.
We were also taken (by the conference organizers) to a natural hot spring, the only place where you can still enjoy hot water au naturel. It was complete with a small water fall to massage your back, we had much fun.
Here is a poem celebrating the hot waters. It was carved in stone in the thermal park.
KA U KI MATANUKU
KA U KI MATARANGI
KA U KI TENEI WHENUA
HEI WHENUA
MAU E KAI TE
MANAWA O TAUHOU!