This place holds a special place in my heart; we used to come here a lot as kids. Growing up in Rotorua you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to trout fishing. This is a great spot because the setting is pretty special, with cute trout pools and little water falls nestled amongst green hills and bush. Also, the fishing is great!

Lake Rotoma has produced some amazing fish, and my Dad can attest to that! He enjoys wading at Oneroa Beach during spawning season. Also shallow water trolling is popular. Rotoma is the only lake in the Eastern area where tiger trout have been released, so you might have a chance of netting one of them too!

This place is a great destination if you are a novice or you want to give the kids a choice to learn to fish. You can learn to fly fish and catch a rainbow trout on specified days between July and November at the hatchery in Rotorua. Run by the Rotorua Anglers Association, this is a pretty special spot and helps encourage the sport in the area.

With Mt Tarawera making for a breathtaking backdrop, Lake Tarawera is world renowned not only for its beauty and also for the size and condition of its trout. There are also several great Department of Conservation camping sites around the shores, so this is a great holiday spot too.

This channel joins Rotorua and Rotoiti lakes. It’s open from October until June for fly fishing only. The best times are spring and early summer when a lot of food is running through the channel encouraging loads of trout.

I’ve been going to Lady Jane’s since I was a kid and I STILL get excited about going here. Not only is the selection amazing, but the ice cream is so tasty, and… it’s right by the Lake Rotorua Waterfront so you can grab your ice cream and then go for a stroll.

Absolutely yummy ice cream, regular style, sorbet and soft-serve all served in amazing waffle cones. This place is SO popular in summer which just goes to show how great it is.

This place is more than just a dairy, they sell loads of unique food and also coffee… and of course amazing ice cream that is great value. Also, of course, the best thing is it’s right by the beach!

This is at the upper-end of the scale, but damn this premium Italian gelato place is worth every penny! Amazing and unique flavours and generous servings.

When I’m driving between Tauranga and Rotorua I always love to have a bit of a travel stop here an indulge in some yummy ice cream. And true to form of a small town, this little ice cream parlour in Te Puke is great value. Check it out!

A hidden gem in Rotovegas, and for sure the best best fish and chips I’ve ever tasted. One of the few places fish shops where you can really taste the fish. The batter is light and crispy, just the way it should be. I’ve been told it’s because the owner changes the oil regularly and only uses the freshest fish. This place is such a winner!

The Fish and Chip Shop have got it right, they have all the favourites you’d expect cooked to absolute perfection… fresh fish that’s actually FRESH OMG soooo yum! The staff are super friendly too.

Bellevue Takeaways has great variety on the menu. This place is pretty popular and every time I go there was quite a long queue and wait for our order (but this is a good sign!) so I suggest calling ahead and placing your order.

I don’t often go out to Ngongotaha, but was pleasantly surprised at this place. This place had great value and excellent tasting takeaways up with the best you’ll find in Rotorua. Crisp, non-greasy batter dipped fresh fish and generous portion of fries. Highly reccommended.

Lovely fresh seafood, brilliant burgers and amazingly yummy pineapple fritters! Have had several meals from Ocean Chip Shop now and have never been disappointed. Great service, and the wait is never too long. Get in quick while this place is still a secret!

Mokoia is fine dining at its best. They have won multiple industry awards in addition to awards and top rating on the much-respected traveller’s bible Trip Advisor. Mokia is renowned for using the freshest seasonal NZ produce and indigenous herbs ans spices to encapsulate an authentic NZ taste.

Bistro 1284 has a more rustic and cozy appearance, but the food is still fine dining that rivals Mokoia. Bistro 1284 is also award laden, and has been particularly successful when it comes to NZ beef and lamb. The menu fuses fine European dining (particularly French) with traditional NZ dishes. The menu is not too over-whelming and is well-curated. Price float around the $35-$40 mark.

