Photo of Rotorua

About Rotorua

A wonderland of hot springs, geysers and bubbling mud pools, North Island's Rotorua has long attracted visitors eager to bask in its restorative geothermal waters. It’s also an area rich in Māori culture and legend. With everything from simple little B&Bs to luxury lodges on expansive estates, there’s a huge range of accommodation for couples, friends or families to choose from. Many of the best places to stay in Rotorua are clustered on the lakeshore, offering spectacular views and easy access to a plethora of activities.

If you’re in Rotorua to experience the geothermal pools, head to Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, or to the mud pools and geysers of Te Puia and Kuirau Park. Sample traditional Māori treatments at spas in town, too. For a real insight into New Zealand’s cultural capital, visit the Whakarewarewa Thermal Village on a bespoke half-day tour. You’ll meet families and better understand their lifestyle, history and interaction with the area’s natural springs. The Buried Village of Te Wairoa, engulfed in ash when Mt Tarawera erupted in 1886, is the country’s most visited archaeological site, and the New Zealand Maori Arts & Crafts Institute a cultural highlight.

Outdoorsy adventurers will enjoy mountain biking, hiking, boat trips, white-water rafting, sailing and fishing excursions on the region’s scenic lakes and rivers. Spot the iconic Kiwi at Rainbow Springs Wildlife Park or try off-road driving, zorbing and dramatic helicopter tours. Gondola rides up Mt. Ngongotata also come highly recommended.

This is one of New Zealand’s most popular cultural and adventure-focused destinations, and the best places to stay in Rotorua fill up fast. Book your holiday well in advance to avoid disappointment!

The Best Places to Stay in Rotorua

For a Central Stay

  • Regent of Rotorua Boutique Hotel sits in the heart of town, close to the lakefront. With a pool, gym, bar and award-winning restaurant, this is a great base for couples, friends or families keen to enjoy the best of what the town and surrounding region have to offer. Close to restaurants, museums and watersports.
  • Peppers on the Point is at the northern end of Rotorua, overlooking the picturesque lake. A 1930s residence with classic interiors, manicured gardens and access to heaps of watersports, this is an ideal base for those eager to fuse proximity to town with a more tranquil feel. Lovely.
  • Black Swan Lakeside Boutique Hotel is also at the northern side of town. Offering nine rooms with glitzy modern touches, a swimming pool, proquet & pétanque pitch, it's a fun choice for a family trip. There's a jetty and private beach for fishing, sailing and strolling, as well as great Pacific cuisine at the restaurant. Relaxed & friendly.

For a B&B

  • Hamurana Lodge is fifteen minutes from Rotorua, with 11 rooms and suites — some with two bedrooms — overlooking the lake and 15 acres of mature gardens. Families will love the swimming pool and tennis court. Watersports, hikes and biking are easily accessible. The whole B&B can be booked for an exclusive family or group holiday.
  • Astelia Lodge offers a quiet rural escape for couples or friends, with big cooked breakfasts and days of mountain biking or hiking in the area. Eco-friendly, simple and classic. The friendly hosts can arrange cultural days out, off-road tours and fishing trips.

For a Traditional Spa

  • Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort offers 30 rooms and suites as well as an award-winning spa and restaurant specialising in the use of indigenous herbs. Try the Wai Ora Water Experience, or enjoy the rejuvenating effects of the mineral rich geothermal muds of Rotorua, used in a range of traditional Māori Mirimiri healing practices. A relaxing spa hotel.

For Secluded Luxury

  • Solitaire Lodge has nine indulgent suites set on a private peninsula on the shores of Lake Tarawera. Expect stunning views, thermal baths, five-course gourmet dinners and stacks of activities — from fishing and hiking to cultural tours and helicopter rides. Romantic and secluded.
  • Treetops Lodge & Estate offers a luxurious escape within a verdant forest. Choose from spacious villas or a self-catering apartment, and spend your days hiking, fishing and exploring. Foodies will adore the cooking school, home grown produce — from the lodge's 2,500 acre estate — and opportunities for foraging walks and lessons in traditional Maori cuisine. A delight for guests of all ages.

FOR AN APARTMENT OR HOLIDAY COTTAGE

  • If you'd prefer a self-catering option, we suggest that you visit our online partner Booking.com.

Travel Information

  • Fly to Rotorua Airport from Auckland Airport, Christchurch or Wellington, and journey to your hotel by car or taxi.
  • The North Island is wonderful for a road trip. Contact our online partner Rentalcars if you would like to hire a car.
  • Travel during the spring or summer for the best weather, with temperatures peaking at around 20°C between December and April. For a quieter trip and great deals, look at May or October-November, though these months will be cooler.

STILL NOT SURE?

Weather

Monthly Weather in Rotorua

Best Hotels in Rotorua

  • Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort Rotorua (Holdens Bay) 30 rooms from $129

    Spa breaks  -  Offering a New Zealand Cultural Spa Experience using the geothermal muds of Rotorua & Mirimiri healing practices of the Maori
    Restaurant  -  Mokoia Restaurant specialises in using indigenous New Zealand herbs and spices
    Great walks  -  Forested trails surround the lake, great for birdwatching as you walk
    Fishing  -  Trout fishing in Rotorua is some of the best in the world
    SpaRestaurantSwimming PoolGardenDisabled accessParking

    Set on the shores of Lake Rotorua, this appealing hotel and spa offers spacious and comfortable rooms with contemporary decor and bright colours. Great local menu specialising in the use of indigenous New Zealand herbs and spices. Plus there's an outdoor pool. See More

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  • Astelia Lodge Rotorua (Horohoro) 2 rooms from $220

