Words Vicki Ravlich-Horan
When the team at the Regent Rotorua invited us to spend the weekend, I didn’t have to be asked twice. I love hanging out in Rotorua, as there is so much to do. In fact, a weekend is not long enough, unless it is one of many planned.
The Regent, conveniently located on Pukaki Street in the heart of Rotorua’s town centre, is a great spot to base yourself. This little slice of Palm Springs is just around the corner from Rotorua’s Eat Street and a short stroll to the lakefront.
With a pool, crucially heated to 27°C, you can enjoy a dip first thing in the morning or in the afternoon accompanied with a cocktail.
Our room was everything you need in a stylish and spacious package. Dinner in the restaurant ticked all the boxes, including the fussy ten-year-old’s tastes. We opted for the trio of lamb dish with caponata, and the beef tenderloin served with pommes Anna, mushroom croquette and peppercorn sauce. There is also an entirely plant based degustation offering for those following a vegan diet or alternatively those curious to know how good plant-based dishes can be.
Eat
One of the things I love about Rotorua is the bakeries. These are not in town or on the main tourist routes, instead they are hidden on the outskirts of town.
But trust me, it is worth hunting out these local secrets. A bakery is a godsend when travelling, especially as a family, as you can grab lunch to take with you, whether you are off mountain biking, walking through The Redwoods, exploring the lakes or visiting a geothermal park.
Here are my top picks.
Patrick’s Boutique Bakery
Only open Monday to Friday, so a good reason to stay longer than a weekend. Tucked away on Lake Road you will find a tempting array of goodies, from magnificent mille-feuille, to gorgeous chocolate eclairs, perfect opera cake, flaky croissant and gourmet pies.
Everything is made the old fashioned way from scratch and you will often see Patrick and the team hard at work in this tiny bakery punching above its weight.
Ciabatta
Hidden in an industrial part of Rotorua (38 White Street), Ciabatta is a Rotorua institution, as the crowds on any given day will attest to.
What started as a bakery that specialised in making the lightest, softest ciabatta made using a long ferment process, now produces some tempting treats, most notably their cronuts.
You can pick up a loaf of bread or a beautiful filled roll or order from the menu with more elaborate sandwiches like the Reuben or their famous Long Dog or a Teenie Weenie.
Guidough’s
I first discovered Guidough’s when I tried their cinnamon roll in a local coffee shop. One bite and I had to hunt down the source. It turned out Guidough’s has two bakeries, one in Springfield Road and another in Ranolf street. These no frills bakeries are what I love about Rotorua bakeries, it’s all about the quality baking.
Guidough’s range is spectacular, so one of your challenges will be deciding what to enjoy, the pinky bar slice, filled doughnut or cinnamon roll, a mac ‘n’ cheese pie or a classic quiche are just a few of your choices.
Other Rotorua top picks
Scope – Consistently one of the best cafes in Rotorua with great service and food to match. (1296 Tutanekai Street)
Poco – The perfect spot for a drink with a wonderfully curated drinks list and crafted tapas menu. (1183 Arawa Street)
Eastwood – A perfect spot for brunch after exploring The Redwoods. They are also open late on Fridays for pizza so book the Redwoods night walk on a Friday night to join the two. (Longmile Road, Whakarewarewa)
Mr Wolf – The new offering from the Okere Store team, Mr Wolf pairs a beautiful fit out with food to match. (1167 Fenton Street)
To do
A local secret, mainly because the only way to get there is by boat or sea plane, are the hot pools on Lake Rotoiti. These hot pools, which have been enjoyed since 1849, are a real slice of Kiwi fun.
If you know someone with a boat, hit them up, otherwise it’s a seaplane or a boat tour to get you there. We opted for Katoa Jetboat.
We jetted off from the lakefront at 1pm. With some thrilling spins along the way, we arrived 45 minutes later at the serene hot pools. While Zoe proceeded to jump off the jetty into the lake, we supervised while soaking in the mineral spa.
Although the day we went was stunning, I can imagine the attraction of the pools on a chilly winter’s day or a clear starry night. They are open from 8am to 10pm, 365 days of the year, so both are options to consider.
Natural wonders are in abundance in Rotorua, be it a natural spa, gorgeous lake, an awe-inspiring geyser or mesmerising mud pools. If you are intent on experiencing some volcanic action there are a number of places to visit, including the lakefront walk behind the Government Gardens and Kuirau Park, both of which are free. Kuirau Park even has hot pools to soak your feet in.
We were keen to explore nature and get a dose of adrenaline so booked with the award-winning Canopy Tours. Ziplining through New Zealand native bush has long been on our family to-do list.
Named by Tripadvisor as The World’s Best Nature Activity in 2021, New Zealand’s #1 Activity in 2022, South Pacific’s #1 Activity in 2023, and New Zealand’s #1 Activity again in 2024, Canopy Tours is most definitely about getting your thrills but it’s also about being in the environment.
Co-founder James Fitzgerald loved ziplining and had done many around the world. What he believed most lacked and what he wanted to create was the most engaging zipline experience in the world, one where location was key. When he found Dansey Road Scenic Reserve (Okoheriki) he knew he had found the perfect location.
Okoheriki is the ancestral land of Tura Te Ngākau Ki Ngongotahā and is managed by the Department of Conservation. To operate on this land, Rotorua Canopy Tours has approval from manawhenua and a commercial concession from Te Papa Atawhai. Their strong sustainability stance and conservation efforts aid in this perfect partnership.
While I loved soaring through the air at 50km/hr, the real experience was the vantage point. Being up in the canopy looking down at our native forest gives you a true appreciation for what is ours as Kiwis. And seeing the difference Canopy Tours have made to this virgin bush in the 13 years they have been operating is amazing.
Notably the only Kiwis on the tour, we trekked into the bush with our two guides. Over the next three hours we would zip across six different lines, walk across two swing bridges, discover the lengths Canopy Tours go to in predator control, and hand feed a North Island robin (Toutouwai).
We walked away on a high as well as with a deeper understanding of New Zealand’s unique natural environment.
