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Where to Stay in Rotorua

By Santorini Dave

Our Favorite Rotorua Hotels

5-Star Resort: On the Point
5-Star Hotel: Pullman
4-Star Hotel: Millennium
3-Star Hotel: Lake Lodge
Apartment: Newina
Boutique: Koura
New: JetPark
Cheap: Silver Fern
For Family: Ripple
Couples: Black Swan
Lake Views: Koura
Holiday/Caravan Park: All Seasons
Near Airport: Wai Ora

Ponds of shallow steaming water and mud bubble by the side of a dirt road.

The path and road around the northeast section of the Lakeside area offers eerie scenery.

The Best Areas to Stay in Rotorua

This part of New Zealand is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable places on earth. While the town may be a little plain – as much a functional regional hub as a major tourist attraction – the ground underneath is constantly bubbling, steaming, and spouting with natural wonders. Indulge in (and learn about) geological marvels like geysers, mud baths, thermal pools, boiling lakes, fumaroles (steam rising from the ground), and sinter terraces (white crusty residue from hot springs). Some are within Rotorua town, and others are in the countryside nearby, including ancient forests and numerous lakes. Add to that an exceptional range of outdoor activities, heaps of family fun, and the ever-present and proud Māori culture.

Rotorua Neighborhoods

Rotorua was established along the shores of the namesake crater lake, so the prime place to stay is near the water, an area we have dubbed Lakeside. The Town Center, which starts south of Arawa Street, is serviceable and easy to get around on foot – even if all the streets do look the same.

The main road into Rotorua from the south is Fenton Street, packed with motels catering to those with private/rented vehicles needed to explore the region. Similarly, other motels—generally more modern and certainly more convenient—are along Lake Road, which merges into the main road from Auckland through the cutely named suburb of Fairy Springs.

From Fairy Springs, several roads lead to Kawaha Point, a spacious and upscale suburb on the western shoreline with million-dollar homes and lakefront resorts with million-dollar views. The topography and lack of roads hinder development along the eastern edge of Lake Rotorua near the airport, but places at Hannahs Bay and Holdens Bay cater well to families.

A table and chairs sit in front of a stone fence overlooking a lake and green island in the distance.

The gardens at the On the Point resort are peppered with tables and chairs, perfect for relaxing and relishing the views.

Best Areas in Rotorua for…

  • Best Area in Rotorua for First-Time Visitors: Kawaha Point
    Quiet, spacious, and pleasantly distant from the Town Center, Kawaha Point is along the western shores of the lake. This upmarket suburb doesn’t suffer from traffic noise and unruly residents and is a relaxing place to stay and unwind. Bus #6 connects the resorts and boutique hotels there with the Town Center, and it’s only a two-minute drive to shops and attractions along the main road in Fairy Springs.
  • Best Area in Rotorua for Sightseeing: Lakeside
    Golden yellow sand is left from sulfer pools.

    Steam from the boiling sulfur pools in the northern part of Kuirau Park.

    Lake Rotorua is the major attraction within the town, so it makes sense to stay near the shoreline, although every hotel in the Town Center is also within walking distance of the water. Near the lake are the vast Government Gardens packed with lawns, gardens, and playgrounds, walking paths (some closed, so check with the tourist office), bubbling mud pools at Kuirau Park, and the spas, thermal pools, and hot springs at Polynesian Spa. Lakeside is also the place to organize boat trips (see below) and only a short stroll from the isite Visitor Information Centre for independent advice and no-commission bookings.
  • Best Area in Rotorua for Boat Trips: Lakeside
    A bright yellow boat with passengers wearing red life jackets waits for a seaplane on the lake.

    The ducks don’t seem to mind the Katoa Jet boat or seaplane in the distance.

    Lake Rotorua has a few activities based on or above the lake but not below the surface because of the natural chemicals and algae. Both Katoa Jet, which combines a hot springs visit with speeding and spinning on the lake, and the Volcanic Air “floatplane” (seaplane) have offices in the park alongside the lake. Rotorua Duck Tours provides a unique experience on an amphibious WWII landing craft that tours the streets and floats on the lake. It has an office along Fenton Street. Book tours from the helpful isite Visitor Information Centre.

