text:
Ross Sea

The Ross Sea in Antarctica is the world's most southerly sea. It's ice-bound for much of the year, but at the height of summer ships can cautiously enter. It's therefore long been a focus of polar exploration, especially towards the South Pole. Cruise liners from Australia and New Zealand routinely visit, whilst those sailing from the tip of Argentina tour the Antarctic Peninsula on the opposite side of the continent.

Ross Island in the southwest corner of that sea is 30 km from the mainland and is permanently welded to it by sheet ice. It's rugged and actively volcanic, with exposed rock that you can build on. There have been exploration camps here for over a century, still preserved, and permanent bases since 1956.

McMurdo Station is a US base on Ross Island. Nearby is New Zealand's Scott Base, with Antarctica's first bus service shuttling between them. Over 1000 people work here in summer and 100 in winter. It has airfields and wharfs for shipping, so it's a support and transport hub for the South Pole and other bases in Antarctica.

Understand
Early explorers into Antarctic waters encountered a vast barrier of ice. They could hardly tell what was mainland, what was islands, or what was just sea-ice. But from the 19th century they found more areas accessible in summer, such as the Peninsula. In the Ross Sea they found an inlet that was much further south yet occasionally navigable, with potential access to the interior. Better still, Ross Island had a natural harbour, and bare rock that was much safer to build huts on than the shifting, cracking ice. The island became the springboard for journeys into the interior. There wasn't much whaling or sealing activity here as these creatures depend on open water and dwell further north.

In the 19th and 20th century several nations staked claims to Antarctica, and New Zealand claimed the "Ross Dependency", a pie-segment of the continent from the pole to the Ross Sea. However this was superseded in 1959 by the Antarctic Treaty, which seeks to protect the fragile environment and sets aside national claims. Thus, various nations own and operate bases here and have hypothetical claims to territory which they waive. References to nations on this page should be understood accordingly. The treaty forbids military activity but there is no objection to military logistics support to civilian work: nothing could get done here without their heavy-duty aircraft.

By plane
Flights to McMurdo start from Christchurch, New Zealand, and take 8 hours in military cargo planes such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. McMurdo has three airstrips, which act as staging posts for flights further into the continent.

 * Williams Field is a pair of groomed snow runways on the ice sheet 15 km south of Ross Island, for ski-planes only, operating Dec-Feb. The surface is 8 m of compacted snow, lying on top of 3 m of ice floating over the sea channel. "Willy Field" (as it's known) is gradually drifting towards the calving edge of the ice but the facilities are mounted on sleds, and have been moved three times. A 16-km pipe snakes across the ice to bring aviation fuel from McMurdo. Pilots will know that Williams himself was lost in 1956 when the ice gave way beneath his tractor.
 * The Ice Runway is a pair rebuilt each spring and is the principal airfield in early summer, as it can take conventional wheeled aircraft, which have greater range and capacity than ski-planes. A Boeing 757 has test-landed here, and it's hoped to use 757s for passenger flights, freeing cargo space on other flights. The runway is 21 km south of the island. Planes at rest tend to sink into the ice, and are towed elsewhere if this becomes marked. By mid-Dec the ice begins to break up, the runway is abandoned and operations switch to Williams Field.
 * Phoenix Airfield opened in 2017 and is 21 km from McMurdo. Ift is a single runway of compressed snow that is firm enough to take wheeled aircraft. It was planned to be firm enough to use all summer, but has proved to be only suitable early in the season. So it has duplicated the Ice Runway without extending the season in which wheeled aircraft can come into McMurdo. It replaced nearby Pegasus Airfield, which was plagued by dust and has closed.

By boat
See Antarctica for cruises departing from Australia or New Zealand that sail this way.

Once or twice a year, an icebreaker forces its way into, with a freighter and an oil tanker in its wake. They hurriedly unload and depart, so if you arrive by these means it's either a short stay or a long one. The bay is the world's southernmost harbour, named by Scott as his 1901-1904 Discovery expedition spent two winters here. They'd only intended a single winter, but were unable to free their ship from the ice in summer 1902/03, and again for much of summer 1903/04. With a third winter almost upon them they were about to abandon ship, when the ice loosened and they were able to blast their way out to sea.

Early unloading was either onto the ice shelf — hazardous and slow — or onto a metal pier, which the winter seas quickly demolished. The bay now uses an ice pier. This is a container of some 240 x 90 m flooded with sea-water that freezes, topped by gravel to form a driving surface, and secured in place by hawsers. After 3-5 years it needs replacing, and the old one is towed away and left to drift and melt, with a beacon to warn off shipping until it sinks.

Beneath the bay is a ridge which keeps icebergs away, but traps pollution. The ice here was long used as the island's refuse tip, so every spring it melted and the trash went out-of-sight, out-of-mind. A 2001 survey revealed 15 vehicles, 26 shipping containers, 603 fuel drums and much else down there. There were also bilge-oil discharges from docked ships, and run-off from dumping sites on land. The station's eco-rhetoric will ring hollow until this is remedied.

Get around

The dog-sleds finally retired in 1986 so transport close to the bases is on foot, skis, snowmobiles, bus or tractors, while helicopters and light ski-aircraft venture further out. The road between McMurdo and Ross bases is a firm dirt track. Snow tracks cross the ice to the airfields and onto the mainland, climbing into the mountainous interior.

is the Downtown terminus of Ivan the Terra Bus, a chunky red six-wheeler with 56 seats and a big baggage trunk. It runs whenever needed to the harbour, Scott Base and out to the airstrips to meet the flights.

Never venture anywhere outside by any method without checking with your hosts whether your intentions are sensible; and let them know when you've arrived or returned safely. Conditions can turn from sparkling daylight to howling blizzard in an instant. The wind whips up the snow into a white-out where you have no sense of where you're going, and you must be able to navigate by instrument. There are refuge huts dotted about the island.

Around the bases

 * McMurdo Station covers the tip of the southern peninsula of Ross Island, including the site of the NZ Scott Base. It is bare rock, and next to a natural harbour, so the earliest explorers spotted its potential, and both the US and NZ stations were founded here in 1957. The residential area around the bus station is called "Downtown". The US station has some 1250 staff in summer and 250 in winter.
 * near the harbour was built by Scott on his Discovery expedition of 1902. It proved too cold and draughty for living quarters, so the crew just used it for storage while sleeping on the ship or in tents. The nearby cross is for George Vince, lost in a fall on that expedition. Later expeditions made similar use of the hut then it was abandoned from 1917. In 1956 it was dug out of the snow and is now preserved as a historic building. Don't refer to it as "Scott's Hut" as that's out of town and was built for his later expedition to avoid living here.
 * Play disc golf: this is the version where you stand on a tee and flip a disc towards a distant target basket, playing your disc from wherever it lands. It's a nine-hole course, set up each spring along a varying Downtown route. There are no tee-pads, so you may be flipping from an inclined icy surface, in the teeth of savage winds, while dodging moving machinery. Call at the recreation centre for discs, a map of the current course and club rules. There are no plans for a conventional golf course but, considering some of the strange places the game has been played, this is surely only awaiting a creative course designer.
 * Play disc golf: this is the version where you stand on a tee and flip a disc towards a distant target basket, playing your disc from wherever it lands. It's a nine-hole course, set up each spring along a varying Downtown route. There are no tee-pads, so you may be flipping from an inclined icy surface, in the teeth of savage winds, while dodging moving machinery. Call at the recreation centre for discs, a map of the current course and club rules. There are no plans for a conventional golf course but, considering some of the strange places the game has been played, this is surely only awaiting a creative course designer.

