Rotorua Temporal Development Timeline By kylamac Period: 1800 to 2020 Rotorua Temporal Development Timeline 1880 1000< Tourists Annually 1886 Eruption of Mt Tarawera 1894 Railway between Rotorua and Auckland 1894 Info centre opened on Fenton Street Jun 28, 1914 World War 1 Start Nov 11, 1918 World War 1 Finish 1933 Rainbow Springs opened 1939 Paradise Valley opened Sep 1, 1939 World War 2 Start Sep 2, 1945 World War 2 Finish 1952 Hell's Gate Thermal Area Open 1960 Local zoning - Fenton Street Motels 1964 Rotorua Airport Open 1965 Los Angeles to NZ flight 1970 International hotel chains build in Rotorua 1979 250,000< Tourists Annually