    Passengers ride on a duck boats.

    The Rotorua Duck Tours takes passengers around the town and on the lake in an amphibious craft.

  • Best Area in Rotorua for Hot Springs and Natural Spas: Lakeside
    A group of people sit with their feet in mineral spring water at a park.

    We had to stop and soak our feet in the warm mineral pools at Kuirau Park.

    Those who cannot visit the hot springs, mud baths, and natural spas around the nearby countryside should not worry. There are three wonderful options in and around the Lakeside area. Wai Ariki claims to be the country’s premium wellness center in that massive building between the lake and Government Gardens. It offers numerous traditional treatments using mud, steam, and hot water, guaranteed to rejuvenate your entire body and soul. A better value is the iconic Polynesian Spa, which provides shared and private hot-water pools, as well as herbal oil massages and geothermal mud wraps. A short walk further west, at Kuirau Park, mud pools bubble, the sulfur springs steam, and anyone can dangle their feet in the warm mineral water free of charge.
  • Best Area in Rotorua for History & Culture: Town Center
    A poster shows shirtless men with fern leaves and spears.

    Mitai Māori Village in Fairy Springs offers evenings of cultural music, dance, and food.

    There is little evidence of history around town. Some historic buildings in the vast Government Gardens are barely 90 years old. But it’s the unique Māori culture most people want to experience and understand. Mitai Māori Village and Te-Pā-Tū offer guests emotional songs and enthusiastic dancing that explain customs and legends and a traditional hangi feast cooked underground. These evening shows are highly informative, entertaining, and not as tacky as they sound. Transfers are usually included and best arranged if staying in the Town Center. The Mitai site is worth visiting for the (free) forested walking path alongside the entrance.
  • Best Area in Rotorua for Nightlife: Town Center
    Rotorua is not known for its after-dark action. For some evening activity, check out what the various backpacker hostels have organized (if you’re in that age group), or enjoy a leisurely meal and a few locally brewed ales along Eat Streat (see below). A few bars might have an open-mic singalong evening or professional performers. Otherwise, there’s always live music on weekends at the Pig & Whistle old-style pub on Tutanekai Street.
  • Best Area in Rotorua for Restaurants: Lakeside
    A rusted metal overhang has "Eat Streat" written on it.

    Eat Streat offers a pedestrian area filled with classy restaurants.

    The Lakeside area primarily has gardens with boardwalks and paths, so no restaurants (or hotels) offer a lakefront setting. Part of north Tutanekai Street turns into a wonderful vehicle-free walkway called Eat Streat. Stylish restaurants line the street offering seafood, pasta, burgers, and bars with tempting happy hours. Prices are pleasingly competitive. The Taste & Shop Rotorua brochure from the tourist office is a terrific source for other exciting alternatives for wining and dining, e.g., a hangi feast (traditional food cooked underground), restaurants in resorts at Kawaha Point (see later) that do offer lakefront settings, or nibbling and sampling at the Volcanic Hills winery.
  • Best Area in Rotorua for Peace and Quiet: Kawaha Point
    Kawaha Point is an upscale suburb along a headland on the western shoreline. High-end homes line quiet, leafy streets, many perched along the lakefront and offering sublime water views. Accessible by bus, it’s a nice distance from the Town Center. There are four resorts/boutique hotels (see later), each with a charming restaurant open to the public. Bookings are essential.
  • Best Area in Rotorua for Walking: Lakeside
    Along the lakefront in town are a series of paths and boardwalks enjoyed by walkers, joggers, and cyclists. (Sections to the east were off-limits in 2024, however, so check with the isite Visitor Information Centre) The short but informative Rotorua Guided Walk map (available at hotel foyers and the tourist office) fully explains the local topography and history, which is especially useful because few signposts along the paths explain anything. Otherwise, join a guided tour for a genuine understanding of Rotorua’s topography, culture, and history.
  • Best Area in Rotorua for Cycling: Town Center
    The Lakeside area and Town Center are ideal for a standard bicycle, but these are surprisingly hard to rent because the Rotorua region seems focused on mountain bikes. Mountain Bike Rotorua and Planet Bike rent mountain bikes and arrange tours through the forests and around the lakes. In the Town Center are Torpedo 7 outdoor shop (in the Rotorua Central shopping center) and Electric Bike Rotorua (Fenton Street), which also rents out e-bikes. Mountain biking is excellent through the Whakarewarewa (Redwoods) Forest, only a few kilometers from town, which features the world-famous Forest Loop.
  • Best Area in Rotorua for Parks and Gardens: Lakeside
    A patch of red flowers line a sidewalk to a terracotta-colored building.