Rest of Ross Island

 * is on Cape Evans, on the west of Ross Island. It was built as a pre-fab by Scott in 1911 on his Terra Nova expedition to be more comfortable accommodation than his earlier "Discovery Hut". Indeed it was sometimes stiflingly hot. There were working areas and a stable for the ponies to draw the sleds. The nearby cross is for members of the "Ross Party" supporting Shackleton's 1914-17 attempt to cross the continent. They were laying supplies ahead of the main party, but their ship was torn from its moorings and they were marooned here.
 * is at Cape Royds, the westernmost point of the island. He built this place 40 km north of Scott's Hut as a base for his 1907-09 Nimrod expedition. Many supplies were left behind, with a welcome note for anyone to use them, but only in 2006 was their stash of whisky and brandy discovered beneath the hut. The whisky has been recreated and sold as "Mackinlay's Shackleton Blended Malt". Off Cape Royds is a polynya: an area of open sea, where strong winds keep the ice away. This is crucial for penguins, and there's an Adélie penguin colony here, well south of their usual range.
 * is 35 km north of McMurdo in the centre of Ross Island. It's 3795 m high and is the world's southernmost active volcano. It's a Stromboli-type volcano, erupting continuously but without great violence, so it can be approached closely for study and for climbing. The usual climbing routes are from Lake Wilson on its western flank. It was discovered in 1841 by Ross (who gives his name to the Ross Sea), who named it and nearby Mount Terror after his two expedition ships HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. These ships were built as bombardiers, designed to fire mortars, so the names were apt. (The ships were later lost in Franklin's disastrous 1845 expedition to find the Arctic Northwest passage; their wrecks were only found in 2014 and 2016.) The summit crater of Erebus is a lava lake, fed from below by a magma chamber. Steam from side fumaroles freezes to create ice chimneys where microbial life is self-sustaining, with no sunlight or external organic input, so they may model life-processes on the early Earth or on other planets. The first people to climb Erebus were in Shackleton's 1908 expedition, and there are historic, protected campsite remains from Scott's 1912 expedition. (That party showed what they thought of it by naming one feature "Nausea Knob".) A modern observation station is run by the University of New Mexico but operates remotely. On 28 Nov 1979 Erebus was the scene of the Air New Zealand Flight 901 disaster, killing all 257 people on board. There was a navigational error and, although visibility was good, the pilots failed to see the white-against-white of the mountain ahead of them. The wreckage is still visible in summer on the north flank.
 * is an extinct shield volcano on Ross Island 30 km east of Erebus. It's 3262 m (10,702 ft) high but less prominent than Erebus, as it rises among other hills. Don't confuse it with Mount Terror in Washington State USA, or you'll get entirely the wrong climbing instructions.
 * A ridge connects Erebus and Terror, with Mount Terra Nova the intermediate peak of 2130 m (6990 ft).

 * Mount Bird is the extinct shield volcano that forms the north part of Ross Island. It's 1765 m (5791 ft) high.
 * Mount Discovery is the fourth volcano of this cluster, an extinct stratovolcano of 2681 m (8796 ft). It's on the mainland, separated from Ross Island by McMurdo Sound, but since that's usually frozen solid the distinction may not be obvious.

Further out

 * Other islands of the Ross Archipelago are seldom visited, which means their habitat is almost undisturbed. They are:
 * Beaufort Island 21 km north is the stump of an ancient stratovolcano. It has sheltered areas with colonies of Emperor and Adélie penguins and south polar skua. It even has patches of mossy vegetation.
 * Dellbridge Islands are a group of four islets south of Ross Island, named Inaccessible, Tent, Big Razorback and Little Razorback islands.
 * White Island is 28 km long and snow-clad. It has a colony of Weddell seals.
 * Black Island just west of it is mostly ice-free. There's a radio mast and a remotely-operated outstation of McMurdo.
 * are a lurid red flow out of the foot of Taylor Glacier. They stem from a pocket of sea cut off some 2 million years ago, overlain by the glacier and hypersaline so it doesn't freeze. The pocket is devoid of oxygen and contains strange micro-organisms plus iron ores - the iron oxidises on contact with the atmosphere to make the outflow rust-coloured.
 * Victoria Land is the Ross Sea western shore and hinterland merging into Eastern Antarctica. It's notable for "dry valleys" with very low snow and rainfall, and small lakes and ponds that are too saline to freeze. Its glaciers have gathered up meteorites falling on the interior, one of which is believed to be of lunar origin, and another Martian, plus - the icing on the cake - a fruitcake. This was lost by Captain Scott's party and was still in good condition.
 * is a seasonal Italian base in Victoria Land. They have an ice airfield but climate change is shortening the season when this can be used, so in 2022 they're building a gravel runway on the glacier moraine to take long-distance wheeled aircraft.
 * Jan Bogo is a South Korean base 5 km north of Zucchelli. Also in Victoria Land is Gondwana (Germany); the NZ Vanda base has closed. There are no bases along the Ross Sea east coast bordering Marie Byrd Land.
 * hug the west coast of Ross Sea, and as the name implies, they stretch right across the continent, becoming indistinct on the western plateau then re-emerging to form the Peninsula. Mount Kirkpatrick (marked on map) at 4528 m (14,856 ft) is the highest of this range and can be climbed. It's mostly ice-free because of the dry climate and scouring winds, revealing its fossil sediments.
 * Mainland glaciers flowing into the Ross Sea are what you must slog up to reach the Antarctic plateau and eventually the pole overland. Largest is the Beardmore Glacier, 40 km wide, and this was the route taken by Scott in 1911/12. But Amundsen reached the pole a month earlier, finding a shorter route through the mountains via the Axel Heiberg Glacier. From McMurdo to the pole is some 1360 km; the bus will only take you 20 km of that but every little helps.
 * South Pole Traverse is a 1600-km trail from McMurdo Station to the South Pole. It's compacted snow with crevasses filled in and marked by flags. It can only be traveled by specialized tractors, hauling sleds with fuel and supplies. These aren't very nimble so the trail takes a long swerve around the Transantarctic Mountains to come onto the plateau. Ski treks from coast to Pole are partly along this route, but take short-cuts through the mountains to bring the distance below 1200 km. They're extremely expensive, take about two months, and demand high levels of fitness and endurance. They're one-way treks and you fly back. No one has yet marketed the reverse trek from Pole to McMurdo, but presumably for enough money a bespoke trip could be arranged.
 * Giant icebergs the size of counties calve from the glaciers. B-15 from 2000 was the size of Jamaica ("B" indicates an origin in this quadrant of the continent), and as late as Dec 2022 one city-sized fragment persisted. They're satellite-tracked, but only a concern if they get free of the ice pack into open water: see Subantarctic Islands for icebergs that are in this category.

Eat and drink
Food is a big deal anywhere in Antarctica; good food makes happy people, and people living and working in Antarctica have big appetites. As with other bases in Antarctica, most food is frozen or preserved and arrives just once a year by cargo ship. For around two months in early summer, "freshies" (fresh fruits and vegetables) arrive on weekly planes from New Zealand; this tails off by January as priority is given to cargo and passengers. A variety of excellent fresh breads and baked sweets are always available. Pizza is quite popular, and is often used as a "McMurdo garnish": adding a slice of delicious fresh pizza on top of your already-full plate of food!

The main place you'll eat at is the

Other places for a bite or drink are:

Gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan menu items are often available. If you have food allergies or other dietary restrictions, be prepared for limited choices.

Sleep
This is no place for wild camping. Your trip organizer must either negotiate access to the base or bring a large self-sufficient expedition.

Cope

 * Building 155 Downtown has Wells Fargo ATMs and a library. The Station canteen is here but visitors can only use it by prior permission.
 * The hospital is one block east of Building 155.
 * The US Post Office is at the top of town at the start of the road to Scott Base.
 * The Antarctic Sun is an online magazine about the US Antarctic Program.

Go next

 * Cruises to the Ross Sea from Australia and New Zealand may tour the coast of East Antarctica as far as Commonwealth Bay before returning north. They may also take in subantarctic Macquarie Island.
 * The South Pole could be your next stop, as its flights are via McMurdo.

title: Ross Sea


text:
Ross Township

Ross Township is a town in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, about 5 miles north of Pittsburgh.

Do
Laser Storm 7715 McKnight Road, known for having the world championships of Laser Tag, a unique interactive adventure that puts players right into the heat of the action. After a brief introduction, each team puts on lightweight vests and headsets and enters a futuristic arena with zappers in hand, ready to seek, find, and deactivate opposing team members and their base station for points.

Buy

 * Ross Park Mall - at US Route 19 (McKnight Road) and Ross Park Mall Drive.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Ross Township


text:
Rostock

Rostock is the largest city in the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, though not its capital. It is a hub for Baltic Sea ferries, Germany's largest port for cruise ships by number of boardings and pleasant enough for a longer stay mostly due to its Hanseatic heritage.

Understand

Rostock stretches along the Warnow River estuary up to the Baltic Sea, with Warnemünde (literally "mouth of the Warnow" - analogous to Travemünde in Lübeck) district being a popular seaside resort and long the main port of Rostock. Rostock was an important member of the Hanseatic League, and one of the most important ports of the GDR (East Germany). Until the collapse of the East German economy in 1989/90 Rostock was a major center for shipbuilding and a few shipyards still remain, despite their economic woes. Rostock Warnemünde harbour was the main base of the East German fishery fleet. Warnemünde port remains one of the more important German ports for Baltic Sea Ferries as well as Germany's most important port for cruise ships.

By plane

Or you can fly to Hamburg or Berlin Brandenburg Airport  and travel by train to Rostock (see below).

By car
From Hamburg take the motorway A1 to Lübeck and from there take the A20 to Rostock. It's a 2-hour trip. If starting in Berlin you have to drive along the A24 in the direction of Hamburg until the A19 is crossing the motorway. Following the A19 you reach Rostock. It's a trip of 2½ hours.

