With so many adrenaline-inducing activities and guided tours it is easy to forget to take a few minutes to relax and soak up the beauty of Rotorua. Some of the best lake views in the region can be enjoyed for nothing more than the price of a coffee. And at Real Rotorua we really love our coffee. Here are some of our favourite places to sip on a Flat White while enjoying the views.
Aorangi peak Restaurant, Mount Ngongotaha
Take the car and head all the way up Mountain road where you’ll find this beautiful restaurant & café perched at the top of the Mount Ngongotaha. With panoramic views of both city and lake, it is the perfect place to plan your weekend activities while drinking an organic coffee made with natural spring water.
Third Place
The Third Place café has floor to ceiling windows overlooking St Faith’s Church, Ohinemutu and Lake Rotorua. Head there for your early morning coffee fix and you won’t be disappointed by the views. With steam floating up from the living Maori village below and the morning sunlight reflecting off the lake you are sure to order a second long black, just so you can savour the moment.
Lake front, Rotorua
Grab a take away coffee from Picnic Café or the lovely Terrace Kitchen and wander down to one of the benches along the lake front walkway. Observe the meandering tourists, the children chasing seagulls and the black swans cruising the lake, while warming your hands on your coffee cup. Even better, if you have kids you can watch them enjoying themselves on the perfectly situated playground while you get your caffeine fix.
Market Kitchen Café, Skyline Rotorua
Ride the Gondola to the top of Mount Ngongotaha and grab a coffee from the Market Kitchen Café. The tables on the outside terraces provide the perfect location to soak up the glorious lake views and watch lugers ascend on the chairlift. And if you’d like some adrenaline to join the caffeine in your bloodstream, you too can speed down the mountain on a luge. Or even better, try out the Zoom Zipline or Skyswing.
The Landing, Lake Tarawera
Perfectly situated on the edge of Lake Tarawera, with Rotorua’s dormant volcano looming ominously in the distance, this is a glorious spot for a coffee at any time of day. Outdoor seating in the summer and an open fire in winter also make this an all-year-round experience that is not to be missed.