    Government Gardens occupies a huge amount of land on the eastern end of the Lakeside area. It has plenty of lawns, flower gardens, and a popular playground.

    Dominating the eastern side of town are the wonderful Government Gardens, a peaceful and convenient place to unwind, escape the crowds, and avoid the sulfur smells. There are immaculate lawns, gardens with native flowers you’ve probably never seen, a popular playground, historic buildings, and paths leading to the lake. Unfortunately, the massive Tudor-style Rotorua Museum, which overlooks the gardens, is still closed for restoration after earthquake damage many years ago.

    A large building with yellow paint and dark brown slats of wood.

    The Tudor-style Rotorua Museum, which was still undergoing extensive renovations in 2024 after earthquake damage.

  • Best Area in Rotorua for Outdoor Activities: Town Center
    The range of things to do outdoors is staggering. Lake Rotorua and the other 18 lakes nearby provide some activities, such as horse trekking, white-water rafting, and the boat trips mentioned earlier. Other fun stuff focuses on the extraordinary landscapes. Maybe try zip-lining (flying foxes) through ancient forests with Rotorua Canopy Tours (which has an office in Fairy Springs) or caving. For something more unique, there’s the aMAZEme hedge maze, Velocity Valley (“where speed, adrenaline, and fear collide”), and ZORB which involves rolling down a hill in a giant inflatable ball. The extremely useful Rotorua Activity Map from the isite Visitor Information Centre, shows what’s on and where.
  • Best Area in Rotorua to Organize Tours: Town Center
    A large Visitor Information sign stands outside and office.

    The isite Visitor Information Centre on the corner of Fenton and Arawa streets.

    isite Visitor Information Centre offers an unlimited range of things to see and do around Rotorua, with independent advice and make no-commission bookings. It is open daily in the landmark building on the corner of Arawa and Fenton streets. As well as the outdoor activities and boat trips mentioned earlier, why not splurge a little to appreciate the unbelievable crater lakes and native forests on a helicopter ride with Volcanic Air, visit Hobbiton for a slice of Middle Earth, or take a guided cultural walk through the spectacular Whirinaki Rainforest.
  • Best Area in Rotorua for Shopping: Town Center
    A yellow house with sculptures that looks like spider webs on the house.

    It’s worth browsing the galleries or stopping for a coffee at The Arts Village on Hinemaru Street.

