Okoroire Hot Springs Hotel

We’re really enjoying the peaceful stay and the chance to properly relax. The grounds are lovely, and the hot pools are fabulous, well cared for, though you do pay to get in. This is a review of the attached campground, not the hotel. It’s a very simple setup, best suited to a quiet break. There are no marked sites in the open field, so you pick a spot for an unpowered stay. A few power points are scattered near the toilet and kitchen buildings. Those blocks are dated and basic, but they work and are cleaned each day.

My son getting to play the piano made our visit extra special. Okoroire Restaurant has a warm, charming atmosphere and a fun vintage look that feels like stepping back in time. The food was good overall. Service had a few hiccups: it was slow, we weren’t given glasses at first, and someone asked about dessert before our mains arrived. Apart from those moments, things were fine and we still enjoyed ourselves. It’s a distinctive, nostalgic place with real character, though better timing from the staff would help.

We stopped for lunch while passing through. The food was excellent, but service took a long time: I waited an hour for a bowl of soup, so it’s not a good choice if you’re short on time. The hot springs were lovely, with a rustic, natural setting beside a flowing river. The hotel is also very cool, dating back to the late 1800s.

The staff are so friendly, and the hot springs are better than many places in Rotorua charging five times as much. It’s a hidden gem and one of the best old-school pubs left in the North Island, with tasty food and cold beer. I’ll have to try the 9 hole golf course next time. Highly recommend.