Rotorua
This grand building constructed from NZ's most cherished wood, kauri, sits directly outside the Government Gardens’ main Prince’s Gate, and began life in…
Must-see hotels in Rotorua & the Bay of Plenty
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Rotorua
Secluded on swanky Kawaha Point, this upmarket lodge features spacious rooms and suites, and a two-bedroom apartment. Decks and balconies provide lake…
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Tauranga
This near-harbour-front home conversion is a haven of soft sounds and soft colours sitting quietly below the main road. Its one-bedroom, self-contained…
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Rotorua
This eco-minded motel, in a fully renovated older complex near the lake, has two natural mineral-water spas and a heated outdoor swimming pool, composts…
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Rotorua
Bright and sparkling, this classy hostel, purpose-built from corrugated iron and wood, is great for those wanting to get outdoors, with bike storage and…
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Rotorua
Rise far above the surrounding motel pack with these five-star apartments, built in 2018. Large studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments feature modern…
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Tauranga
A short stroll from central Tauranga, this well-established place has renovated studios with compact private courtyards, and brilliant harbour suites with…
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Rotorua
The best of a clutch of motels on Fenton St, south of the town centre, Arista claims to have Rotorua's largest family rooms. Each room is two-level and…
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Rotorua
Everything's kept spick and span at this small but perfectly formed holiday park. Facilities include a small outdoor pool, hot mineral spas and a super…
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Rotorua
Crash occupies a big, blue 1930s hotel near Government Gardens. The atmosphere strikes a balance between raucous and relaxed – there's a DJ console behind…
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Rotorua
The B&B accommodation here is simple and comfortable, but the real appeal is the warm welcome from the English-Irish owners Mick and Teresa, plus the…
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Rotorua
Rotorua’s best family camping is at this dinosaur-themed holiday park in lovely Hannahs Bay, 8km northeast of the city centre. Kids will love the 18…
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Rotorua
Green outside and inside − due to several cans of paint and a dedicated environmental policy − the shoe-free FGV features laid-back tunes and sociable…
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Waiteti Trout Stream Holiday Park
Rotorua
This keenly maintained campground is a great option if you don’t mind the 10km drive into town. Set in gardens abutting a trout-filled stream, it's a cute…
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Rotorua
Situated near the racecourse (if you hadn't already guessed), this friendly complex has 16 spiffy, comfortable units. Some have their own thermal spas,…
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Rotorua
This pleasant place offers three en-suite B&B rooms in a suburban house beside the Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest. Two have views over the lake, while the…
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Rotorua
Built as flats in 1936, this heritage hostel retains original features, including deep bathtubs and geothermally powered radiators. Dorms have no more…
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Rotorua & the Bay of Plenty
Absolute seclusion, exclusivity and camping comfort at two hidden-away locations on the shores of Lake Tarawera, named Kanuka and Te Rata. Each site…
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Rotorua
Plonked on a rural hilltop surrounded by lush gardens, this interesting brick house takes the shape of three interconnected octagons, one of which…
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Rotorua
Beauty comes from within at this completely overhauled 1960s motel. The structure is unmistakably motel, but inside it delivers glitzy glam in spades,…
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Tauranga
Tauranga's flashiest offering by far, this big white block of a hotel near the bridge has a slick, contemporary lobby decorated with white tiles and spiky…
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Rotorua
This resort in the 'burbs was undergoing a massive refurb when we visited, with 26 new apartments and a restaurant being added. Sporting Tuscan colours,…
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Rotorua
From the outside, it looks as though you might have to share your room with office workers, but this modern four-storey block provides spacious units and…
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Rotorua
Major renovations were underway when we last visited this friendly B&B, run by the well-humoured Sandi, who offers continental breakfasts and local advice…
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Tauranga
This slick two-storey motel, 3.5km south of the city centre, has modern, self-contained apartments, ranging from studios to two-bedroom units with spa…
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Tauranga
Spruced up with splashes of lime-green paint, slat-style beds and smart TVs, this sweet, old-style motel is in a central but leafy and quiet location near…
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Rotorua
Looking down on Rotorua from the slopes of Mt Ngongotaha, this upmarket lodge has three en-suite B&B rooms in the main house, a self-contained apartment…
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Rotorua
The friendly Vic has seen a lot of competitors come and go, maintaining its foothold in the market with individual-feeling units with shallow thermally…
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Tauranga
Gathered around a small kidney-shaped swimming pool and hot tub, this lovingly maintained motel has sparkling units with kitchens, trimmed with hanging…
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Tauranga
The spacious rooms here (all with either a terrace or a balcony) have king-sized beds and full kitchens. A swimming pool, free wi-fi and secure…
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Tauranga
With a winning location just 100m from the Whart St dining precinct, and yet remarkably quiet and neat as a pin, this lemon-yellow motor inn has a spa…
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Rotorua & the Bay of Plenty
Encased by bush on the shores of gorgeous Lake Tikitapu (aka Blue Lake), this simple but well-run holiday park has seven types of cabins and motel units,…
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Rotorua
Cavernous Rock Solid occupies a former shopping mall: you might be bunking down in a florist or a delicatessen. Dorms over the street are sunny, and there…
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Rotorua
Things get more active than a geothermal field at this huge hostel that's ever popular with partying backpackers, especially when nights get flowing at…
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Rotorua & the Bay of Plenty
This simple campsite is located on the shores of Lake Tarawera and can only be reached by the Tarawera Trail or by water taxi from the Landing. Book…
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Tauranga
The layout at this harbourside holiday park feels a bit tight (don't expect rolling acres), but it’s well maintained, clean and tidy, and offers the…
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Tauranga
This hotel is what passes for a futuristic high-rise in Tauranga, meaning every player wins a prize: harbour view or city view. It’s slick rather than…
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Tauranga
Plumb in the centre of the action, this sociable hostel (a former hotel) sits directly above the Strand’s bars and restaurants. Rooms are smallish but you…
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Rotorua
With its Italian-inspired architecture and pointy conifers, this family-owned eye-catcher pitches itself at both corporate and leisure travellers, all of…
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Rotorua
Even if you are 6ft 3in, Astray – a 'micro-motel' that would probably be more at home in Tokyo than Rotorua – is a decent budget bet. Clean, tidy, quiet,…
