We recently stayed at Rydges Rotorua on a long weekend to the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand’s North Island.
Rydges Rotorua makes a big first impression. It’s sleek and spaciously modern with mesmerising views from the hotel room window looking out over the incredible Whakarewarewa geothermal valley. For families it ticks all the boxes.
There is a huge swimming pool and hot tubs with a natural backdrop that you can’t compare to anywhere else. The in-house restaurant is renowned as a favourite with locals in Rotorua and with so much to choose from we now understand the exact reasons why…
If you are looking for accommodation with a hotel in Rotorua that is close to all the activities, sites and epic things to do Rydges Rotorua is the perfect base for all of that with relaxation, comfort and ideal for families.
Here is our complete review and (honest) fantastic experience of staying at Rydges Rotorua.
Arrival and first impressions checking in to Rydges Hotel in Rotorua
We arrived around 4:00pm after a drive from the South Waikato over the Mamaku Range and were excited to check in.
We appreciated the spacious drive through arrival entrance to the hotel and large onsite free parking. Gavin found a park very close to the main entrance.
The check-in staff were accommodating and careful to make sure we had all the right information. It was a fast check-in with three staff behind the desk and multiple families checking-in at the same time.
Our room at Rydges Hotel in Rotorua. What are the rooms like?
We didn’t realise just how big the entire Rydges Rotorua complex is; but there are 203 rooms at the hotel! There is a range of rooms available over three floors offering varied rates and facilities.
We stayed in a Deluxe Queen Queen Room with two large queen-sized beds that was perfect for a family. It is a spacious room with a seating area by the window and a large place for luggage with a hanging open wardrobe.
The rooms are fully air conditioned with bath robes and slippers, unlimited WIFI, a modern bathroom and shower over the bath. Power plugs are conveniently located by the bed with a central bedside table.
There is a generous selection of tea and coffee including a coffee pod machine.
Our room had a fridge and included wine glasses, water glasses and tea and coffee mugs and cups.
I have to say though – aside from the extremely plush and comfortable queen-sized beds – the highlight of our room was the incredible view with a huge window looking out over the geothermal valley of Whakarewarewa. It was a treat to sit and watch the plumes of steam wafting in the valley at all times of the day and into the moonlight!
The hotel offers 24-hour room service.
- Check rooms, rates and availability at Rydges Rotorua.
Meals, and our dining experience at the in-house Chapman’s Restaurant
Chapman’s Restaurant at Rydges hotel is a well-known buffet dinner restaurant in Rotorua – and we can see why!
The dinner spread is seriously impressive.
We managed to reign the kids in at first to start with something light for the entrée and small for a main because they spotted the incredible dessert buffet station straight away.
There is a full station for entrées and salads with sliced meats and cheese, all types of fresh salads and cold seafood starter options.
For mains there is an even bigger buffet station with a great selection of roast meats sliced by a chef, hot curries, rice dishes and pasta, steamed and savoury vegetable options and a range of breads and condiments.
It was a brilliant way to finish a great first day at the hotel and at risk of admitting our excitement we were already all talking about what we were going to eat the next evening!
The dessert buffet station had different ice creams, cakes, puddings and pavlova (of course) with toppings in great Kiwiana style including chocolate fish and milk bottle sweets (delish!).
It really is a great deal for kids under 12 to stay and eat free with a paying adult guest.
- Tip: The buffet dinner at Chapman’s Restaurant is open from 5:30pm to 8:30pm.
What about breakfast?
The buffet breakfast in Chapman’s Restaurant each morning at Rydges Rotorua is amazing. The description of the breakfast spread needs no exaggeration. There is everything from continental mueslis and cereal with hot porridge and dried fruits and nuts to choose from.
The hot breakfast selection is extensive and different each day.
Gavin was a huge fan of the hot breakfast eggs and carved roast meat while the kids were first in line to the fluffy fresh pancakes with limitless syrups and jams.
There is an incredible selection of fresh fruit each morning including delicious sliced kiwifruit (fitting!). As well as an entire cold buffet with salads, sliced meats, cheeses and yoghurts.
I loved the fresh anti-oxidant and probiotic juices along with all the different pastries and noticed there is a sperate toast area for gluten free breads and pastries too.
There is an entire hot drinks buffet with a selection of tea and multiple espresso coffee machines.
It is an incredible start to the day!
- Tip: Chapman’s Restaurant is open daily for breakfast from 6:30am to 10:00am (and open until 10:30am on weekends).
