One of Rotorua‘s main tourism attractions, Rainbow Springs Wildlife Park, has announced that their $10-million expansion project is due to begin this month.

The first step of the big-scale project will be the Project Big Splash, an interactive high-tech water ride through Rainbow Springs Wildlife Park which will follow New Zealand’s ecological evolution. One of a kind in New Zealand, the fun Project Big Splash will be an informative ride for park visitors.

Rotorua Tourism Committee Deputy Chairman Oscar Nathan says: ‘In these difficult economic times, a significant commercial investment of this scale is a shining example of a company with the foresight and confidence to invest in the long-term future of our tourism industry and Ngai Tahu are to be applauded.’ And Destination Rotorua Tourism Marketing General Manager Don Gunn adds: ‘Rotorua is already renowned for its innovative and unique tourism offerings that attract visitors from both domestic and international markets and this project will reinforce that profile. It is so important for any destination to have new and refreshed products, so this will be great for Rotorua.’

Apart from world-class natural highlights such as the world’s largest hot spring and the largest hot waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere, the Rotorua region already features as the birthplace of the Zorb and the Shweeb, the world’s first human-powered monorail.