    The Town Center won’t inspire much enthusiasm from serious shoppers, but at least most shops are locally owned and not the usual overpriced international-brand outlets. As well as numerous gift shops are Mountain Jade, the finest place for gemstones, and the crafty boutiques in The Arts Village on Hinemaru Street. The low-level streets in the Town Center merge south into the massive Rotorua Centre shopping area, which has a supermarket, popular food court, and Torpedo 7 shop for outdoor gear and mountain bike rental. A pulsating night market is held along Tutanekai Street every Thursday evening (weather permitting).
  • Best Area in Rotorua for Transport: Town Center
    From outside the tourist office on Fenton Street, InterCity buses go to Auckland, Hamilton, and Wellington. Just around the corner on Arawa Street is the equally convenient terminal for local buses. The 11 bus routes are designed for locals, not tourists, but a few services are handy. Every 30 minutes, buses go to Kawaha Point (Bus #6), Fairy Springs (#1), and Holdens/Hannahs Bay (#10), while #10 continues to the airport every 60 minutes. Buy tickets on board with cash. The Day Saver all-day bus ticket is worth buying from the driver or tourist office.
  • Best Area in Rotorua for the Airport: Hannahs Bay and Holdens Bay
    Unfriendly topography and lack of access roads along the lakeshore northeast of town have hindered development. Still, Hannahs Bay and the adjoining suburb of Holdens Bay are quiet and convenient to the airport. Most accommodations are along (or very close to) the lake and are ideal for families, especially with a car. These motels and holiday parks were not designed specifically for airline passengers but are only a few stops on bus #10 from the low-key airport terminal and a little further from the Town Center.
  • Best Area in Rotorua for Families: Fairy Springs
    The main road from Auckland travels through the suburb of Fairy Springs (which has nothing to do with The Hobbit). Several spacious and modern motels offer fantastic facilities for families, such as a swimming pool, playground, and special suites. This area is ideal for those traveling by car, although linked by bus #1 to the Town Center. Along Fairy Springs Road, which is rather noisy, are useful amenities like a supermarket, gas stations, bakeries, and familiar fast-food outlets. What’s more, several family-oriented attractions mentioned earlier are within walking distance of most motels: e.g., the Skyline cable car (and other associated adventure activities), Mitai Māori Village cultural experience, and super-crazy fun with ZORB.
  • Best Area in Rotorua for a Romantic Holiday: Kawaha Point
    This posh suburb easily gets our vote as the finest place in the Rotorua region for a romantic holiday. It has it all – stunning lake views, genuine privacy, and near-total tranquility – and a handful of excellent resorts and boutique hotels. Within walking distance of each other, the On the Point, Black Swan, and Koura hotels each has a gorgeous restaurant (also open to the public). The amenities and attractions in the Town Center are only 10 minutes by Bus #6 via the main road through Fairy Springs, which has more facilities and attractions.
  • Best Place to Stay in Rotorua on a Budget: Fenton Street
    Fenton Street is the main road into Rotorua from the south and has more than 20 motels. Some are worth considering if traveling with a car and/or children. The cheapest ones may be rated poorly online – and for a reason – but Fenton Street does offer far better value and easier parking than most places in the Town Center. Bus #11 stops all along Fenton Street to the Town Center.
  • Safest Area in Rotorua: Kawaha Point
    The ritziest part of Rotorua is along the western edge of the lakeshore—imagine two-level mansions with million-dollar views and a couple of boats.
  • Unsafe Area of Rotorua: Town Center
    Drunkenness and homelessness are a continual social problem throughout urban parts of Rotorua. Take the usual precautions around the rare places that do offer nightlife and stick to well-lit main streets after dark.
A tan colonial style building with a white wrap-around wood porch.

The charming Prince’s Gate hotel.

The 6 Best Areas in Rotorua for Tourists: Ordered from the City Centre out

1. Lakeside

People walk and point as they cross a boardwalk in the lake.

With a maze of boardwalks and paths, the lakefront area near the Town Center is the perfect place to enjoy the lake.

We have unofficially labeled the area alongside the lake and north of the Town Center as Lakeside. The edge of Lake Rotorua is lined with parks and paths, so no hotel or restaurant is alongside the water – although places like the Pullman and Novotel certainly provide lake views (and charge accordingly).

A colorful outdoor children's park with green astro-turf, a slide, and jungle gym.

The adventure playgrounds in the park between the lake and Town Center.

Lakeside is home to a fantastic adventure playground, offices for boat tour companies, and the finest dining experience in town at Eat Streat. Also within a few minutes’ walk are the impressive Government Gardens, walking/cycling paths leading to geological wonders along the lake, the springs, pools, and spas at Wai Ariki and Polynesian Spa, and the helpful tourist office.

Large tribal sculptures line the entrance to a wellness center.

The Māori-owned Wai Ariki wellness center offers many treatments and therapies, as well as a cafe and art in the foyer.

Like elsewhere, most accommodations are motels. There are only a few 5-star hotels, but the two boutique-style options are outstanding.

A large multi-level hotel with a glass exterior reflects the blue sky in its windows.