    Hideaway  -  A tranquil escape for couples eager to kick back with a glass of wine in natural surroundings
    Mountain biking  -  Use the hotel's mountain bikes to explore the Redwoods trails on two wheels
    Country Escape  -  Set in the countryside, great for keen walkers and mountain bikers
    Fishing  -  Take fishing trips on the lake and nearby rivers to catch rainbow or brown trout
    GardenParkingNo pets

    A cosy lodge set in picturesque countryside just a short distance from Rotorua. Rooms feature wood-panelled walls, beamed ceilings, sink-into beds and sliding glass doors leading into the garden. The breakfasts are an indulgent affair and the hosts ever hospitable. A charming rural hideaway. See More

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  • Regent of Rotorua Boutique Hotel Rotorua 35 rooms from $179

    Local exploring  -  Near the foodie area, one block from the lake, 5 minutes stroll from the centre and a 10 minute drive to many attractions
    Sights nearby  -  The Art Deco style Blue Baths, noted for their embrace of mixed sex bathing in the 1930s, remain open today
    Lakeside  -  Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of Lake Rotorua, in the Bay of Plenty region
    Kayaking  -  World-class kayaking on the nearby Kaituna River
    Air conditioningRestaurantSwimming PoolDisabled accessViewsParkingNo pets

    Luxury boutique hotel in 1800's spa town of Rotorua at the edge of the picturesque Rotorua Lake. Boasts a pool, gym, bar and award-winning restaurant. A chic base to enjoy a luxurious, relaxing stay or from which to explore the town or get involved in some of the outdoor activities of the region. See More

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  • Black Swan Lakeside Boutique Hotel Rotorua (Kawaha Point) 9 rooms from $277

    Families  -  Book the two-bedroom Garden Suite Retreat as a family & spend days at the pool, playing croquet or out on the lake
    Short break  -  Popular with couples or families stopping for a night in Rotorua as part of a longer journey
    Sailing  -  Family-friendly sailing lessons at Rotorua Yacht Club are brilliant for young visitors
    Restaurant  -  Duke's Bar & Restaurant serves contemporary Pacific cuisine with striking lake views
    Air conditioningRestaurantSwimming PoolGardenDisabled accessViewsParkingNo pets

    A nine-room hotel on the banks of Lake Rotorua, the Black Swan has glitzy contemporary interiors with big cosy beds and bathtubs. Dine on gourmet Pacific cuisine, relax in the pool, or play croquet & pétanque as a family. The jetty & private beach are ideal for active days of fishing & sailing. See More

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  • Hamurana Lodge Rotorua 10 rooms from $342

    Country Escape  -  15 minutes from Rotorua, the hotel is set in 15 acres of leafy grounds
    Tennis  -  Play tennis in the hotel gardens - the team can provide equipment
    Sights nearby  -  Rotorua town and lake are 15 minute drive away
    Swimming Pool  -  Outdoor pool with decking for sunbathing
    TennisSpaRestaurantSwimming PoolGardenViewsParkingNo pets

    A half-timbered lodge with suites featuring striking New Zealand artwork and natural stone & wood finishes. Fantastic location in hills of Rotorua with views towards Lake Rotorua, a pool and tennis court. Impressive 15 acres of landscaped gardens. See More

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  • Treetops Lodge and Estate Rotorua (RD1) 12 rooms from $639

    Foodies  -  Chef Felipe Ponce heads the cooking school and restaurant, specialising in using homegrown estate produce. A foodie's dream
    Cooking classes  -  Wild food experiences include foraging, exploring the estate by 4WD and gathering traditional Maori ingredients for cooking
    Spa  -  Authentic styles of Maori treatment and healing using natural, locally sourced ingredients
    Outstanding location  -  2500 acres of native forest and game reserve, seven trout streams and four lakes
    SpaRestaurantGardenPet friendlyViewsParking

    A gorgeous lodge set in the heart of an eco-forest, with a range of self-catering accommodation choices. Large spacious rooms with timber and stone finishes, local art on walls and open fireplaces. Range of activities on offer including hunting, fishing and guided cultural walks. See More

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  • Peppers on the Point Rotorua 15 rooms from $660

    Active Holiday  -  There are excellent options for active guests at this hotel, with great walks nearby plus boating, fishing and tennis
    Romantic Break  -  With homely interiors and an idyllic setting overlooking the lake, book this hotel for a peaceful romantic break
    Country Escape  -  Set on the lakeside in Rotorua, this hotel makes a charming escape to the country
    Tennis  -  Enjoy a leisurely hit of tennis or a gruelling match (tennis racquets and tennis balls are provided)
    Air conditioningTennisSpaRestaurantGardenDisabled accessViewsParkingNo pets

    This charming lakeside hotel is housed in a restored 1930s mansion in Rotorua, on New Zealand's North Island. The classic guestrooms have homely soft furnishings and spectacular views. A range of lake retreat activities complete the experience, from boating to fishing and even tennis. See More

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  • Solitaire Lodge Rotorua (Lake Tarawera) 9 rooms from $1057

    Foodies  -  Gourmet dishes are crafted from top ingredients, and five-course dinners are fabulous
    Romantic Break  -  With just nine suites, this is a spectacular couples' hideaway
    Fishing  -  Try Rainbow Trout fishing from a catamaran & ask the chef to cook your catch for lunch
    Restaurant  -  Serving gourmet New Zealand cuisine, some of which is grown onsite
    Air conditioningRestaurantSwimming PoolGardenDisabled accessViews

    Luxurious lodge on a private peninsula on the shores of Lake Tarawera with stunning views to White Island, New Zealand's only active marine volcano. Suites are large and neutral in colour, with chic furniture and spa-like baths. Activities include outdoor thermal baths, fishing and lake swimming. See More

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