Is breakfast included with accommodation at Rydges Rotorua?
There is the option when booking to include breakfast with your package to stay. (Definitely go for this option!).
Otherwise separate payment is available for hotel guests and walk-ins for breakfast.
- Full Buffet Breakfast: $39 NZD per adult
- Child Breakfast (Walk-In): $19.50 NZD 5-12 years
- Continental Breakfast: $27 NZD
Remember that kids under 12 stay and eat free with a paying adult!
- Check rooms, rates and availability at Rydges Rotorua.
What other facilities are there at Rydges Rotorua?
The hotel is amazingly set up with great facilities for relaxation and leisure.
The outdoors area has seating and swing chairs surrounding the large geothermally heated swimming pool and spa pools.
The Play Zone was a hit with our kids! There is table tennis and an air-hocket table as well as foosball (table football) and gaming as well as a soft play area with puzzles and games for younger children.
- Tip: The kids Play Zone is open every weekend and during school holidays from 8:00am to 9:30pm.
What we enjoyed most about our stay at Rydges Rotorua
It’s hard to choose just one highlight of our stay.
All four of us vote it is tied between the swimming pool and hot tub facilities and the delicious buffet dinner and breakfast at Chapman’s Restaurant!
The outdoor pool area is a great place to relax and for the kids (ha! Adults too!) to enjoy the pool. It was very popular with families during the daytime while we stayed and it is set with a beautiful backdrop of the steaming thermal valley behind.
The buffet dinner and breakfast was outstanding. All of us rated it as one of the best buffets we’ve had!
Any challenges or things we didn’t like?
Nothing springs to mind immediately as any kind of challenge or things we didn’t like about our stay. (That’s a good thing!).
Though I would have to say I’d categorize the service overall as adequate. There was nothing anyone did that helped to take our stay above and beyond what we expected hospitality wise.
The service was pretty average from check-in to check-out – neither good nor bad – bar the friendly lady server team in the morning buffet on Sunday for our final breakfast.
It would be nice to be able to say this hotel surpasses its competitors in this category in addition to the great food and facilities.
How is the Rydges Rotorua location?
The location of the Rydges Hotel in Rotorua is very central in the stunning Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley making it an ideal choice for accommodation in Rotorua.
- Rydges Rotorua
10 Tryon Street
Whakarewarewa
Rotorua 3010
There is a BP Service Station and convenience store just a few minutes’ walk from the hotel.
Getting to Rotorua
Rotorua is well connected with other North Island and New Zealand destinations by road and air.
The Rotorua Regional Airport is only a 10 minute drive from the hotel.
By road Rotorua is a three hour drive from Auckland with beautiful scenery and landscapes through the Waikato region to the Bay of Plenty.
- Auckland to Rotorua: 2h 39m (226 km)
- Taupo to Rotorua: 1h 7m (79.6 km)
There is free parking onsite at the hotel via the Froude Street entrance.
Electric Vehicle charging is available at $15 NZD per charge.
Overall impression? Would we recommend it and why?
Absolutely we would. We loved our stay at Rydges Rotorua and can highly recommend it!
The location is amazing for a great base to all the things to do in Rotorua. Though if you don’t want to leave the hotel for the pool and kids Play Zone and luxuriously comfortable rooms we understand too!
There is a lot of great things do in Rotorua and for families staying at Rydges Rotorua is a great choice to make the most of it all.
- Check rooms, rates and availability at Rydges Rotorua.
Other things to do in Rotorua during your stay
The Rydges Hotel is in the heart of Rotorua and makes a fantastic base for adventure activities and to see all the great things to do in Rotorua.
- Redwoods Tree Walk
- Te Puia
- Kuirau Park
- Mitai Maori Village
- Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
- Skyline Rotorua
- Rotorua Canopy Tours and Zipline
- Polynesian Spa
- Government Gardens
- Eat Street
Thank you to Rydges Rotorua. We were hosted for a fantastic stay, but as always, our reviews and thoughts are all our own!
More about New Zealand
- Franz Josef Or Fox Glacier?
- Family Friendly Walks In Franz Josef.
- Putaruru Blue Springs South Waikato.
- Wairere Falls Walk Near Matamata.
- 5 Things To Do In Russell Bay Of Islands.
- Visiting Milford Sound In Winter.
- Hooker Valley Track Mt Cook.
- Hiking Roys Peak Track In Wanaka With Kids.
About travel planning for New Zealand and beyond
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- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
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