Aorangi Peak has long been a Rotorua favourite, especially for visitors who want to enjoy the amazing views from atop Mt Ngongotaha. Well the view is not the only draw card, Aorangi Peak also boasts one of the most impressive menus in the Rotorua region with an array of the highest-quality ingredients. The cost of their mains reflect the quality, with most dishes in excess of $40. This is a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience.

Leonardo’s was once Rotorua local’s little secret, but after rave reviews and taking out the top spot at the local hospitality awards their popularity has gone through the roof. You can always count on Italian to satisfy and Leonardo’s does not disappoint… and more-so will exceed your expectations with stunningly authentic Italian that belies its low-key and humble premises.

Skyline Skyrides is my absolute number one thing to do in Rotorua. Even though I’ve been dozens of times from my childhood through to just a few months ago as an adult, this place doesn’t get old. Firstly the ride in the gondola up Mount Ngongotaha is spectacular and secondly (the biggest drawcard) the downhill luge rides are awesome fun! A go-cart/toboggan hybrid, the luge is a cool little vehicle that you can race down Mount Ngongotaha’s specially designed tracks through lush forests. Trust me this is a guaranteed fun day out for all the family.

There are many Geothermal parks in Rotorua and it’s really hard to decide which one to go to. Most of them are jam-packed with tourists and very, very over-priced. I prefer Waimangu because they take more of an "eco-tour" approach to their park. The settings are a bit more natural and you can take your time to hike around alone (or take a tour if you prefer). Such a magical place

Paradise Valley Springs is one of New Zealand’s best wildlife parks. The major drawcard here are the lions, and the fact that you get the opportunity to pat and hold lion cubs (soooo cute!). There’s also lots of other animals to see and fun things to do at the park including the treetop walkway, farm animal tour, trout and eel hatchery and various bird aviaries. And to top it off the park is set amongst the most stunning natural scenery you could wish for.

Explore Mokoia Island in the centre of Lake Rotorua. The island is a protected bird sanctuary, but you can visit with a guided tour. Learn about it’s rich historical significance to the Maori, have a soak in Hinemoa’s Pool and catch a peak at native birds such as the Kakako and Saddleback.

No day out in Rotorua is complete with a dip in some hot springs… and Polynesian Spa is a must do. Relax in natural hot water spas forged into the shore overlooking the volcanic arm of Lake Rotorua. You may even want to shell out extra for a private spa, massage or mud treatment.

Made my list a few months back as one of Rotorua’s best Italian restaurants, and it also makes this list as one of the best pizza restaurants too. This is creeping a little closer to fine dining at around the $20 mark for a pizza, but it is worth every carefully-considered bite. I particularly love the Brilli-peri, with parma ham, gorgonzola, walnuts, tomato and rocket.

I love this place! The atmosphere is so cool and quirky and the staff are amazingly friendly, but above all the pizza is damn great. Pizza Library pack on all sorts of exciting toppings and the pizza sizes are more than generous. Some of the more uniques pizzas are the butter chicken and roast lamb pizzas, to name a few. My personal favourite is "The Bibe" with sausage, pepperoni, smoked bacon, caramelised onions, mozzarella & smoked bbq sauce. So many smokey, meaty flavours it’s heaven.

You just can’t beat traditional, Italian, wood-fired pizzas… and Capizzi Pizzeria do damn amazing ones! The flavour options are all the usual suspects you’d expect from a traditional pizza restaurant, but the ingredieants are always fresh and of the best quality. Yum!

I may be shot by die-hard pizza connoisseurs, but I had an amazing pizza the last time I was here. I must admit that I’ve only tried one, but man when you look at the menu the topping combination look so interesting. I got the gourmet sausage, capsicum, mushroom, jalapeños, tomato relish and natural yoghurt pizza. The joy of going her is that this place also has a rad atmosphere and AMAZING craft beers.

This is a cute and cozy rustic Mediterranean restaurant that has quickly become a Rotorua institution. They do basic but overwhelming tasty traditional pizzas… the last time I went I ordered a pizza with feta, caramelised onion, capsicum and tomato because my friend was a vegetarian. I thought I’d freak over the lack of meat… but damn it was SO TASTY!