NEW ZEALAND // Nicknamed 'Sulphur City' Rotorua is a land shrouded in steam, thanks to geothermal activity beneath the central North Island's thin crust. It's long been a centre for the Mãori, who make up more than a third of the population. In Mäori legend, the Goddesses of Fire, Te Hoata and Te Pupu, emerged from the earth here, leaving volcanoes, geysers and hot springs in their wake. South of downtown Rotora, Whakarewarewa is a living Mäori village, where tangata whenua (local people) have resided for centuries, and Mother Nature displays her fiery side in a frenzy of steaming vents, boiling mud pools and unpredictable geysers. Visitors feel the heat on walkways, guided by villagers who tell tales of old and demonstrate traditional Mãori arts, including the famous haka, singing, flax weaving and carving. Nearby, the Tarawera Trail winds for 15km (9 miles) through native bush to Hot Water Beach, where you can camp on the shores of Lake Tarawera and soak your trekking-sore feet in a natural hot spring