This is my favourite BBQ spot in Rotorua, and also one of my fav swimming spots. The Blue Lake is a very small lake, it’s nice and sheltered and calm. This spot does however get busy in summer as it’s a destination for water sports and has a very popular camping ground on its shores. My hot local tip is, if you want a less popular, hidden beach head to the other side of the lake, there is a lookout between the Blue and Green lakes, you can take a steep track down to the lake through the bush and there is a smaller beach here. Thank me later!

Hannahs Bay is great for BBQs and picnics; there is loads of space as the reserve is huge. It is also well-equipped with picnic tables, an onsite public BBQ, a changing shed and toilets… and of course great swimming on the shores of Lake Rotorua. Hannahs Bay is nice and easy to get to as it is only a few minutes from downtown Rotorua.

This spot is absolutely beautiful. On the other side of Lake Rotorua from Hannahs Bay it’s good to get out and discover the far side of the lake. The reserve is situated where the Hamurana Stream flows into the lake. It’s a popular fishing, swimming and walking spot. It’s also down the road from the beautiful Hamurana Springs, which I highly suggest you visit too.

It’s definitely worth the sahort drive out to Lake Rotoiti to enjoy the Hinehopu Reserve. Rotoiti is a tad more secluded and undeveloped compared to some of the other lakes. Hinehopu Reserve offers water-skiing during the summer, a great picnic and BBQ area and a playground for the kids. Check it out, you won’t be dissapointed!

The Rotorua Lakefront is an obvious choice, but also a great one. It has the best facilities, is easy to get to and is pretty much the hub of the city. There are often loads of events happening during summer; from markets to concerts and much more. It has full BBQ and picnic areas, and is also a short stroll from the city and beautiful Government Gardens.

I hate to put an obvious chain restaurant at the top of a Localist List, but really there is no better "family friendly" pub than Cobb & Co. I have the BEST memories of going to Cobb & Co as a kid. I felt like I was transported into the wild west and was a cowboy going for dinner and a drink (albeit usually a bright pink mocktail). They have an extensive kids menu, separated into toddler, little kids and big kids. They also do kids birthday parties. A real NZ institution that has been around forever, and with good reason.

Once again the Pig & Whistle makes one of my Top 5 lists; but damn this place is so cool I can’t help but include them again. Last mentioned in my Best Fries list, the pigtail fries are reason enough to bring the kids here, but really it has a great family atmosphere. It’s the kind of place you can bring Grandma and the kids and no one will fell out of place.

Located on Rotorua’s famed "Eat Streat" Brew is pretty family-friendly if you go early. They have things like yummy fries and pizza to keep the little ones happy. The outdoor area is spacious and has a great atmosphere, especially in summer.

This place is a little hard to find, but worth seeking it out. It’s part of the Best Western Hotel complex near Fairy Springs Road… which by chance is where Skyline Skyrides is, so it’s actually a great place to eat and have a drink after a fun day out on the gondolas and luges.

A great place to take kids. Our Backyard Pub has an awesome atmosphere, the staff are friendly and there is also a great outdoor area.

OMG, the beer-battered "pigtail" fries are amazing! I love this pub, it has so much history and is always busy and bustling. Killer food and drink too which is a bonus.

You might not this of the Blue Baths as a food destination, and while they don’t have a full restaurant, their bar snacks are killer. You have to try the Paprika Fries with rich aioli… match with an equally amazing craft beer from the bar of course.

An obvious choice for "Best Fries" being that they’ve won a "Best Fish and Chip Shop" award in the past… but hey Oppies is a Rotorua institution, so it’s always a sure bet. Also their fish is amazing, so pop in and grab both!

You wouldn’t normally expect an Italian restaurant to make top 5 list for Best Fries, but hey Ciccio do such amazing fries I had to add them. Served with their ‘famous’ roast garlic aioli you’ll want to order nothing but fries for dinner.

Grab a Guinness and some fries. The fries come with this AMAZING smokey BBQ sauce that I almost love more than the fries themselves. Yum!

I love Funky Green… it’s the kind of place I suggest to my quieter friends who want a more relaxed environment, or who value an eco-friendly business. Funky Green is the smallest hostel in Rotorua so you can avoid the loud, drunk idiots looking to get wasted and score a hot German backpacker. But in all seriousness Funky Green is a great place to stay; from the friendly staff to the beautiful backyard, you’ll feel right at home.

Crash Palace boasts being Rotorua’s cheapest and "most reviewed" hostel (which is true, they hold a pretty damn good score on Trip Advisor). Besides those two great facts Crash Palace is set in a funky character building packed full of NZ art. It’s also thermally heated so you’ll have great showers and be warm in winter... and they do pancakes on Sundays! What more could you want?