The gleaming new Pullman hotel offers terrific views across the town and lake, which is only 100 meters away.

A light blue pool sits in the middle of a courtyard inside a motel.

We enjoyed Regent of Rotorua’s heated pool.

  • Best Luxury Hotels in Lakeside
    Pullman • Hotel phone: +64 7 343 9750
    Novotel • Hotel phone: +64 7 346 3888
  • Best Luxury Apartment
    Novotel • Hotel phone: +64 7 346 3888
  • Best Boutique Hotels
    Prince’s Gate • Hotel phone: +64 7 348 1179
    Regent of Rotorua • Hotel phone: +64 7 348 4079
  • Best Family Hotels
    Lake Lodge • Hotel phone: +64 7 347 0049
    Aura • Hotel phone: +64 7 348 8134
    Novotel • Hotel phone: +64 7 346 3888
    ibis • Hotel phone: +64 7 346 3999
  • Best Cheap/Midrange Hotels
    Lake Lodge • Hotel phone: +64 7 347 0049
    Aura • Hotel phone: +64 7 348 8134
    Ambassador • Hotel phone: +64 7 347 9581
    ibis • Hotel phone: +64 7 346 3999

    • 2. Town Center

    Guests float in two large outdoor mineral pools.

    The Polynesian Spa is within a few minutes walk of most hotels in the Town Center.

    The Lakeside area (mentioned above) more or less stops at Arawa Street, where the sprawling Town Center to the south starts. The 15 or so blocks of low-level buildings look similar, but local authorities have tried to brighten things up with benches and trees. More compact and manageable is the massive Rotorua Central shopping center.

    A building with yellow paint, brown wood accents, and a clock tower.

    The isite Visitor Information Centre conveniently located on the corner of Fenton and Arawa streets. The building is also a useful landmark.

    Staying in the Town Center is convenient for organizing tours and outdoor activities (especially at the tourist office alongside the bus terminals) and for Kuirau Park, with its bubbling mud pools and hot springs.

    There are a few upscale hotels. Most accommodations are hostels for workers, essential to the tourist industry, and motels, especially along Victoria Street between the Town Center and southern suburbs.

Large brown chairs fill a hotel lobby with walls of windows facing a lake.

The views from the Sudima Lake lobby along the lakefront and so close to the Polynesian Spa

A long cream colored motel with red trim around the windows has hanging flower baskets on the balcony.

The best motel along Victoria Street is BK’s Motor Lodge, which is close to the Rotorua Central shopping center.

  • Best Luxury Hotels in Town Center
    Millennium • Hotel phone: +64 7 347 1234
    Sudima Lake • Hotel phone: +64 7 348 1174
  • Best Luxury Apartment
    Quest • Hotel phone: +64 7 929 9808
  • Best Boutique Hotel
    Amberly House • Hotel phone: +64 22 012 5283
  • Best Hotels for Families
    Tasman Holiday Parks • Hotel phone: +64 7 777 2997
    BK’s Motor Lodge • Hotel phone: +64 7 348 3900
    Six On Union • Hotel phone: +64 7 347 8062
  • Best Hostel
    Haka House • Hotel phone: +64 210 887 4431
  • Best Cheap/Midrange Hotels
    BK’s Motor Lodge • Hotel phone: +64 7 348 3900
    Urban Lounge Sleepery • Hotel phone: +64 7 348 8636
    Six On Union • Hotel phone: +64 7 347 8062
  • Best Hostels
    Rotorua Downtown Backpackers • Hotel phone: +64 7 347 1170
    Stay • Hotel phone: +64 7 348 1200
    Rock Solid Backpackers • Hotel phone: +64 7 282 2053

    • 3. Fenton Street

    A blond-wood table sits in a cafe.

    Our stop at the cafe at the JetPark offered a range of tasty meals (including breakfast) and better-than-expected prices.

