[jubjub]

Well we have bitten the bullet, and we are finally going to leave Auckland... only for a night though :exit :p

We have booked ourselves into a hotel on the edge of Lake Rotorua, http://www.millenniumhotels.com/MCIL.nsf/lu_hoteldoc/72$$hotelDescription?opendocument

I am looking for bright ideas, I know about the action stuff, but with the little fella thats kind of off the menu for this visit (unless we sit and laugh at hubby doing something dangerous!;) )

A nice restaurant recommendation for a main meal would not go amiss either!

Ta...

[Smiler]

I've a feeling this isn't gonna be much help unless someone can help me out with the name of the lake.

But you can do a nice genteel boat trip round the lake where the pink and white terraces used to be, on a little steam boat. There a really cool cafe at the lakeside too. It's in my paperwork somewhere, I'll hunt for it.

This looks good too http://www.skylineskyrides.co.nz/rotorua/ssr_gondola/ and I thought I read somewhere on here there is an all you can eat buffet at the top which was good. Maybe ruthyroo can help? please?

Then of course there all the dunking in the hot pools and walking round the geysers. :clap

[jubjub]

Smiler, think I found it, ta for the suggestion

http://www.waimangu.co.nz/boat.htm

[Smiler]

No worries. That's it!

We nearly put an offer in for it as the boat business, cafe and a 3 bed house that was up for sale for about $350,00 around 18 months ago. Like we know anything about boats :laugh:laugh:laugh Maybe it has new owners now.

[ruthyroo]

Better late than never.. yep the boat trip is a good one. It's on Lake Tarawera which is probably the most scenic of the Rotorua Lakes, and has great views of the volcano. Watch out for the hot water beach though - it's hard to get away from boiling water when you are standing in it! We used to live out at Tarawera and regularly kayaked from our house to the Landing Cafe for brunch of a weekend. The food there is excellent. While you are out there the Buried Village is another family friendly and easy access attraction (though you can't take the buggy on the steep waterfall walk), and has good cakes in the cafe. I'd also recommend Relish cafe in town for food. It's on the 'Streat" - the 'street' where you can 'eat'... ba-boom, doncha just love small town marketing!

If you are in town, you mght want to check out the Polynesian Spa. There is a childrens / family pool if the LO is up to bobbing in the warm water yet. And there's always the opportunity to leave your OH with him for some father-son bonding while you slip off for an Aix Massage in the spa next door...

Would also agree with the Skyline recommodation, it's a great way to see the city, the caldera and the views, and is not too expensive. Hey one night is just not enough!

Hell's Gate is a good, smaller, volcanic site, but I think I do prefer the Te Puia one, formerly Maori Arts & Craft centre. It's a pretty easy walk round and you also get to see everythign from mud pools to geysers to sulphur pits - and, if you time it right, a Maori cultural performance which is good fun.

Have fun!

[Avalon]

If you are in town, you mght want to check out the Polynesian Spa. There is a childrens / family pool if the LO is up to bobbing in the warm water yet. And there's always the opportunity to leave your OH with him for some father-son bonding while you slip off for an Aix Massage in the spa next door...

Would also agree with the Skyline recommodation, it's a great way to see the city, the caldera and the views, and is not too expensive. Hey one night is just not enough!
!
Me too on both of those! We have eaten at the Skiline a few times now (you have to pay for the gondola ride up to the restaurant so that can add quite a bit to the bill - but you do then get to use your ticket for ride up there the next day without paying again. And the food really is quite nice (way better by spades than the Buffet in the Auckland Skytower).

If you are thinking about the Polynesian Spa For treatments - do book it in advance - they dont tend to have appointments free on the day. You can book through thier website. I highly recommend it!

[jubjub]

Ta.

The gondola thing is a definite (they look big enough for his buggy!) we both love that kind of thing, and bub will too I reckon.

Our hotel is next to the spa, so will have a look at the website, not sure what we are doing about that yet, bub loves the water (and probably mud too if we can stop him eating it!)