By bus

There are numerous domestic and international bus connections to Rostock; Flixbus being the major operator. Most long distance buses arrive at the central bus station (ZOB) next to the central train station, but some call at the ferry terminal.

By boat
Rostock is one of the hubs for Baltic Sea ferries in Germany. And the busiest German port for cruises.

There is a ferry from Gedser in Denmark every second hour with Scandlines. This connection covers a rather short stretch on the sea and has been suggested as an alternative to the Fehmarn Belt fixed link that is being built to link Putgarden (on Fehmarn) and Rødby by road and rail. Ferries from Trelleborg in Sweden have up to 6 departures per day with Stena Line or TT-Line. All Baltic Sea ferries arrive at the ferry terminal on the eastern side of the Warnow River.

Buses call frequently at the ferry terminal (Rostock Seehafen Fähre), linking to Dierkower Kreuz tram hub or Lütten Klein urban railway (S-Bahn) station. A taxi ride downtown will cost you around €25 (Aug 2021).

Most cruise ships approaching Rostock call at the passenger terminal in Warnemünde. Urban railway (S-Bahn) trains to the central train station and some long distance train services depart right adjacent from Warnemünde station.

By bicycle
The Berlin-Copenhagen Cycle Route passes through Rostock.

By public transport
Public transport (bus, tram, ferry, train, etc.) in Rostock is part of the Verkehrsverbund Warnow (VVW), the traffic association which provides a common ticketing and integrated transport system in the surrounding area.

Rostock features a good inner-city tramway system. A bus system serves other locations.

The following tickets are available for transportation within the fare zone of Rostock (which includes Warnemünde), as of October 2023:
 * Single ticket: adults €2.80, reduced €2.10
 * Single ticket (ferry): adults €1.90, reduced €1.20
 * Single ticket (bicycle): €2.00
 * Day ticket: adults €7.10, reduced €5.40
 * Day ticket (bicycle): €4.40
 * Day ticket (groups): €20.00 for up to 5 people

Single tickets can be used for a one-way trip and you can switch between modes of transportation. Day tickets are valid until 03:00 the next day.

See

 * The Alter Strom canal area in Warnemünde boasts restaurants, pubs, and a fish market.
 * The Alter Strom canal area in Warnemünde boasts restaurants, pubs, and a fish market.
 * The Alter Strom canal area in Warnemünde boasts restaurants, pubs, and a fish market.
 * The Alter Strom canal area in Warnemünde boasts restaurants, pubs, and a fish market.
 * The Alter Strom canal area in Warnemünde boasts restaurants, pubs, and a fish market.
 * The Alter Strom canal area in Warnemünde boasts restaurants, pubs, and a fish market.

Buy
The main shopping district is around Kröpeliner Straße within the medieval city center. The greatest selection of souvenirs is offered in the Warnemünde seaside resort area. Typical products include a fine selection of jewelry and craftmanship, sea buckthorn juice or Rostocker Pils beer.

Rostock has a few so called border shops that are dedicated to selling consumer goods to tourists from Denmark and Sweden. The border shops are probably the best place in Germany to find candy, soda, cider, beer, liquor and other things produced in Denmark and Sweden at lower prices than in their home market. This is due to the lower excise taxes in Germany, even though the gap is closing in. The deposit-refund systems in the three EU-countries are not compatible, so a proforma export declaration must be submitted and photo-ID must be presented when buying beverages that normally have a deposit paid in Germany. These deposit-refund exempt beverages are only permitted for export to Denmark and Sweden and will not be sold to Germans.

Sleep
Rostock has introduced a Kurtaxe (tourist tax) on 1st September 2023, meaning staying for leisure in any formal accommodation attracts a €3.70/day charge on top of the accommodation's price. You'll receive a Gästekarte (guest card - physical or digital depending on the accommodation) proving you paid the tax, which lets you use Rostock's public transport for free throughout your stay, and gives discounts with certain facilities and tourist-oriented operators; enquire each time you plan an activity (ie visiting the zoo/a museum or going on a harbour cruise).

Stay safe
Rostock is generally a safe place to be, especially the areas most visited by tourists: the medieval city center and the Warnemünde resort area. As in all crowded areas, be aware of pickpockets. During nighttime, drunk people can be an unpleasant experience; it is best to keep a distance.

Bathing in the Baltic Sea can be dangerous in case of strong currents or high waves and also during cyanobacterial blooms in summer. Popular beaches are equipped with flags, a pure yellow flag signalling adverse conditions that might be dangerous for untrained swimmers and a red flag prohibiting all bathing activities. Bathing is prohibited at all times in the Stadthafen old port area in the city center. It is strongly advisable to abide to this restriction as heavy ship traffic in this part of the Warnow river poses a constant danger.

Connect
Free WiFi is available in most of the central shopping district, at the central rail station, along the Alter Strom area in Warnemünde and various other places throughout the city. Private WiFis are usually password protected, so be prepared to find large gaps in open WiFi coverage. Many hotels, restaurants, pubs or shops provide free WiFi, although you may have to ask for an access code.

Go next

 * Bad Doberan with Heiligendamm
 * Güstrow
 * Hamburg
 * Kühlungsborn
 * Rügen
 * Schwerin
 * Wismar
 * Usedom

title: Rostock


text:
Rostov Oblast

Rostov Oblast is a region in Southern Russia, which borders Krasnodar Krai in the southwest, Ukraine in the northwest, Voronezh Oblast in the north, Volgograd Oblast in the northeast, Kalmykia in the east, and Stavropol Krai in the south.

Cities

 * — one of Russia's largest cities and the capital of both Rostov Oblast and all of Southern Russia
 * — great destination on the Sea of Azov for history buffs as it was a center of the centuries long Russo-Turkish conflict and also for archaeological research at nearby Tanais, an ancient Bosporan Greek city
 * — an important Cossack town with a fun fortress and several military museums
 * — the world capital of Cossack culture, this relatively large city is full of Cossack-related sites for the visitor
 * — a large industrial coal-mining city
 * — near Novocherkassk is the old capital of the Don Cossacks; this is perhaps Rostov Oblast's most precious site, full of Cossack cultural monuments
 * — Anton Chekhov's hometown is a well preserved monument to his childhood and youth containing several museums and palaces; Rostov Oblast's second largest city
 * — this small riverside Cossack stanitsa is the hometown of Nobel Prize winning novelist Mikhail Sholokhov

Other destinations

 * — preserving one of the world's last virgin, never-plowed steppes, this reserve is home to wild Don horses on Vodny Island, as well as the endangered polecat and several rare bird species

Understand
Rostov Oblast is one of Russia's most populous regions and is the economic and cultural center of Southern Russia. The region is especially notable for being the center of the Don Cossack culture and contains the world's most important Cossack cultural monuments and museums, primarily in Novocherkassk and Starocherkassk. The region was also a major center of anti-Soviet resistance during the Russian Civil War (1918–21).

Talk
You will most likely only encounter Russian.In Rostov-on-Don and surrounding villages there is a numerous Armenian population, so you may hear Armenian speech too. All of Rostov Armenians speak Russian, however.

Get in
There are domestic flights from virtually any large airport in Russia to Rostov-on-Don. Rostov also serves as the principal transit junction for the region, trains coming here will come through Voronezh from Moscow.

Eat

 * Cossack cuisine

Drink
The Don River region is a principal wine region for Russia — not that Russian wine is the world's most renowned, but a Russian winery makes for an interesting visit. The town of Tsimlyansk is famous for its Tsimlanskaya champaigne.

Stay safe
As of 2024, ecause of the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine, the border areas are dangerous. See the warning on the Russia article for information on the security situation.

Go next
Rostov-on-Don is the principal rail hub for trains heading south to Krasnodar Krai and all destinations in the North Caucasus. Trains also head west into Ukraine, going as far as Kyiv.

title: Rostov Oblast


text:
Rostov-on-Don

Rostov-on-Don (Russian: Ростов-на-Дону Rostov-na-Donu) is the biggest city and the centre of Southern Russia, and tenth most populous city in Russia.

Understand
This area where the East European Plain touches the Black Sea has seen habitation by civilizations stretching back to Scythian, Roman, Greek, and Ottoman times. In the 18th century, the Russian Empire started to lay a foothold by establishing outposts on this frontier, but then eventually with expansion of the empire it became more of a commerce center due to its premier trade location where the Black Sea meets the Don River. And it saw industrialization, too, causing it to draw people and become one of the largest Russian cities for a time. But it was not without adversity that it passed through the ages, as it saw incursions from the Russian Civil War, cholera epidemics, and occupation by the Germans during the Great World Wars. One of its darker moments was the execution of 30,000 Russian Jews by occupying Nazi forces at Zmievskaya Balka.

