4 Ways to Kick your Rotorua Winter Weekend up a Notch!

Lake Rotoiti Hot Pools

4 Ways to Kick your Rotorua Winter Weekend up a Notch!

The kneejerk reaction to cooler weather and greyer skies is to stay indoors and put off holiday plans until the sunny Spring. But Rotorua has a slew of things to do during the winter to make any weekend a special one. So rather than park yourself on the couch from Friday night to Monday morning this season, get yourself out and doing with these 4 easy ways to kick the weekend into high gear! Your body and mind will thank you for it!

 

1. Discover the new Lakefront Boardwalk

There’s nothing quite like an easy morning stroll, coffee in-hand, alongside a serene lake. In fact, a walk outdoors in the fresh, crisp air to take in the beautiful scenery is just what the doctor ordered in managing corporate stress. And the newly opened Rotorua Lakefront Boardwalk is the ideal place to do just that. The wider walking pathways along the shoreline are close to Eat Streat for a bite afterward as well.

 

2. Take to the skies, and then to the hot pool! 

If your social calendar seems to quieten down a bit during the winter, switch to filling it with some short adventures! Now’s the perfect time to try something new, like an easy walk through the Waimangu Volcanic Valley, or some surprisingly winter-friendly water sports. You could also hop in a floatplane for a scenic flight around the region before landing at the secluded hot pools in Manupirua Bay (hint hint!). This is one of our favourite tours thanks to the combination of sight-seeing and true relaxation. It’s also a two-hour activity for all ages, so you can happily slot it into a day’s agenda with other activities as well.

Lake Rotoiti Hot Pools

 

3. Get out on two wheels

With the right gear, cycling is a year-round sport and for good reason; it allows you to get right into the thick of some of New Zealand’s most beautiful native forests for some exercise, but also for a calming and restorative return to nature. And if you already own a bike, it’s free! A perfect weekend activity when there’s no special occasion driving the schedule. Check out some great local trail tips and routes here.

 

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Biking through Whakarewarewa Forest. Image Credit: Destination Rotorua.

4. Warm food, happy belly 

An easy add-on to any weekend adventure is the perfect meal, and Rotorua’s restaurants have gastro options to die for. But to make the most of your Lakeside Boardwalk stroll this weekend, simply tack a really good coffee onto the experience. Here are a couple of picks to keep taking in the view while you also take in a piping hot beverage:

  • Consistently described as a great caffeine hot spot during a geothermal pool walking trip, Third Place Café offers incomparable views with their bites, and have won several Rotorua Hospitality Awards.
  • Ever the over-achiever, Lakeland Queen Cruises currently operates as a café from Wednesday to Sunday each week as well as the Rotorua staple boat cruise operator, and their lake vista game is as strong as their espresso.

 

Make the most of a clear, winter schedule this coming weekend by trying any (or all) of the above Rotorua places and activities, and you’ll have your own ‘special occasion’ on your hands.