    Exploring the amazing region is really only possible with a private/rented vehicle, so many drive to Rotorua or rent a car there. More than 20 motels line Fenton Street, the main road to Rotorua from the south. Some rate poorly online for a reason – usually needing more updating and renovations. Thermal Oak has apartments with up to three bedrooms, Pure offers rustic wooden cabins, and JetPark has a swimming pool. Also, many offer family rooms and suites with a spa ideal for couples. Fenton Street isn’t too noisy, but few facilities are within walking distance, but it’s connected to the Town Center by bus #11. There are motels, motels, and more motels – but it is easily the best area to stay on a budget.

A parked car sits in front of a motel.

The Silver Fern Suites & Spa is much better than the average motel along Fenton Street. In fact, we consider this to be the best cheap hotel in Rotorua.

An orange brick building with matching brick landscaping.

Arista of Rotorua is unique among motels along Fenton Street because every room, whether one or two-bedrooms, has two levels.

  • Best Luxury Apartments on Fenton Street
    Silver Fern • Hotel phone: +64 7 346 3849
    Thermal Oak Motel • Hotel phone: +64 7 348 0584
  • Best Boutique Hotels
    Capri on Fenton • Hotel phone: +64 7 347 6126
    Arista of Rotorua • Hotel phone: +64 7 349 0300
  • Best Hotels for Families
    Arista of Rotorua • Hotel phone: +64 7 349 0300
    Pure Motel • Hotel phone: +64 7 346 0867
    Thermal Oak Motel • Hotel phone: +64 7 348 0584
    JetPark • Hotel phone: +64 7 350 2211
    Fenton Court • Hotel phone: +64 7 348 3311
  • Best Cheap/Midrange Hotels
    Thermal Oak Motel • Hotel phone: +64 7 348 0584
    Brylin • Hotel phone: +64 7 348 0878
    Executive on Fenton • Hotel phone: +64 7 348 6000
    Arawa Park • Hotel phone: +64 7 349 0099
    Palm Court Motel • Hotel phone: +64 7 347 2200

    • 4. Lake Road & Fairy Springs

    Lush ferns and tall tress line a path next to a creek.

    Our hike on the paths through lush forests directly alongside the entrance to Mitai Māori Village on Fairy Springs Road. It’s free to enter and worth exploring.

    While motels along Fenton Street primarily cater to those driving from the south, Lake Road and Fairy Springs Road (part of Highway 5 to Auckland) are ideal for those traveling by car from the north. Fairy Springs Road is noisy but offers visitors, especially families, a range of nearby facilities (e.g., a major supermarket, gas stations, and well-known fast-food outlets) and proximity to major attractions like the Skyline cable car, Mitai Māori Village and ZORB adventure fun.

    A cable car hangs on a cable.

    Skyline cable car runs up the mountain, offering stunning views.

    Motels along Lake Road are within a 20-minute walk of the Town Center (also linked by bus #1) while those along Fairy Springs Road are much more modern, spacious, and appealing – and also connected by bus #1.

    A lime-green bus sits on the side of the road at a bus stop.

    Lake Road and Fairy Springs Road are well connected to the Town Center by bus #1.

A rustic orange-colored hotel sits with a mountain background.

AWA Hotel has a likable charm and a rustic log-cabin vibe on a prominent corner along Fairy Springs Road.

A blue pool sits next to a white motel.

Newina offers Family Suites and has a sizable pool.

  • Best Family Motels/Holiday Parks in Lake Road & Fairy Springs
    Ripple • Hotel phone: +64 7 347 9497
    International Motor Inn • Hotel phone: +64 7 282 2051
    AWA • Hotel phone: +64 7 777 2011
    Thermal Holiday Park • Hotel phone: +64 7 346 3140
  • Best Cheap/Midrange Hotels
    Cleveland Thermal Motel • Hotel phone: +64 7 348 2041
    Bella Vista • Hotel phone: +64 7 343 6418

  • Best Motels
    Ripple • Hotel phone: +64 7 347 9497
    Newina • Hotel phone: +64 7 348 9276

    • 5. Kawaha Point

    Several green and orange kayaks lean agains a small beach next to a dock out to a blue lake.

    The superb setting alongside Lake Rotorua makes the Koura Lodge our Best Hotel for Lake Views.