But today it is a peaceful metropolis full of green esplanades and theaters and cafes.

By train
Rostov-Glavniy (Russian: Росто́в-Гла́вный) is one of the major stations on the North Caucasus Railway network (Rostov Oblast, Krasnodar Krai, Stavropol Krai, Republic of Adygeya, Karachay–Cherkessia, North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Dagestan, and Kalmykia) and "St. Petersburg-Rostov-Caucasus" railway.

By car
M4 highway

See
One thing you can do is just take in the provincial Russian city life by walking along the leafy.

Consulates

 * 🇦🇲 Armenia
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇸🇰 Slovakia

Visa Centers

 * 🇧🇬 Bulgaria 🇨🇿 Czech Republic 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇬🇷 Greece 🇮🇸 Iceland 🇲🇹 Malta 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇪🇸 Spain

Go next

 * Archaeological museum-reserve "Tanais"
 * Taganrog
 * Azov
 * Kalmykia
 * Krasnodar Krai
 * Mariupol in Ukraine

title: Rostov-on-Don


text:
Rostov Veliky

Rostov Veliky is a city in Yaroslavl Oblast, a Golden Ring destination and a birthplace of Alyosha Popovich, a legendary medieval knight.

Understand
There are two Rostovs in Russia, the other one is in the south and called Rostov-on-the-Don. This Rostov is the oldest and Veliky stands for the Great because of its age. It was first mentioned in 862 BC in the Primary Chronicle, and two centuries later it was joined by Rurik to his Kingdom. Since then it became a big political center and the throne of Church. Population of Rostov the Great is small. It is over 30,000 people.

By train
Rostov has a train station on the Moscow - Yaroslavl railway and is served by several trains, Moscow - Yaroslavl expresses and local trains from Yaroslavl to various stations between Rostov and Alexandrov. It is possible to get to Rostov from Moscow by local trains with change in Alexandrov, but check timetable first, because trains from Alexandrov to Yaroslavl sometimes are cancelled. Express or morning trains from Moscow seem to be most convinient connection though.

Return from Rostov to Moscow by train, there is an evening gap in connections - there are no trains between 20:00 and 02:00, and there might be no tickets on 20:00 express and you may spend several not so comfortable hours on the train station at night.

By car
The distance from Moscow is 202 km (3 hours).

See

 * Spaso-Yakovlevsky monastery on the shore of the Nero lake.
 * Abramiyev Bogoyavlensky monastery.
 * Abramiyev Bogoyavlensky monastery.

Do

 * Fishing at the Nero lake that is 500 thousand years old.
 * Hour-long boat excursions on the lake

Buy

 * Finift, a combination of enamel and metal covered with traditional paints. This is what the city is famous for.
 * Black pottery, clay pots, whistles and figurines of unusual tint.

Drink

 * Russian sort of mead Medovukha and home-made kvass in the Rostov Kremlin.

Go next

 * Borisoglebsky Monastery, founded in the 14th century.
 * Jeep-tours to Sarskoye fortress, a Merya tribe campsite who lived on the shores of the Nero lake.

title: Rostov Veliky


text:
Roswell

There are several places in the world called Roswell. You may be trying to find:

 * Roswell (Georgia), a suburb of Atlanta in the state of Georgia in the United States.
 * Roswell (New Mexico), a town in the southeastern region of New Mexico in the United States.

title: Roswell


text:
Roswell (Georgia)

Roswell is a city in Metro Atlanta.

See

 * Faces of War Memorial
 * Teaching Museum North

Do

 * - located in Roswell
 * - located in Roswell
 * - located in Roswell

title: Roswell (Georgia)


text:
Roswell (New Mexico)

Roswell is a city in the southeastern region of the state of New Mexico, United States of America. It has attained a quirky sort of fame/notoriety as the result of an alleged UFO crash (!) in 1947.

By plane

Roswell is served by American Eagle, the regional affiliate of American Airlines, with daily flights to Dallas/Fort Worth and Phoenix. If you fly in, you may be amazed to see some big planes (including widebodies) at the airport or flying near town at low altitude, but they aren't there for passenger service: the Roswell air park is a former US Air Force base that has been used from time to time by major airlines as a training site for aircrews and to check out new aircraft.

By car
Road access is via US 285 from north or south and US 70 or 380 from east or west. You go through a lot of emptiness getting there, particularly from the north; don't set out for the city from I-40 with a near-empty fuel tank. Limited bus service is available.

Buy
Inflatable space aliens, flying saucer Frisbees, glow in the dark T-shirts....the campy souvenirs are everywhere!

Drink
Roswell New Mexico doesn't sell alcohol in stores on Sundays, however restaurants serve from noon 10PM on Sunday.

Go next
If you're not abducted and taken into Space, you next port of call could be:
 * Space
 * Bottomless Lakes State Park, +1 575 624-6058. Follow US 380 east out of Roswell, south on SR 409, follow signs. Camping (tent and RV), swimming, boating, etc.  Camping is $10/night, day use $4---beautiful location, friendly host and rangers.
 * Carlsbad Caverns National Park is about 90 miles to the south.

title: Roswell (New Mexico)


text:
Rosyth

Rosyth is a port in Fife in central Scotland. It was built from 1909 as housing for the workers at the Royal Navy dockyard so it's modern and industrial, with a population in 2016 of 13,780.

Understand
Dunfermline was effectively the capital of Scotland from the 11th century. It was reached from Edinburgh by the "Queen's Ferry" and a highway, later designated A823 / B980. The town grew rapidly to the east and south through 19th century coal-mining and other industry, and Rosyth and Inverkeithing were its main ports. In 1909 Rosyth was hived off to become a separate "garden city" or planned development along the highway from the ferry. Commercial shipping moved elsewhere, but Rosyth developed into a large Royal Navy base, with docks and various on-shore facilities. In 1964 the Forth Road Bridge opened, connecting with the M90 motorway north to Perth, and with a spur A823(M) for Dunfermline. These roads took the through-traffic off the historic highway and became the east and north boundaries of Rosyth. The Navy presence declined from the 1990s and large tracts of dockland and housing were transferred to civilian ownership; this process continues. From 2002 Rosyth was for few years a ferry port but this didn't prosper.

By road
Rosyth is 12 miles north of Edinburgh, follow M90 across the new Forth road bridge. (Cyclists must use the old bridge A9000). For the town, exit at junction 1C. For the navy base and industrial estate, exit at junction 1B immediately after the bridge.

By train
has trains every 30 min from Edinburgh Waverley via Haymarket (for airport), Dalmeny (for South Queensferry), North Queensferry and Inverkeithing, taking 30 min. These trains continue to Dunfermline, Cowdenbeath and Glenrothes. Change at Inverkeithing for trains along the Fife coast from Kirkcaldy, Leuchars (for St Andrews), Dundee, Aberdeen, Perth and Inverness.

Rosyth station is north side of town by the A823(M) terminus. It's just a platform halt with ticket machines but no staffed office or toilets. There is ramp access to both platforms.

By bus
Stagecoach Bus X55 runs every 30 min from Edinburgh via the old Forth Bridge and Ferrytoll P&R, taking an hour to Rosyth and continuing to Dunfermline.

Bus 7 runs along the coast every 30 min from Leven via Kirkcaldy, Kinghorn, Burntisland, Dalgety Bay and Inverkeithing to Rosyth, and continues to Dunfermline.

Bus 19 runs every 20 min from Lochore to Lochgelly, Cowdenbeath, Halbeath (for inter-city buses), Dunfermline and Rosyth.

Rosyth doesn't have a bus station or main stop. Buses ply east-west along Admiralty Rd A985 and southeast to northwest along Queensferry and Castlandhill roads.

Get around
The buses above cross the strung-out town, and together they have a service every ten min to Dunfermline.

Taxi operators include Taxi Rosyth +44 1383 411414, J&C +44 1383 414141 and Canmore Cabs +44 1383 622266.

See

 * The Forth bridges are prominent to the east: two road, one rail. The only one you can walk or cycle over is the old Forth Road Bridge, see North Queensferry.
 * was 12th century, part of the Monastery of Inchcolm (visited by boat trips from South Queensferry). It remained in use as a church to the 19th century, when its "morthouse" was built for secure storage for unburied bodies, as these were prize game for body-snatchers. (No, not Burke and Hare, their merchandise was fresher still.) The church now just a ruin on the coastal footpath.
 * is where the coast upriver breaks free of dockland. Yet it's a good example of the little ports that were important to early modern industry in Fife, until shipping outgrew them and concentrated into fewer larger ports. Limestone, quicklime and fishing were its trades and a ferry plied across the Forth to Boness.
 * the next port has a massive bank of 18th century limekilns for production of quicklime. The village also exported coal and had ship-breaking yards. A block back from the coast, cottages are grouped around the green, a Georgian planned community.
 * the next port has a massive bank of 18th century limekilns for production of quicklime. The village also exported coal and had ship-breaking yards. A block back from the coast, cottages are grouped around the green, a Georgian planned community.

