Rotorua: Part 1
We finally made it to Rotorua, aka “Rotovegas” aka “Rotten-rua.” I’m going to divide my blog posts about this trip into two parts. The first will focus on where we stayed and where we ate while the second will focus on what we did. I was skeptical about making this trip because Rotorua has a reputation for smelling like rotten eggs. I’m not sure what I expected, but the sulphur smell from all of the geothermal activity was wafting around wasn’t nearly as bad as I had been led to believe. Every once in awhile we would get a whiff of the sulphur, but within a few minutes either we stopped noticing or it dissipated. So don’t be like me and put of a Rotorua trip just because of the smell - this place is shockingly amazing.
Where to Stay
There are a ton of options for a stay in Rotorua. AirBnb has loads of choices if you’d prefer to stay in a house, which would be my choice if going with a large group or with small children. There are options at every price range, and we found there were still a large number available even the week leading up to our trip. There is an entire strip of motels along Fenton street that appear to cater to families, and there are a number of hotels near Eat Street - a popular dining area with lots of restaurants clearly catering to the tourists. Most of these motels seem to charge around the NZ$100+ per room per night. We chose to stay centrally at the Pullman which is a glass monstrosity that is part of the Accor hotel network. Even though the tourism numbers are down in New Zealand thanks to the closed borders, there were still many hotels/motels that were completely booked during the school holidays. If you are interested in staying in some of the more iconic places, like the Rotovegas Motel, make sure you book early.
The Pulllman, however, was wonderful for us. As Accor members, we got an insane deal and we were able to get to end-of-the-hall rooms that we made into adjoining rooms by closing off the hallway door. Each room was about 40m2 with a separate sitting area. The rooms looked modern and were well maintained. The kids were endlessly fascinated by the TVs that could spin around to either face the bed or sitting area. The Pullman provided us with free internet and vouchers for complimentary drinks at the bar in the lobby. There is also the option to dine downstairs, either with a breakfast buffet or from a menu for lunch or dinner. Unfortunately, the room service offerings were extremely limited, so we never ordered off of it.
On a side note, our neighbours who usually take care of Tinsley weren’t available to dog sit, and we found the kennels in Auckland to be full. Fortunately, we found a wonderful place for Tinsley to go to puppy camp at Kaharoa Kennels right outside of Rotorua. Tinsley got to road trip with us and then spend her time in puppy paradise. The kennels were dirt cheap (NZ$22 per night!) and there’s the option to have your dog groomed right before pickup as they have an onsite grooming facility.
Where We Ate
There were plenty of incredible places to eat within a few minutes walk from the hotel. Some of the highlights include:
The Fat Dog - The kids requested breakfast here three of our mornings because the waffles simply couldn’t be beat. Fortunately, after ordering the kids their own plates on day one, we learned that the Fat Dog had no problem bringing out an extra plate to split one order between the two of them. The breakfasts are massive, sugary, and delicious. The kids loved it! (They also make a great coffee, so I was happy too.)
El Mexicano Zapata - Their tagline is “The Best Mexican Outside of Mexico” which to a Texan are fighting words. We had to try it. The owner, a Chilean who has been in New Zealand for decades, make everything fresh and was eager to provide Jon with the spiciest of spicy things in his kitchen. My pulled pork tacos were solid, and Jon’s nachos were appropriately huge. Things were good, but Kiwi-fied, meaning they added a slightly sweet aioli to everything because that’s what’s expected here. I think if you were to request no sauce, it would be better. Overall, though, a solid taco and I’m glad we tried this place!
Kia Ora Japan - When I think of Rotorua, I definitely don’t think of excellent sushi and Japanese food, but this little spot around the corner from the hotel was one of the shocking food highlights of the trip. Maybe we were so desperate for vegetables after days of eating heavier food that anything that wasn’t deep fried would’ve been great, but I don’t think that was the case. The food was super fresh and the serving were extremely generous. I’d go back in an instant. The restaurant is tiny and has limited hours, so be aware as you make your plans.
Mac’s Steakhouse - This is one of the big, touristy restaurants on Eat Street, but the food was good and one of the few places we returned to - mainly because my daughter couldn’t get enough fish and chips and their portion sizes were best. I had the duck gnocchi and lamb salad and both were excellent. My husband was less thrilled with their steaks, which is ironic since they are supposed to be beef experts. If you’re going to Eat Street, this is a place I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.
Indian Star Restaurant - This is another Eat Street venue, but one we only grabbed takeout from on our last night when we were exhausted, it was raining, and we discovered the extremely limited room service menu. The hotel was nice enough to provide plates and cutlery, and we picked up a few of our regular Indian dishes to get everyone fed and in bed. The verdict was unanimous, though, the chicken tikka masala and saag paneer were both delicious and something we would order again.
There is no lack of restaurant options in Rotorua proper, and even if you’re not staying in the city, it shouldn’t be any trouble to find a good place to eat. Parking was never an issue, and we were always able to find a free parking space. I wasn’t expecting much food-wise from Rotorua, and I left pleasantly surprised and feeling like I overindulged a bit too much - but that’s one sign of a good vacation.
