Best of Rotorua & Taupo
Best of Rotorua & Taupo
Naomi Lai
Available for hire
My favourite part of the North Island for outdoor adventures in Aotearoa New Zealand! And it's totally underrated. Yes, Rotorua smells like sulphur... but that's because it's like, literally otherworldly.
Neither Rotorua nor Taupō are culinary destinations - but I've rounded up some decent places to eat and drink when you're in town.
More details about pricing and where to find stuff on my blog: www.runawaytraveller.com/
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Tīrau
@naomilai
Just a silly little place to drive through if you're coming from Auckland. It has buildings shaped like sheep and a dog!
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Putaruru Blue Spring
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CURRENTLY CLOSED.
You can look, but you can't swim! It's free to visit.
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Hell's Gate Geothermal Mud Spa
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Sooo good for your skin! It's worth doing both the mud baths and the geothermal walk on site.
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Polynesian Spa
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Perfect for a little bit of luxurious R&R, and super convenient because it's walkable from basically anywhere in town.
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Kerosene Creek
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Free to visit. A naturally heated geothermal *river* (I had no idea that was even possible, so this really blew my mind.) It's certainly not as luxurious, but it's perfect to replace the expensive spas if you're on a budget.
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Waikite Valley Hot Pools
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A little less rustic and atmospheric than the others, but you can book a private spa for you and up to 4 mates for 25 bucks - not bad! This also includes access to the public pools once your hour is up.
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Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village
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You'll learn a little bit about Māori culture & history, and enjoy an extensive walk through bubbling, steaming lands.
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Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland
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This is a MUST! There are a bunch of geothermal walks in the area but this is by far my top choice.
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Te Puia - Rotorua, NZ
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More crazy steamy stuff! This one is unique because it's the only geothermal walk you can visit at night.
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Ngatoroirangi Mine Bay Maori Rock Carvings
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You can hop on a sailboat or rent kayaks to see it up close.
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Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre
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The National Kiwi Hatchery
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ZORB™ Rotorua
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Kuirau Park
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Huka Falls
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Free to visit! You can also take a speed boat tour to get closer, but I think the best view comes from the viewing platform/bridge just a short walk from the parking lot.
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Pig & Whistle, Historic Pub
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Food & drink-wise? Just another pub.
Vibe wise? There's an old cover band that performs on the weekends and there's something charming and small-towny about it all. I love it.
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Pataka Kai
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A buffet serving up seafood and Māori dishes like hāngī!
Make sure you schedule your meal here with a visit to Te Puia (see above).
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Crafty Trout Brewery & Restaurant
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Perfect in the summer for a flight on the upstairs patio with a view of the lake. OR, in the winter, they’ve got a great cozy little cabin-esque indoor atmosphere.
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McDonald's Taupo
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I'm in no way a McDonalds kinda traveller... but this one is in an old plane so that's pretty cool.
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Malabar Nepalese and Indian Kitchen
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An unlikely gem with tons of vegetarian options if that's your thing!
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