Do

 * Walk the Fife coastal path although Rosyth is frankly its ugliest section; use OS Landranger Map 65 "Falkirk". Coming from North Queensferry, follow B981 under the three bridges and inland to the junction. You may as well follow Milne Rd directly west through the dockland industrial estate, as swinging inland doesn't improve the view. This eventually leads you onto Caledonia Way and A985. 200 yards further west you turn south off the main road onto the path back down to the coast at Limekilns, and continue west via Charlestown and Torryburn towards Culross. See North Queensferry and Aberdour for the route east of the bridges.
 * Golf: see Dunfermline, Pitreavie GC is the closest.
 * Highland Games are held in Ballast Park in Inverkeithing in early August, see North Queensferry.

Buy

 * Tesco by the railway station is open M-Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 9AM-8PM.

Eat

 * Mid-town by the corner of Queensferry Rd and Park Rd are Palace Cafe and Chopsticks. Pepe's Piri Piri is a chain outlet further south on Queensferry Rd.
 * South by the junction of A985 and Queensferry Rd are Taste of India, Black Box Burgers and Stephen's Bakery. Rosyth Fish Bar is on Heath Rd next to Hillpark Hotel.
 * South by the junction of A985 and Queensferry Rd are Taste of India, Black Box Burgers and Stephen's Bakery. Rosyth Fish Bar is on Heath Rd next to Hillpark Hotel.

Drink

 * Rosyth lacks free-standing pubs, but there's Goth Bar within Gothenburg Hotel and Gladyer Inn within Hillpark Hotel.

Sleep

 * Queensferry Guest House is a B&B at 189 Queensferry Rd just north of the Gothenburg, tel +44 1383 233838.
 * Three Bridges B&B on Forbes Rd wasn't open in 2021.
 * Three Bridges B&B on Forbes Rd wasn't open in 2021.
 * Three Bridges B&B on Forbes Rd wasn't open in 2021.
 * Three Bridges B&B on Forbes Rd wasn't open in 2021.

Connect
Rosyth has 4G from al UK carriers, which extends north into Dunfermline and east into North Queensferry and Inverkeithing. As of Oct 2021, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * The ancient capital city Dunfermline is only 3 miles north.
 * See the fish at Deep Sea World in North Queensferry, 3 miles south.
 * Culross is a charming 17th- to 18th-century village 8 miles west.
 * Edinburgh is within 20 min by bus or train.

title: Rosyth


text:
Rota

Rota is one of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Villages

 * Songsong - The main village on the island.
 * Sinapalu

Get in
Rota has 3 daily flights to Saipan and 1 daily flight to Guam on Star Marianas Air.

Get around
Car rentals are available. It is considered polite in Rota to wave (simply raising your hand on the steering wheel will do) at ALL cars when driving.

See
Rota has ancient quarries where the original latte stones were dug out.

Do
Scuba. Rota is known for its excellent underwater visibility, especially in the dry season.

Eat
As Paris serves a decent breakfast, flat beer, and a lackluster lunch/dinner menu.

Sleep
Small hotels and guesthouses are the mainstay of Rota's tourist economy.

Go next
Conil de la Frontera Conil de la Frontera

title: Rota


text:
Rota d'Imagna

Rota d'Imagna is a comune (municipality) in the province of Bergamo in the Italian region of Lombardy, located about 50 km northeast of Milan and about 20 km northwest of Bergamo. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 857 and an area of 6.0 km2.

See
Rota d'Imagna is considered the main tourism centre of the Imagna Valley because of its abundant and largely unspoilt natural landscape and spectacular mountain views. Offering various activities for different types of tourists, such as trekking, mountain walks, horse riding, relaxation in wellness centres and eno-gastronomic pleasures, Rota d’Imagna attracts a large number of tourists from all over the world. The town is well-known for providing sustainable tourism.

 * Church of Rota Dentro, dedicated to San Gottardo, was built in 1496 and presents valuable granite portal and other significant art works.
 * Ca' Piatone is a stately palace built in the 17th century famous for being a birth place of Giacomo Quarenghi, well-known Italian architect.
 * Ca' Piatone is a stately palace built in the 17th century famous for being a birth place of Giacomo Quarenghi, well-known Italian architect.

title: Rota d'Imagna


text:
Rothenburg

There's more than one place called Rothenburg:

Germany

 * Rothenburg ob der Tauber - a city in Franconia, Bavaria, famed for its medieval old city
 * Rothenburg (Oberlausitz) - a small town in Saxony
 * Rothenburg (Saxony-Anhalt) - a municipality in Saxony-Anhalt

Switzerland

 * Rothenburg (district) - a district in the canton of Lucerne, in Central Switzerland

Poland

 * Rothenburg an der Oder, the German name of Czerwieńsk

title: Rothenburg


text:
Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a town along the Romantic Road in Bavaria, Germany, about halfway in between Frankfurt and Munich. It is best known for its medieval town centre (Altstadt), seemingly untouched by the passage of time, encircled by the undamaged 14th-century town wall. In the Middle Ages, Rothenburg ob der Tauber was a free imperial city, reaching its apex of prosperity under mayor Heinrich Toppler in the 15th century with a large population of 6,000 - much larger than Frankfurt or Munich at that time. Today Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a small, quaint town and a big tourist attraction. Especially popular with American and Japanese tour-buses and organized groups, the town can feel a bit overcrowded sometimes, but its sheer beauty makes up for that and more than justifies its popularity.

By plane

 * Frankfurt Airport - the closest intercontinental airport with good road and train connections to Rothenburg. ICE's run via Würzburg, where you will probably have to change to regional transport.
 * Nürnberg - for domestic European flights. Nuremberg is part of the VGN tariff union for local trains and buses, making travel from there to Rothenburg quite cheap, though there are a number of changes involved in the journey.
 * Stuttgart - for domestic European flights.

By car

 * Rothenburg is close to autobahn A 7, which runs from Hamburg, via Würzburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, and Ulm to the Austrian border at Füssen. The most convenient exit is 108 Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
 * If you prefer scenery over velocity, you should take the Romantic Road (Romantische Straße) into town.

By train
The town isn't too well served by trains. There is an hourly connection from Würzburg and Ansbach, but in both cases you have to change trains at Steinbach (b. Rothenburg). Rothenburg furthermore is part of the Nuremberg's regional train network, with services twice an hour, but you have to change trains at least once to do the trip. (VGN-rates apply making a one day round-trip considerably cheaper than regular train-fares) Make sure you are buying a ticket to Rothenburg ob der Tauber - there are several towns with the name "Rothenburg" in Germany. The train station is east of the town wall, about a 15-min walk to the historic centre at Marktplatz.

By tour

 * Rothenburg ob der Tauber is very popular with bus tour operators, especially during summertime. So try to see the town in the morning or the evening when the bus crowds aren't there.

On foot
Walking from one end of the town to the other takes about 15 min.

By car
Getting around by car is unnecessary and sometimes is impossible.

By bike
In the spring and summer, biking is also strongly recommended. There are a lot of bike lanes and special bike roads with no cars.