    Several streets from Fairy Springs Road (the highway to Auckland) lead to the classy suburb of Kawaha Point, where million-dollar homes have million-dollar views. The streets are quiet and leafy, and a handful of resorts provide some of the region’s finest accommodations with lakeside settings and views not possible in the Town Center. This area is safe, ideal for a romantic getaway, and perfect for those travelling to Rotorua for the first time. Most accommodations are expensive and designed for couples. There are some facilities along Fairy Springs Road (mentioned above), and Kawaha Point is connected to the Town Center by Bus #6.

A blue outdoor pool sits on green lawns by a blue lake.

Black Swan is our Best Hotel for Couples. It’s north of the Town Center, and it has gorgeous lake views.

  • Best Luxury Hotels in Kawaha Point
    On the Point • Hotel phone: +64 7 348 4868
    Koura • Hotel phone: +64 7 348 5868
    Black Swan • Hotel phone: +64 7 346 3602
  • Best Boutique Hotels
    Koura • Hotel phone: +64 7 348 5868
    Black Swan • Hotel phone: +64 7 346 3602
    Gemini • Hotel phone: +64 29 813 6260
  • Best Hotel for Families
    Gemini • Hotel phone: +64 29 813 6260

    • 6. Near the Airport

    A lake beach with a dock and several white birds pecking in the sand.

    Holden’s Bay in front of the Cedarwood.

    From the low-key airport, just 8 km from the Town Center, only a handful of small planes fly daily. There are no accommodations at the airport. However, close by, there are several terrific options. Two great holiday parks are in Hannahs Bay and Holdens Bay – ideal for families and those with motorhomes – and one fantastic resort (Wai Ora). These adjoining suburbs with pretty parks and empty beaches are only a few stops from the airport on bus #10 which also goes to the Town Center. Further north of the airport, and no longer accessible by bus, are a few upscale hotels in the remote areas of Tikitere, Mourea, and Marama.

    Colorful playground equipment sits in a park.

    The facilities, especially the playground, make the All Seasons Holiday Park so much better than any other in Rotorua.

A table with a black umbrella sits next to a blue pool and in the distance is a lake.

The Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort is more like a motel, but the rooms and facilities are much more appealing than almost every motel along the main roads into Rotorua. We also rate this as our Best Hotel near the Airport.

  • Best Luxury Hotels Near the Airport
    Wai Ora • Hotel phone: +64 7 343 5100
    Ramada • Hotel phone: +64 7 362 4120
    VR • Hotel phone: +64 7 362 4599
  • Best Boutique Hotel
    Bellarosa • Hotel phone: +64 27 689 2608
  • Best Holiday/Caravan Parks
    All Seasons • Hotel phone: +64 7 345 6240
    Holdens Bay Holiday Park • Hotel phone: +64 7 345 9925
  • Best Cheap/Midrange Hotels
    Cedarwood • Hotel phone: +64 7 345 7773

Rotorua Travel Tips

  • All those thermal pools and hot springs often emit pungent odors, including hydrogen sulfide, which smells like rotten eggs. It’s not that common or unpleasant around town, but it can be a little overpowering in certain parts of Lake Rotorua.
  • The geological wonders that you’ve come to see – geysers, boiling thermal pools, mud baths, crater lakes – can be dangerous. Always take notice of warning signs and stick to designated paths. Remember: steam burns, sulfur mounds can collapse, mud pools are very slippery, and thermal pools often reach 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit).
  • If traveling to/from Auckland, the InterCity bus may be just as quick as a flight when factoring time getting to/from both airports, waiting for departure (which could be late), and flight time (45 minutes). The bus is also far cheaper, conveniently starts/finishes in the middle of both places, and passengers see towns like Huntly and Hamilton along the way.

About Santorini Dave

Santorini Dave I'm Santorini Dave. I started this site in 2011 with a short article on tips for visiting Santorini with kids. We're now a small team of writers and researchers dedicated to providing the best travel content on the internet. We focus on Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, and Greece, offering recommendations for top hotels, neighborhoods, and family-friendly hotels worldwide. I can be contacted at dave@santorinidave.com.