Joanne's local tips

Joanne
Joanne's local tips

Good places to eat

Booking is essential due to the excellent food and service. Lovingly managed by passionate foodies, an American couple who lived in Venezuela for years. Come here for New Zealands best margaritas
10 íbúar mæla með
Sabroso Restaurant
1184 Haupapa St
10 íbúar mæla með
Booking is essential due to the excellent food and service. Lovingly managed by passionate foodies, an American couple who lived in Venezuela for years. Come here for New Zealands best margaritas
The food is outstanding. Homebrewed lemonade is also good
49 íbúar mæla með
Atticus Finch
1106 Tutanekai St
49 íbúar mæla með
The food is outstanding. Homebrewed lemonade is also good
This is a place only locals know about as its tucked away in the industrial zone. Close to town, its worth the visit as the food, especially the baked bread, is outstanding.
41 íbúar mæla með
Ciabatta Cafe & Bakery
38 White St
41 íbúar mæla með
This is a place only locals know about as its tucked away in the industrial zone. Close to town, its worth the visit as the food, especially the baked bread, is outstanding.
A local institution selling a range of true German beer, (yum) and serving good food, the Okere falls store often puts on live music and is a hub of local colour.
53 íbúar mæla með
Okere Falls Store
757A State Hwy 33
53 íbúar mæla með
A local institution selling a range of true German beer, (yum) and serving good food, the Okere falls store often puts on live music and is a hub of local colour.
For the best street food and market atmosphere
35 íbúar mæla með
Rotorua Night Market
1029 Village Green
35 íbúar mæla með
For the best street food and market atmosphere
For fine dining, excellent service, great wine list and good cocktails.
The Regent Room Restaurant & Bar
1191 Pukaki Street
For fine dining, excellent service, great wine list and good cocktails.
Great wood fired pizzas and amazing antipasto
8 íbúar mæla með
Pizzeria Imperfetto
1176 Pukaki St
8 íbúar mæla með
Great wood fired pizzas and amazing antipasto
Make sure you're very hungry as the buffet is exceptional
198 íbúar mæla með
Skyline Rotorua
178 Fairy Springs Rd
198 íbúar mæla með
Make sure you're very hungry as the buffet is exceptional
Absolutely delicious dumplings. Super clean. Friendly staff. An authentic slice of Asia
Spring festival dumpling
1240 Fenton St
Absolutely delicious dumplings. Super clean. Friendly staff. An authentic slice of Asia
Highly recommended
Saigon '60s
1205 Fenton St
Highly recommended

Don't miss this

A favourite with locals and tourists
131 íbúar mæla með
Polýnesíu Spa
1000 Hinemoa St
131 íbúar mæla með
A favourite with locals and tourists
This walk is spectacular after dark when the artwork lanterns are lit up. It's very romantic and magical
150 íbúar mæla með
Redwoods Treewalk
Tarawera Road
150 íbúar mæla með
This walk is spectacular after dark when the artwork lanterns are lit up. It's very romantic and magical
40 íbúar mæla með
Leyndarmál Hiti Rotorua
13/33 Waipa State Mill Rd
40 íbúar mæla með
A great place to see our community spirit in action and eat breakfast
7 íbúar mæla með
Rotary market at Kuirau Park
1371 Kuirau St
7 íbúar mæla með
A great place to see our community spirit in action and eat breakfast
Local artists craftspeople and good coffee
18 íbúar mæla með
The Arts Village
1240 Hinemaru St
18 íbúar mæla með
Local artists craftspeople and good coffee
Great for wonderful books, kiwi books, notebooks and specialist magazines
McLeods Booksellers
1105 Pukuatua St
Great for wonderful books, kiwi books, notebooks and specialist magazines
I just love wandering around this stunning place. There are georgeous gardens, animals galore and even lion cubs
31 íbúar mæla með
Paradise Valley Springs
467 Paradise Valley Rd
31 íbúar mæla með
I just love wandering around this stunning place. There are georgeous gardens, animals galore and even lion cubs
68 íbúar mæla með
Mitai Maori þorp
196 Fairy Springs Rd
68 íbúar mæla með

Places to swim and picnic

A lovely place to swim and spend the day
51 íbúar mæla með
Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake)
Tarawera Road
51 íbúar mæla með
A lovely place to swim and spend the day
A natural hot spring and waterfall off the beaten track
47 íbúar mæla með
Kerosene Creek
Old Waiotapu Road
47 íbúar mæla með
A natural hot spring and waterfall off the beaten track
The water quality is unbelievable, its like swimming in silk. The locals drink this water and the fish caught here are beautiful to eat. The area is full of mystique as there was a huge eruption here that altered the landscape and buried local villages. For this reason the area is tapu or sacred. It's a wonderful lake to explore for a swim and the wonderful views. There is also a day trip to a waterfall.
24 íbúar mæla með
Lake Tarawera
24 íbúar mæla með
The water quality is unbelievable, its like swimming in silk. The locals drink this water and the fish caught here are beautiful to eat. The area is full of mystique as there was a huge eruption here that altered the landscape and buried local villages. For this reason the area is tapu or sacred. It's a wonderful lake to explore for a swim and the wonderful views. There is also a day trip to a waterfall.
Hot tuns in the Bush, open fires and a huge tent, this is a great place to go for something different
40 íbúar mæla með
Leyndarmál Hiti Rotorua
13/33 Waipa State Mill Rd
40 íbúar mæla með
Hot tuns in the Bush, open fires and a huge tent, this is a great place to go for something different
If you're looking for a day trip with an easy walk, beautiful scenery, Bush and lake swimming, lake Okataina is off the beaten track. Its 45 minutes from my place and worth a visit
Lake Okataina, Bay of Plenty 3074, Nýja-Sjáland
If you're looking for a day trip with an easy walk, beautiful scenery, Bush and lake swimming, lake Okataina is off the beaten track. Its 45 minutes from my place and worth a visit

Sightseeing

Get close up and personal with wicked volcanic landscapes and boiling mud
57 íbúar mæla með
Wai-O-Tapu
201 Waiotapu Loop Rd
57 íbúar mæla með
Get close up and personal with wicked volcanic landscapes and boiling mud
Visitors report this place exceeds expectation and is well worth a visit. I haven't been, but it looks very well done
161 íbúar mæla með
Hobbiton kvikmyndasett stöð
501 Buckland Rd
161 íbúar mæla með
Visitors report this place exceeds expectation and is well worth a visit. I haven't been, but it looks very well done
There is a great thermal park and good mud pools
54 íbúar mæla með
Hells Gate Jarðhitaferðir og Mýrarsundlaug
351 State Hwy 30
54 íbúar mæla með
There is a great thermal park and good mud pools
A genuine local experience
40 íbúar mæla með
Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village
17 Tryon St
40 íbúar mæla með
A genuine local experience
NZ Maori Arts & Crafts Institute - Te Puia
20 Hemo Rd
Not to be missed

Adventure activities

Very popular with bike enthusiasts
25 íbúar mæla með
Whakarewarewa Red Woods Mountain Bike Park
25 íbúar mæla með
Very popular with bike enthusiasts
Kaituna Rafting - Rotorua Whitewater Rafting
For the adventure seekers
This is quite an experience of you like heights and even if you don't
9 íbúar mæla með
Adrenalin Forest Bay of Plenty
Weld Road
9 íbúar mæla með
This is quite an experience of you like heights and even if you don't
Guests report enjoying this very much
14 íbúar mæla með
Kaituna Cascades Rafting Company
18 Okere Falls Rd
14 íbúar mæla með
Guests report enjoying this very much