From Rothenburg ob der Tauber you can start a popular bicycle tour by the "Lovely Tauber valley" (also "Charming Tauber valley"), about Weikersheim, Bad Mergentheim, Lauda and Tauberbischofsheim, till you reach just 100 km from Wertheim. Recommended daily stages of the route "Charming Tauber Valley (Classic)":
 * 1st day's stage - Rothenburg ob der Tauber to Weikersheim (or Bad Mergentheim)
 * 2nd day's stage - (Weikersheim via) Bad Mergentheim to Tauberbischofsheim
 * 3rd day's stage - Tauberbischofsheim to Wertheim

From Wertheim, you can cycle back to Rothenburg ob der Tauber with five recommended extra stages of the route "Charming Tauber Valley (Sportive)":
 * 1st day's stage - Wertheim to Freudenberg
 * 2nd day's stage - Freudenberg to Külsheim
 * 3rd day's stage - Külsheim to Boxberg
 * 4th day's stage - Boxberg to Niederstetten
 * 5th day's stage - Niederstetten to Rothenburg ob der Tauber

See

 * The (Marktplatz) is the centre of urban life in Rothenburg o.d.T.  The Square is framed on the west by the Town Hall (Rathaus), on the north by the City Councillors' Tavern (Ratstrinkstube) with its Tourist Information centre, on the east by shops and cafes, and on the south by St. George's Fountain.
 * The 50-m, 13th-century (Rathausturm) at the centre of the Altstadt offers the best view of the area; cost €1 and 241 steps up.  The Tower does not have a foundation of its own; it rests on top of the gable of the Gothic building.  The front part of the Town Hall, a Renaissance building, was built in the 16th century.  The Town Hall (Rathaus) is free.
 * The (Kriminalmuseum), just south of Market Square, is full of examples of torture equipment and is not for the faint hearted.
 * The (Little Square), a few blocks south of the Market Square, offers a charming medieval sight.  Standing at the right point, you can see two towers: on the left, more or less straight ahead, is the Siebers Tower (Siebersturm) dating from 1385; and down on the right, from the Tauber valley, is the Kobolzell Gate (Kobolzeller Tor) dating from 1360.  These two access roads form a small triangular square, which is Plonlein. The Plonlein is often referred to as one of the most photographed spots in Germany.
 * The encircles the city, giving the Altstadt the shape of a head, with the nose (the Castle Garden) pointing left (west).  The existing Town Wall was built in the 14th century, was partially damaged in World War II, and restored through gifts from donors throughout the world (see plaques on the wall).  The Wall is about 2.5 km long, covered, with several towers and entrances at the gates.  One of the easiest access to get up to the sentry wall is just south of Siebers Tower (Siebersturm).  The Wall is free and offers a good vantage point to see the town.
 * (Church of St. Jacob), Klostergasse 15, north of the Market Square, contains a masterpiece by the famous Würzburg sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider (ca. 1460-1531).

Do

 * Two are offered. Both tours are in English and leave from Market Square. The tourist office tours cost €7, are 90 minutes and run April to October and December daily at 14:00. The 60-minute Night Watchman's tours costs €8 runs nightly mid-March to December at 20:00.
 * The Do it Yourself . The best stretch of the wall to walk is from the massive 16th-century Spitaltor (go through the Siebersturm to the southern tip of the Spitalgasse) to the Klingentor, completed around 1400, at the northern tip of the Wall. This takes about a half-hour if you don't stop.  Offers excellent views and photographic opportunities.
 * Rent a bike at, Bensenstraße 17
 * Just out of town is the annual (usually on the second weekend of august) Taubertal-Festival offering a wide variety of pop-rock music such as die ärzte, ska-p or Shantel (lineup varies, check in advance tickets cost €100-150 depending on when you buy).

Eat
Restaurants cater to the daily bus tours. This means that you should try to get in to eat dinner by 20:00 - especially in the low season, because few places are open much later than 22:00.

Go next

 * Along the Tauber through the Charming Tauber valley via Bad Mergentheim and Tauberbischofsheim to Wertheim
 * Nuremberg - features a delightful castle, old town, and the former Nazi Party Rallying Grounds (now an excellent museum)
 * Würzburg - a university town with an impressive palace
 * Schwaebisch Hall - A medieval town well preserved
 * Nördlingen - A beautiful medieval town in a meteorite crater surrounded by a 14th-century wall. Along the Romantic Road.
 * Dinkelsbühl another charming medieval town with a lot of preserved heritage but much less crowded by tour groups

title: Rothenburg ob der Tauber


text:
Rotherham

Rotherham is a large town in South Yorkshire, Its traditional industries were coal-mining, glass-blowing and steel-making: much of this gone, but Rotherham is still a big steel producer, albeit more focused on specialist engineering steel rather than mass production. In 2011 the population was 109,691.

Rotherham Visitor Centre is at 26 High Street, within Makers Emporium Gift Shop opposite the Minster. It's open Tu-Sa 9AM-4PM.

Understand
"Rother" is Old English for "chief river", roduβr, but those Old English can't have travelled very far, since the River Rother is merely a tributary of the Don, which in turn joins the Trent / Ouse tidal system and then the broad Humber. It wasn't navigable but had water enough to power mills and supply industry, which drove Rotherham's 18th-century growth from a small market town into a busy, grubby city. Iron and steel was the main industry, using local iron ore fired by coal from the rich Barnsley seam. The coal was suitable for making coke, used for the very high temperatures for quality steel and for glass-making. The Templeborough steelworks in its Edwardian heyday was over a mile long, employed 10,000 workers, and produced 1.8 million tonnes of steel a year. But many of the manufacturers succumbed to foreign competition: Templeborough closed in 1993 and is now the site of Magna Science Adventure Centre. There's still a strip of steelworks along A630 northeast edge of town.

Famous people from Rotherham include goalkeeper David Seaman (b 1963), football referee Howard Webb (b 1971), TV presenter James May (b 1963) and politician William Hague (b 1961). Those from elsewhere who got their career start in Rotherham include actor Sean Bean (b 1959) and TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson (b 1960).

Get in
Rotherham lies north of the M1 and west of the M18, with several access junctions. See South Yorkshire for flight options.

By rail
Trains run every 30 min from London St Pancras to Sheffield via Leicester and Derby, and from London Kings Cross to Doncaster. Change at either Sheffield or Doncaster for frequent local trains onward to Rotherham Central, for a total journey time from London of 2 hr 30 min. Coming from the north, you usually change at Leeds or Doncaster. However there's also a train three times a day from York via Pontefract to Rotherham and Sheffield.

Rotherham is also on the Sheffield Supertram network: the tram-train (black on the network map) runs from Cathedral in central Sheffield every 20 min via Meadowhall to reach Rotherham Central in 25 min. The terminus is Parkgate shopping centre, 4 min further up the line. See also Sheffield for fares and a network map.

has a staffed ticket office and machines. There's a cafe and toilets but no waiting room; the station is within a short walk of all central amenities. There is step-free access by the lifts to both platforms. Plusbus is available here.

By bus
National Express NX560 runs twice a day from London Victoria to Rotherham (5 hours) and Barnsley. For most other destinations change in Sheffield or Leeds. Megabus doesn't serve Rotherham directly, but does stop at Meadowhall; from here, take a train or local bus.

First Bus X1 Steel Link runs every 10 min from Sheffield Eyre St via Meadowhall to Rotherham (35 min) and Maltby.

Bus X78 runs every 15 min between Doncaster, Rotherham (one hour), Meadowhall and Sheffield.

Bus 22x runs hourly from Barnsley, taking an hour to Rotherham.

The hourly bus X6 between Sheffield and Doncaster-Sheffield Airport stops at Wickersley at the south edge of town, it doesn't come into the bus station.

is the town's main bus station, 250 m east of the railway station.

Get around
Most sights can be reached on foot. For Magna Centre take any bus towards Sheffield, except the X78 which uses a different route.

For Roche Abbey take the X1 to Maltby then walk south for a mile on A634. This is a busy road but there's a sidewalk.

Taxis wait at the railway and bus stations.

See

 * is a wetland and water penning area created after the disastrous floods of 2007, which could have been much worse, as Ulley Reservoir threatened to burst its banks. Having matured for some years, the park has become a pleasant wildlife area, graced by "Steel Henge" an iron replica of Stonehenge.
 * Wentworth Castle isn't here, but a few miles further northwest in Barnsley.
 * is east just across the boundary into Doncaster.
 * Wentworth Castle isn't here, but a few miles further northwest in Barnsley.
 * is east just across the boundary into Doncaster.
 * is east just across the boundary into Doncaster.

Do

 * Football:
 * Theatre: Rotherham Civic Theatre is on Catherine St in town centre.
 * Cinema: cross the M1 west to Vue in Meadowhall or Cineworld off A6178.
 * Rotherham Leisure Complex is on Effingham St north side of town centre. It has a gym, pool and fitness classes.
 * Walk, bike or boat along the River Don, which is canalised and navigable. The canal network connects all the way to Sheffield, to the sea at Goole, and to the Aire-Calder system across the Pennines.
 * Golf: nearby courses are Sitwell Park GC, Rotherham GC, Roundwood GC, Wath GC and Grange Park GC. Just west of M1 in Sheffield are Concord Park and Tinsley Park.
 * Sing mass in ancient Egyptian: the Coptic Orthodox Church of St Anthony is on St Leonard's Rd, just south of the junction of A630 and A633. Morning mass is W F Su, with vespers Sa. Liturgy is little changed in thousands of years and long pre-dates Arabic, though it's transcribed into Greek script. The pharaohs probably hummed the same tunes.

