This city, on the shores of a lake of the same name, is a hot spot for travelers looking to unwind and immerse themselves in nature.
STAY
♦ Novotel Rotorua Lakeside
It is easy to lose oneself in time when one stays at the Novotel Rotorua Lakeside. With the lake on its doorstep, the spacious, contemporary rooms offer gorgeous views. Rejuvenation in the spa’s natural geothermal mineral pools, or experiencing the nightly Maori Hangi and concert are wonderful ways to relax. The hotel’s Clarke’s Bar and Atlas Restaurant can satisfy your appetite, while the nearby Eat Street offers a hip culinary destination to explore.
novotel.com
♦ Treetops Lodge & Estate
Luxury accommodation nestled in acres of 800-year old native forest is a sanctuary for nature lovers. There are rivers, lakes, waterfalls and miles of hiking trails in its surrounding area. The lodge also offers helicopter adventures, a dedicated spa and access to a golf course. Guests may wish to take the 2-3 hour signature experience to get up close with the natural heritage, daily life and bounty of Treetops working estate and native wilderness.
treetops.co.nz
DINE
♦ Mokoia Restaurant
Specializing in using indigenous herbs and spices, many of which are grown on Mokoia Island, this award-winning restaurant expresses the essence of contemporary New Zealand culture. The fresh and flavorsome ingredients are presented in healthy, gourmet Pacific Rim cuisine. There’s even a “share dine” with a selection of dishes served on a platter to give you a chance to sample different flavors. You can also enjoy the fine wines of New Zealand in the Manary Bar while engaging in conversation before or after the meal.
mokoiarestaurant.co.nz
♦ Brew
Brew is a pub which serves a full range of Croucher Brewing beers on tap. An ever-changing selection of other NZ craft beers, wines, ciders compliment the gastropub food at Eat Street. They roast their own coffee beans, too. It began when Paul Croucher and Nigel Gregory from Croucher Brewing decided it was time for Rotorua to have its very own craft beer pub. Now it’s one of the liveliest eateries in Rotorua.
brewpub.co.nz
♦ Stratosfare Restaurant & Bar
The experience starts with a scenic gondola ride up the mountain, affording an enchanting view across Lake Rotorua to accompany your meal at this mountain-top site. Featuring locally sourced seafood, meat and other produce, you can enjoy the array of freshly prepared buffet and cooked-to-order dishes and definitely don’t miss out on the award-winning Wagyu Angus cross fillet steak. The bar is suited for intimate conversations, with a range of excellent cocktails and wines.
skyline.co.nz
♦ Atticus Finch
This restaurant and bar offers contemporary New Zealand cuisine with a fresh, innovative dining menu. The combination of carefully selected ingredients are served in small and large plate dishes, made to be passed around and enjoyed together. Meanwhile the beverage menu features selections of local craft beer, wine by the glass and seasonally crafted cocktails made with their own syrups, fresh fruit and herbs.
atticusfinch.co.nz
SHOP
♦ Local Market
Popular with locals and visitors alike, the Rotorua Night Market is open every Thursday evening between Haupapa and Hinemoa Street, making it perfect for a casual stroll to hang out with others. Here you can find unique art, artisan products, jewelry, homeware and produce from the region to take back home. You can also taste various ethnic cuisines and throughout the event musicians will keep you entertained.
♦ Designer Products
If you’re looking for designer products, try visiting the gallery-styled iNZpired, a retail outlet for David Trubridge’s lights and jewelry; a large area has been dedicated to his signature Pequod trees and light shades. Adrienne Whitewood’s Ahu Boutique is also not to be missed. Her design aesthetics are strongly influenced by Maori culture, whose concepts are integrated into the unique silhouettes of her womens’ clothing line.
DO
♦ Unique Spa
This Polynesian Spa has more than 20 hot pools, half of which boast spectacular views over the lake. There are two types of mineral waters which feed into the pools, each with their own therapeutic properties. Meanwhile, Hells Gate may sound ominous but it’s famous for unique mud baths, sulfur pools overlooking the iconic landscape, a Twilight Spa, Wai Ora Massage based on the traditional Maori style known as Mirimiri, and the “healthy giving” waters from the Tikitere Geothermal Reserve.
♦ Outdoor Adventure
There’s no shortage of outdoor activities for you to experience. From off road rides with Off Road NZR, water paddling with Rotoroa Paddle Tours, luge tracks with Skyline Rotorua, to Whirinaki Forest guided hiking with Foris Eco Tours. For a one stop spot, Agroventures is an adventure playground with unique attractions for families and daring souls, including a jet sprint experience, outdoor wind tunnel, a giant swing and a human powered monorail racetrack.
♦ Visit Hobbiton
Just an hour away from the city, the famous Hobbiton Movie Set allows you to immerse yourself in a Middle-earth adventure. You have to join the daily tours to explore the picturesque farmland that has been transformed into the village of the hobbits, complete with tiny doors, laundries and trinkets. See hobbit holes, the Green Dragon Inn, the Mill, the double arched bridge and other structures seen in the movies.
♦ Maori Culture
No trip to New Zealand is complete without experiencing the culture of the Maoris, the native people of New Zealand. Te Puia houses the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, which displays stunning structures and shows cultural performances from a welcoming ceremony to dances and traditional Hangi-style cuisine. You can also see the famous Pohutu Geyser up close. Nearby, Whakarewarewa is an authentic Living Maori Village where you can explore, watch performances and even spend the night.
