Tag Archives: romantic

VR Rotorua Lake Resort

Accommodation in Rotorua is tricky.

At one end you have dorm style back packer and at the higher end you have some boutique resorts.

Finding something in between is a challenge and weekends are particularly challenging (and a bit pricey). If you have the option plan ahead or do what we did and stay a little bit out of town.

The VR Rotorua Lake Resort is a family friendly hotel about 15 minutes outside of Rotorua on it’s own lake. Lake

The friendly staff are really helpful and the facilities whilst a little older are just fine!

Our room has quite a romantic feel with a spa tub that opens onto the main room. The main room opens on the grassed area infront of the lake giving us direct access to the jetty and vast lawns. It is a really tranquil and beautiful spot.

We arrive late so head straight for a hot tub and sauna. Both are delightful. The pool is a 28 degrees.

In the morning we get to use the kayaks free of charge and have a quick paddle on the lake. The lake is actually a series of locked lakes that cover a wide part of the country side.

We don’t eat at the resort but the restaurant serves until late and breakfast can be purchased additional to the room. There are tennis courts for those keen for a hit. All in all, we decide we will be back and might even bring the kids.

Volcano Winery Rotorua

It’s a dramatically cooling off day in Rotorua and a must-do is the skyline hill. There are a swag of activities to part take in, including wine tasting.

We head out to the Skyline and purchase the gondola ride (which is actually really worth it and reminds me of Switzerland) and 3 luge passes. The costings and options are here.

The wines are NZ wines and if you are not planning on going to a specific wine region this is the next best thing.

It’s actually quite an OK deal if you are traveling with children.

So off the gondola to the top. The ride takes you over the international Mons Extreme sports track which is stunning. We spot a herd of deers happily munching on the slops and as the climb continues draw breath at the quite spectacular views.

Once at the top, the clouds open up! Like teaming rain.

We decide to take shelter in Volcanic Hills Winery.

So we figure a wine is a good pause, especially as we are about to challenge ourselves to luge.

The staff at the winery are extremely friendly and feel like old friends. Even Georgia who assures us she is an introvert.

Delightfully indulged with wines (very approachable wines I might add), chit chasing with Johnny about his life and him inquiring about our, we whittle away a lazy few hours taking in the views of Rotorua.

It’s a wonderful incidental side trip.

OH – we decide not to luge as it was really cold and raining and very nicely they staff extended our expiring on the luge so we can revisit in a few weeks and use the passes then.

Highly recommend.

The Pink Coco Gili T

This is my second holiday to Gili T.

It’s a great ferry ride over and we are staying at the north western tip at a hotel called The Pink Coco.

Hotels on Gili are more expensive than Bali – mostly because they can charge more (captured audience) and they have to transport all the goods to the island.

I like the Pink Coco. It is pretty laid back, set out like a hotel but only 2 stories high, and lots of privacy from your deck.

We don’t spend a lot of time in our room anyway, Gili is an island for exploring and having little adventures.

The breakfasts are good – choice of local fare, great juices (try the dragon fruit juice) and they will top up your room with water when you request it.

The only caution about this hotel is the chlorine in the long pool. It turned my hair green. Well blue-green as my friends reassured me!