Buy

 * High Street was given a makeover in the 2010s and turned into an attractive pedestrianised area of small independent retailers. However, as of February 2022, many of the shops are empty, including a large area that was once a Primark store but now demolished. The site is planned to be altered into a small park area.
 * is a retail park a mile north of town centre at the terminus of the tram line. It has the usual "high street" shops and a large Morrison's supermarket.
 * is the colossal mall at the northeast edge of Sheffield, at junction 34 of M1. People from miles around drive there for their weekly shop, taking the trade away from their own towns. Oasis is a large food court. Shops stay open till 8PM, later near Christmas when the place degenerates into "Meadowhell". Reach it from Rotherham by buses X1, X10 and X78 or by tram or train.

Eat

 * The main eating strip is along Westgate. Neelagiree, serving South Indian cuisine, is open Tu-Sa 5-11PM and Su 5-9:30PM; it gets good reviews except for some nights when it definitely doesn't.
 * Fitzwilliam & Hughes on High St is a café serving fresh coffee and leaf teas as well as light lunches and homemade cakes.
 * Miele Delicatessen at 22 High Street is an Italian deli selling sandwiches and cheese/meat platters made to order, and real Italian coffee. The shop stocks ingredients and accessories for Med cooking.

Drink

 * The Cutler's Arms. 29 Westgate, Rotherham. A brewery-run pub owned by Rotherham brewers Chantry. Hand-pulled ales, European beers and spirits. Eclectic jukebox and regular live music. Refurbished in the style of a Victorian pub.
 * The New York Tavern. 84 Westgate, Rotherham. Sister pub to the Cutler's Arms, also owned by Chantry. Hand-pulled British ales and an even wider range of bottled craft beers. Quieter atmosphere than the Cutler's Arms, with regular acoustic music and live poetry.
 * The Bluecoat is a JD Wetherspoon in an old schoolhouse next to town hall. Whilst it offers a good selection of real ales, the interior is looking tired including threadbare carpets and is in need of an update.
 * Chantry Brewery north side of town produces a dozen ales.

Sleep

 * is a reliable budget chain, on A631 two miles southeast of town centre.
 * Welcome Inn is a mile west of town on A629.
 * Holiday Inn is on A631 two miles south of the centre.
 * Ibis is at M18 jcn 1, with Travellers Inn 200 yards west on A631.
 * Holiday Inn is on A631 two miles south of the centre.
 * Ibis is at M18 jcn 1, with Travellers Inn 200 yards west on A631.

Connect
As of May 2022, Rotherham has 5G from EE and Three, and 4G from O2 and Vodafone.

Go next

 * Sheffield is next to Rotherham, with many visitor attractions and a buzzing student atmosphere.
 * Attractive countryside lies just west of Sheffield in the Peak District.
 * Doncaster has a famous racecourse, and there are several museums and manors in the surrounding countryside.
 * Leeds is a lively city, only an hour away by train or car; cosmopolitan Manchester is not much further.
 * Hull has many free museums in the cobbled old town, and a walk-through aquarium "The Deep".

title: Rotherham


text:
Rotorua

Rotorua is the geothermal wonderland of New Zealand, with easily experienced Māori culture, and a range of outdoor adventure activities.

The hot springs and geysers of the city and region have attracted tourists for over a hundred years. Though some say Rotorua is past its prime as a tourist playground, others find the slight "rough around the edges" character of the town to be part of its charm. Today, many visitors are also attracted by the Māori culture that is more dominant here than in many other parts of the country. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy mountain biking, whitewater rafting, luge riding and Zorbing (rolling down a hill inside a plastic orb).

Understand
The name Rotorua comes from the Māori language and means "two lakes" or "second lake" (roto = lake, rua = two). Its full name is Te Rotorua-nui-a-Kahumatamomoe, meaning "the second great lake of Kahumatamomoe". The city sits on the southern shores of Lake Rotorua, and there are several other lakes nearby. So along with the geothermal wonders, many water-based activities such as fishing, boating and white water rafting are available.

Rotorua is built over a geothermal hot spot. There are numerous natural vents, hot pools and other geothermal features in and around the city. Many of these are in parks and reserves. Natural eruptions of steam, hot water and mud occasionally occur in new locations. Many places have their own private geothermal bores for heating and water for bathing although the private use of naturally occurring geothermal water and steam is controlled.

Geologically, Rotorua is in the middle of the Taupo Volcanic Zone, named after Lake Taupo, the largest volcano in the area. This geologically active zone produces the heat that is needed to drive all the geothermal activity. Along with many volcanic hills and mountains, the zone contains several major volcanic calderas (large subsidence craters). These are important for tourism because they host the region's largest lakes (including Lake Taupo and Lake Rotorua), and because geothermal activity tends to occur around their edges. Rotorua caldera, some 22 km (14 mi) across, contains the city and Mount Ngongotaha as well as the lake. It was created in a huge eruption around a quarter of a million years ago.

The Rotorua district has a significant indigenous Māori population - some 38 percent of Rotorua residents are Māori or of Māori descent.

With Rotorua's concentration of geothermal features, a significant amount of hydrogen sulfide is released into the air and the city has a distinctive "rotten eggs" smell.

By car
Rotorua is a 3-hour drive (non-stop) south of Auckland, with several nice towns and villages along the way. There are two main routes: the first is via Hamilton, initially on State Highway 1, then joining State Highway 5 at Tirau. The other is via Matamata on State Highway 2 and 27, leaving SH 1 at Pokeno (50 km south of central Auckland) and rejoining it at Tirau. The Matamata route has lighter traffic and is probably more interesting for travellers, but the road is of a lower standard than SH 1. A third option to get amongst the rural farmland is to travel via Te Aroha and then south along old Te Aroha Road, stopping to see Wairere Falls. Be careful on the narrow windy unpainted roads.

There are two options from Tauranga. One is via SH 2 then SH 33, arriving in the city from the northeast. The other is SH 36 via Pyes Pa, arriving in the city from the northwest. Allow around 1 hour for either way non-stop.

From Wellington, follow State Highway 1 north to Taupo, then take State Highway 5. Allow 6 hours non-stop.

By bus
Bus services are provided by Intercity. All services arrive and depart from the main tourist information centre, i-SITE, on 1167 Fenton Street. Services can also be booked there.

Backpacker coach services tend to do pick-ups from the major hostels.

By bike
The same routes apply as for car drivers. Rotorua is 300 m (985 ft) above sea level, therefore a trip to the Bay of Plenty (Tauranga, Whakatane or Papamoa) will be a mainly downhill trip of 70-100 km (44-62 mi). Travelling north towards Waikato also will be downhill to near sea level; conversely a trip to Taupo will be an up and down affair with some challenging climbs.

By bus
Cityride, operated by Baybus. Phone number: 0800 4 229 28. There is a limited bus service. The buses are lime green in colour and branded "CityRide". The main terminus is at the corner of Fenton Street/Arawa Street (near the i-SITE). These buses operate several routes from one side of the city to the other, including Ngongotaha (handy for accessing the Skyline, Rainbow Springs and Agrodome attractions), the Institute of Technology or 'Polytech' as the bus will say (Te Puia is across the main SH5 road), and the airport. The standard fare is $2.30 regardless of how far you travel. Books of tickets can be bought at discounted rates. Most bus services seem to stop operating at about 6PM (M–F).

A circuit bus operated by national sightseeing operator GreatSights New Zealand visits several iconic Rotorua attractions including Te Puia, Rainbow Springs Nature Park and the Agrodome.

There are three or four reputable taxi companies, all metered, and a shuttle bus operator with trailer for larger groups.

By bicycle
Rotorua is a cyclists' paradise; as well as boasting some of the best off-road mountain bike tracks in the world, it has no less than seven quality cycle stores, with six in the CBD and the Outdoorsman Headquarters on Tarawera Rd. In addition several shops provide cycle hire, notably Lady Jane's ice cream parlour near the lakefront. Cycling is generally safe, as many roads have wide verges.

See
As one of New Zealand's busiest tourist centres there are a variety of attractions ranging from free to quite expensive.