[Ana&Steve]

I'd like to vouch for the Te Puia Park being on the list; there's a Maori Museum, a Maori woodcarving school where you can watch the students work and ask questions, geysers, boiling mud and thermal goings-on, several walking paths, Maori performances, and the best part (IMO), real kiwis! They are so cute!
Ana

[Jules]

Hi

We live in Rotorua and a restaurant I would recommend is The Loan Star, very nice meals :nice1

Do make sure you go to Lake Tarawera it is one of my favourite spots, so peaceful and calm.

Try and get to Paradise Valley Wildlife Park, you can pat the lion cubs at a certain time, we havent done it yet but hopefully soon.

Have a good day.

Jules

[Park City Partner]

There is a great area to go walking with Big Redwood trees. It is just on the edge of town but I don't remember the name. Ask at the i-site. I was pregnant last time we were there but I recall it would be friendly for your red pram! Have fun.

[pieeater]

Yes Te-Puia is good value and you can work off that evening meal by pushing the buggy round the redwoods.

[jubjub]

Well, we are back, and really enjoyed it.

Arrived Friday afternoon, and had a wander around Kuirau Park, and dangled our feet in the little hot pools, went to eat at the Fat Dog Cafe, a friend recommended it, but I have to say neither of us were that impressed, food was pretty average and staff not over friendly. We then went back to our hotel for the evening, the hotel was great, typical modern style, nice view into the courtyard, and right by the town centre and the lake. Staff were lovely.

Saturday, brekky at hotel (inc in our price) was pretty nice, bub got to scoff pancakes while we relaxed over sausages etc! We visited Skyline, got there just as it opened, by the time we left two hours later it was mobbed. We both did a luge ride, then hubby used up the rest of the 5 ride ticket trying to break the landspeed record for a scotsman down the advanced track on a plastic tea tray...... he loved it.

Back to hotel for a splash in the pool, quick beer then off out again for a trip to Agrodome, had planned to go in, as hubby wanted a Zorb, but Zorbing was a separate bit, so we just did that. he was grinning like an idiot when he fell out the ball at the end!

We then went to Te Puia Park, and that was great, we were lucky and did not have to wait long to see Pohutu Geyser do his thing. Saw the kiwi in his little house, the maori meeting house, and some pretty impressive looking mud pools bubbling away.

Back to town centre, had a wander to find somewhere to eat, had a drink in the irish bar, tried to go to Pig & Whistle for tea (no kids after 5pm, :mad: ), so back to irish bar, and the staff and food were much better than the previous evening. Hennessys I think it was called.

Sunday, as we had to leave around lunchtime we just went for a wander around Government Gardens, then for a swim in the hotel pool & home.

We had a good weekend, yup the place stinks, but just as well cos I forgot my deodorant :laugh !

We will go back when bub is older, and he can pat lion cubs and go on the luge with us, and we can catch up on the few things we fancied doing, but just ran out of time!

Pics are here, gave up with photobucket!

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/sallyannjohnstone/album?.dir=/5e83scd&urlhint=actn,ren%3as,12%3af,0

[Moorf]

Sounds like you had a ball - literally in the case of the Zorb!

Loved his tribute to Rio! :laugh

[Smiler]

Glad you had a nice time Sal. :cheers We loved Te Puia Park too and will go back there again.

I wondered where bub was too, thought you'd left him somewhere. :uhoh

[keeweescot]

We both did a luge ride, then hubby used up the rest of the 5 ride ticket trying to break the landspeed record for a scotsman down the advanced track on a plastic tea tray...... he loved it.

I've got a Flying Scotsman here who says he'll give your hubby a run for his money ;) He did his practice run in April and loved it too! boys eh :laugh although I must say, I might have had a couple or three shots too :D

[Ana&Steve]

I'm glad you liked Te Puia, it was a favorite for us. (One of many on the trip!) And I'm glad that the kiwi were still there; alot of Kiwis told us they had never seen one, so we felt lucky! We want to go Zorbing on our next trip. :D
BTW How much is Zorbing?
Ana

[jubjub]

Heres the details,

http://www.zorb.co.nz/menu.html

First go is $45

We saw two girls do a run in the Zorb together, they were straight back up the hill for another go!

[Ana&Steve]

Very cute site, thanks!
Ana