Rotorua Known for it’s geothermal activity, geysers and mud pools, the air of Rotorua smells constantly of sulphur. Fiordland A variant spelling of the Scandinavian word for the deep valleys plunging into the ocean and bays, typical of the area, Fiordland occupies the lower third of the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island. The most famous area of the thinly occupied region is Milford Sound. Taranaki Taranaki is located on the lower third of the west coast of the North Island, and is named for the stratovolcano that is its central feature. The region is exceptionally fertile due to the heavy rainfall and rich volcanic soil.