Free attractions

 * Government Gardens is an immaculate park near the CBD, containing the city museum (closed since November 2016 following an earthquake; to be reopened once the structural integrity has been improved) and the famous Blue Baths. Nearby is the Sportsdrome and one of the many golf courses.
 * The Lakes – there are 14 to choose from. Lake Rotorua gives its name to the city, and boat trips can be arranged to Mokoia Island in the centre. The lakefront has a scenic promenade from where you can see Mokoia Island. Floatplane and helicopter scenic flights can be taken from the lakefront. A cheaper alternative is to take the Amphibious truck from Fenton St, which does a 90-minute tour of several of the main lakes. All the lakes are stocked with trout and fishing is very popular.
 * Motutara (Sulphur Bay). Fantastic walkway starting just beyond the Government Gardens. The walkway passes through several geothermal hot springs and sulphur vents (the posted warnings to stay on the pathway at all times are no joke). The bay itself hosts many waterbirds and other wildlife.
 * Okere Falls – approximately 20 km (12 mi) out of the city towards Tauranga on SH33 you will pass the end of Lake Rotoiti; most of the 14 lakes flow into Rotoiti, which itself heads off to the Bay of Plenty, descending nearly 305 m (1000 ft) in less than 30 km (19 mi). For this reason it boasts some spectacular white water challenges available to the adventure-seeking traveller. These range from dual kayaks, to white water sledging (hurling yourself down stream with a life jacket and float), or rafting (see Do section). Tutea Falls is the world's largest/highest commercially rafted fall; with a 7-m (23-ft) drop, on average every fourth boat flips! If you don't want to get wet there is a pleasant 6-km (4-mi) walk through the forest where you can see the activities at close hand. There are also some small caves where glow worms can be found.
 * Okere Falls – approximately 20 km (12 mi) out of the city towards Tauranga on SH33 you will pass the end of Lake Rotoiti; most of the 14 lakes flow into Rotoiti, which itself heads off to the Bay of Plenty, descending nearly 305 m (1000 ft) in less than 30 km (19 mi). For this reason it boasts some spectacular white water challenges available to the adventure-seeking traveller. These range from dual kayaks, to white water sledging (hurling yourself down stream with a life jacket and float), or rafting (see Do section). Tutea Falls is the world's largest/highest commercially rafted fall; with a 7-m (23-ft) drop, on average every fourth boat flips! If you don't want to get wet there is a pleasant 6-km (4-mi) walk through the forest where you can see the activities at close hand. There are also some small caves where glow worms can be found.

 * Street Art. While taking a stroll through the CBD, keep your eyes peeled for the street art that can be found in small office carparks or service lanes. If you need to kill time, you may be able to find all of the four or five artworks. There are also some fine murals which are overlooked by most tourists and locals alike, such as one of the Pink and White Terraces.

Pay attractions

Do
Your best bet is to expend some energy taking in some of the many day-time activities such as land-sledding down Mt Ngongotaha at Skyline Skyrides Luge Ride, heli-touring or hiking through the abundance of parks often alongside thermal vents. Nearby is the curious forest of California Redwoods that was planted last century and has thrived in the ideal climate so that it appears to have been there for many centuries. The forest in this area has been developed to provide world-class mountain biking tracks, some of which were used for the 2006 World Championships. Rotorua hosts several other adventure activities such as Zorbing, indoor rock-climbing and whitewater rafting or sledging. When deciding if spending $20+ per person for entry to "Volcanic Caldera Areas" remember that there are many free parks that have very similar sights and smells, often with less walking and no charge.

One activity that is unique is the ability to play a round of golf amongst the mud pools. The Rotorua golf course has a public course where for $10 you can play 9 holes and attempt to avoid the mud pool hazards, a unique experience. The course is at the top of Fenton Street opposite Te Puea, the Maori Arts and Craft Institute and geyser.

 * Rafting. The Kaituna river might not be the biggest and wildest river in New Zealand, but it certainly offers a great opportunity for filling a morning or afternoon with adrenaline and fun: by going rafting, with world's highest commercially rafted waterfall (7 m / 23 ft) being the major draw. In summer, the lush jungle alongside the banks is most beautiful, and as the weather can get hot, a dip in the cool river (voluntarily or not) is often welcome. Rafting trips take around 2 ½ hours, of which 45 to 60 minutes are actual time spent on the water. There are a handful of companies to choose from: Kaitiaki Adventures, Kaituna Cascades, River Rats, Rotorua Rafting and Wet 'n Wild Rafting. There are hardly any differences between the trips, with prices being between $95 and $109. This normally includes pick-up and drop-off in Rotorua's CBD, perhaps even at your accommodation, so enquire about this when booking.

Buy
There are numerous Maori arts and crafts on sale in the city centre and at the various tourist attractions. The quality varies from extremely professional contemporary artwork to cheap nick-nacks. Popular items include pounamu/greenstone (jade) or bone jewellery, traditional weapons and statues. This selection is accompanied by sheepskins and the normal tourist giftware of t-shirts, caps, mugs and pens plastered with "Rotorua", other words and pictures. More attractive and practical gifts can be found such as simple clothing (jackets, shirts, ties, caps) with abstract Maori designs on them.

Eat
There are numerous places to try the traditional Maori feast, the hangi. This "earthen oven" technique is similar to the Hawaiian umu and results in a very distinctive smoky, earthy flavour - well worth trying. Due to Rotorua's geothermally active ground, the local Maori tribes often make use of the geothermal heat for their hangi, instead of burying the food with heated rocks as is the standard practice elsewhere.

Rotorua has some nice cafes - good options include: Capers, Zippy's or the Fat Dog. The usual chains for pizzas and burgers can be found: they're generally on Amohau Street (SH 30A in the central city) and on Fairy Springs Road (SH 5 heading north out of the city).

Restaurants are slightly more scarce but several of the major hotels have good eating establishments (Novotel or Ridges on the raceway). The main centre for eating is the end of Tutanekai Street nearest the lake (known as Eat Street), but beware, even after 9PM you may find little left on the menu. Popular restaurants on Tutanekai Street include: Triple 1 Five, Indian Star, Wild Rice, Ambrosia and Atticus Finch.

Western cuisine
Western food in Rotorua, like most of New Zealand, is confined to food with its roots either in the UK or US – think burgers, fries, American-style pizza, steak and the like. The only alternative are the few Italian places in town, which are usually of the fine-dining variety.

Fusion/buffet
Most buffet restaurants in Rotorua are associated with hotels, with few exceptions. They generally serve a mix of Western and Asian food of varying quality.

Asian cuisine
There's no shortage of Asian food in Rotorua, with plenty of Chinese and Indian restaurants especially. A row of the former consists of the bulk of the Amohau St block directly opposite the mall and caters almost exclusively to Chinese tour groups, with the accompanying inflated prices - a better experience can likely be had by seeking out the ones within the CBD area. Korean, Japanese and Thai food is also easy to find.

Drink
Rotorua is sometimes referred to as Roto-Vegas because of the many neon-lit hotels along the main street, the numerous venues for gambling and the few brothels. Strangely though, there isn't much nightlife to speak of. The Lava Bar is a good bet, alternatively try the Pig & Whistle or the Fat Dog Cafe. Heaven & Hell is the only nightclub in Rotorua and is popular with local adults.

Sleep
There are many hotels, rental homes, backpackers, motor homes, camp grounds, motels and bed and breakfasts around Rotorua.

Hostels and backpackers

Stay safe
This geothermal wonderland has some hazards. Respect safety signs and barriers around active geothermal locations - they are there for good reasons. The hot water and mud from geothermal springs can be boiling hot. Superheated steam may cause eruptions - after all it is steam that makes the geysers spout.

The sulphurous smell (that rotten eggs smell) in the air means that some toxic gases may also be present. Take care in confined and unventilated spaces, particularly those below ground level or around geothermal pools. Toxic geothermal gases have been known to asphyxiate people.

Avoid bathing in geothermal pools where the water has been in contact with the ground. At the very least do not put your head underwater. Geothermal ground water can carry the bacteria and/or amoebae that cause meningitis - a disease which can be fatal. If you develop flu-like symptoms after coming into contact with geothermal water, immediately contact a doctor.

While New Zealand is a tourist paradise it should be remembered that as with most countries petty theft is a common occurrence, and Rotorua is said to have a higher rate of petty crime than some other areas. With so many of Rotorua's thermal wonders being in isolated areas it pays to take notice of the warning signs and to keep cars locked with valuables hidden from view so as not to have your visit ruined by petty opportunistic crime. In particular Kuirau Park after dark and Okere Falls are well known for car thefts and muggings. Expensive items taken to places like backpackers also need particular attention.

Go next
Heading south from Rotorua on SH 5 takes you to Taupo, a similar town on the side of New Zealand's largest lake, and Tongariro National Park. Around 15 km south of Rotorua, SH 38 branches off to the southeast, leading into the sparsely populated and ruggedly beautiful Urewera National Park.

Heading east on SH 30 leads you to Whakatane, a coastal town in the eastern Bay of Plenty with empty beaches and one of the North Island's sunniest climates. Beyond lies the remote East Cape.

North takes you to Te Puke, Tauranga and the western Bay of Plenty coastline, also a nice place to soak up the sun. There are two routes; via Te Puke and SH 33 brings you into Tauranga via Mount Maunganui. The SH 36 is a shorter inland route that climbs to around 610 m (2000 ft) before dropping to the coast. This is the route most locals would use and avoids Tauranga CBD traffic if heading for the Coromandel.

The Waikato region, including Hamilton, Waitomo and Raglan, lies to the west.

title: Rotorua