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
Rotorua
Secluded on swanky Kawaha Point, this upmarket lodge features spacious rooms and suites, and a two-bedroom apartment. Decks and balconies provide lake…
Bay of Plenty
The ultimate in rustic romance, this rural idyll has two pretty, electricity-free cottages and a lovely lounge-library for guests. Soak in the wood-heated…
Bay of Plenty
Beach life comes no simpler than at this chilled-out holiday park. Cabins open onto shared decks with barbecues and their own toilet blocks, meaning that…
Bay of Plenty
Awarded NZ’s best motel in 2018 and 2019, One88 is styled more like a plush hotel than a motel. King beds sit in spacious rooms – the smallest is 50 sq…
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…
Bay of Plenty
Sitting pretty at the most beautiful end of the beach, this nine-room motel is gingerbread-cute after a fresh paint job and refurb. Rooms range from…
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…
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…
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…
Bay of Plenty
This Tuscan outlier offers a few rays of Italian sunshine with wrought-iron balconies, a summertime guest-only, pop-up pizzeria and wine bar, and little…
Bay of Plenty
This pocket of peace is squeezed into a remote corner between Ohiwa Harbour and a gorgeous ocean beach, 14km west of Ōpōtiki. Pohutukawa trees, phoenix…
Tauranga
A short stroll from central Tauranga, this well-established place has renovated studios with compact private courtyards, and brilliant harbour suites with…
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…
Bay of Plenty
Well-travelled owners Miria and Taroi combine a warm welcome with information on local Māori heritage, art and culture. Accommodation is in a self…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Bay of Plenty
Hide from the world, and wake each morning to the sight of steaming Whakaari (White Island), at this glass-fronted collection of cubes above a no-exit…
Ohope Beach Top 10 Holiday Park
Bay of Plenty
This vast complex is the very model of a modern holiday park, with a raft of family-friendly facilities: tennis, volleyball, minigolf, jumping pillow,…
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…
Bay of Plenty
Set on the main road a few blocks from the centre, this efficiently run, sharp-looking hostel is sociable but not party focused, with drinkers gently…
Bay of Plenty
With its white, glass-covered facade, this flashy beachside complex looks a bit like a cruise ship coming into dock. Two apartments get the full ocean…
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,…
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…
Rotorua
Built as flats in 1936, this heritage hostel retains original features, including deep bathtubs and geothermally powered radiators. Dorms have no more…
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…
Rotorua
Plonked on a rural hilltop surrounded by lush gardens, this interesting brick house takes the shape of three interconnected octagons, one of which…
Bay of Plenty
This cruisy, shoe-free beachside pad has a sunny, hammock-hung deck, sea views and a very wide sandy backyard. Beyond the dorms and breezy lounge are…
Rotorua
Beauty comes from within at this completely overhauled 1960s motel. The structure is unmistakably motel, but inside it delivers glitzy glam in spades,…
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…
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,…
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…
Bay of Plenty
Exuding a hostel vibe – communal kitchen, lounge, travel info – without hostel noise levels, Seagulls is an upmarket backpackers' gem, even if the…
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…
Bay of Plenty
If you're craving simple sandy times, Westhaven delivers, with its prime position on Pilot Bay. The basic furnishings of the one- and two-bedroom units…
Bay of Plenty
Away from the town centre, among a small scrum of motels on Landing Road, 37 is the standout and a general step up in motel comfort. The slate pillars on…
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…
