People had tried rolling around in giant balls before of course – and hamsters have been doing it for years – but the sulphurous, activity-mad town of Rotorua is where sphereing (or “zorbing,” as the locals call it) really took off.
Participants clamber into giant cushioned balls, wobble their way through a starting gate, and then careen down a 656-ft (200-m) hill or zig-zag course, spinning head over heels in a breathless and completely undignified rush. A “wet” ride adds soapy water to the equation, for the full spin-cycle experience.
Rotorua is a city in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand’s North Island. The city lies on the southern shores of Lake Rotorua, from which it takes its name. It is the seat of the Rotorua Lakes District, a territorial authority encompassing Rotorua and several other nearby towns. Rotorua has an estimated resident population of 58,400, making it the country’s 12th largest urban area, and the Bay of Plenty’s second largest urban area behind Tauranga.
Rotorua is a major destination for both domestic and international tourists; the tourism industry is by far the largest industry in the district. It is known for its geothermal activity, and features geysers – notably the Pohutu Geyser at Whakarewarewa – and hot mud pools. This thermal activity is sourced to the Rotorua Caldera, in which the town lies. Rotorua is home to the Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology. Wikipedia