Free unlimited wifi! Spa pool! Well, that should be enough right there… but there’s even more to Rotorua Central Backpackers; located in a super-central location in Pukuatua right next to the Government Garden, Polynesian Spa, the information centre and loads of thermal attractions, this is a great place to set up base on your Rotovegas stay.

Rock Solid is, just as it says, rock solid. It ticks all the boxes such as centrally-located, free Wifi and a pool table… it’s one of the newer hostels in a more modern building, because of that it’s a bit more spacious and clean, but if you prefer character and quirkiness you might want to look elsewhere. BUT one thing that does make this place stand out is the rock climbing wall… yes, you heard it right. This place has a lounge that looks through glass windows to a rock climbing wall. Pretty awesome huh?

Spa Lodge is one of the cute little quirky hostels in Rotorua. Located in a heritage home right in the inner city it’s equipped with a natural mineral water spa and the whole place is also geothermally heated. They also have a cute little backyard with a BBQ, which as you can imagine is awesome in summer.

Crossfit is all the rage at the moment. Why? Because it is anything but boring! Crossfit focuses on variety by combining weight lifting and gymnastics with running, jumping, pulling, throwing, lifting and more. Te Arawa offer a free trial, so give it a try and you’ll be hooked!

Yoga is my favourite way to exercise; it’s low-impact and soooo relaxing. Yoga Studio Rotorua is one of the most popular and respected yoga studios in Rotorua. They practise Iyengar yoga, which focuses on correcting body, mind and breathing relationships. Great for beginners and experts. You’ll have Madonna arms in no time!

After a long hiatus I decided to get back into swimming, and boy I’m loving it. I used to go to the Rotorua Aquatic Centre when I was a little kid, and I’m so glad I’ve rediscovered it. This public pool complex in my opinion is the best in the region. They’ve got five pools; two lap pools: indoor and outdoor, a deep diving pool with a trampoline for the kids to bomb into, a newly build spa pool complex and an indoor kids paddling pool. The great thing about this is place is entry is cheap, and it beats a regular fitness class or gym. Give swimming a try!

One of the best gyms in Rotorua. The popularity of Profiles is in the fact that they offer the world renown Les Mills Group Fitness Classes. People love these classes because they are tried and tested and wherever you are in the world you know what to expect… so being a tourist town, Profiles is THE gym for visitors to the city. In addition to their classes, they also have state-of-the-art cardio and weight training equipment. Pop in now and chat to the team about how to achieve your summer bod!

Yummy Mummy is a great company. They focus on fitness for woman in a fun and supportive environment. You can pick from their famous Big Shape Up programme, bootcamp, boxing bootcamp or personal training. They understand that keeping motivated is important and use social group situations to keep you focussed.

Every Thursday night on Tutanekai Street between Haupapa and Pukuatua Streets you can stroll the Night Markets. Unlike other markets in the area that sell generic touristy wares, this market specialises in quality, boutique local food and produce, international cuisine and unique arts and crafts.

The Lake Tarawera Spring Fair is only but once a year (in spring of course!) but is is well worth the wait. Everything from sausage sizzles, art, donkey rides, kids stalls, crafts, paua fritters, baked goods and local produce. The fair has been running for over 20 years and is held on the Sunday of Labour weekend. Make it a day and head out to the beautiful Lake Tarawera.

This market is Rotorua’s oldest and most respected. It’s not a flea market, but more a craft and local produce market. You can get everything from fabrics crafts, woodwork, Maori art and handmade clothing through to locally produced products like honey, jams and chocolate. Get down there and discover a little treasure… and support local!

Everyone loves a Rotary Market! The Saturday Morning Rotorua Rotary Market is on every Saturday from 7am til 1pm in Kuirau Park, and draws a crowd of around 3000 people throughout the morning. Selling a plethora of bargains for locals and visitors from over 40 stalls including fresh fruit and vegetables, fast food, coffee, arts and crafts, wood, clothing, souvenirs, plants, pre-loved goods, candy, popcorn, meat, bread, and many more amazing items.

This market runs monthly over summer in the Rotorua Arts Village, at the corner of Hinemoa and Hinemaru Streets. Set on the village’s grassy tree-laden ground the markets incorporate locally produced art, crafts, jewellery, clothing, cards, woodwork and music…plus much more. They have a strict "no imported goods" rule which is great, as this is ruining a lot of other markets. They also aim to create a fun vibe with everything from music to dance and even hula hooping!