Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort
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Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort
77 Robinson Avenue Holdens Bay, Rotorua 3010 New Zealand
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Avg. $193 /night, 1/22 - 1/23
$304
per night
$244
per night
$184
per night
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About
#4 of 4 resorts in Rotorua
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort is situated on the picturesque shores of Lake Rotorua in quiet parklike surroundings only 3 mins from Rotorua Airport,and 10 mins to the famous geothermal attractions of Rotorua. This award winning resort hotel features luxurious accommodation with private balconies or courtyards with views to the lake; New Zealand's award winning fine dining Mokoia Restaurant specialising in indigenous herbs and spices which creates amazing taste sensations including a daily full vegetarian menu; superb personal service; relaxing Manary English lounge bar and the internationally acclaimed Wai Ora Day Spa featuring the World Luxury Spa Award winning "New Zealand Cultural Spa "regime based on the geothermal muds of Rotorua and wellness practices of the Maori. Rotorua's only World Luxury Spa Award winner. Enjoy the tranquility of the landscaped gardens and serene sounds of the meandering spring feed stream as you enjoy the hot and cold pools, steam room and sauna that make up the Wai Ora Spa Water Experience. The ideal Rotorua relaxation, spa, food taste sensations destination and accommodation base for all other Rotorua activities.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Sauna
Pool
Bar / lounge
Beach
Airport transportation
Conference facilities
Parking
Wifi
Hot bath
Outdoor pool
Heated pool
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Spa
Concierge
Non-smoking hotel
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Self-serve laundry
Room features
Air conditioning
Room service
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Family Resort
Lake View
Location
77 Robinson Avenue Holdens Bay, Rotorua 3010 New Zealand
Getting there
276 Restaurants
within 10 kilometers
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We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
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Detailed Reviews
This hotel is located quite a ways outside of Rotorua, but is right beside the lake and only a short stroll to the water's edge. The room was quiet unless someone was talking right outside your door. The bathroom had a walk-in shower and plenty of hot water and counter space along with robes that could be used when making your way over to the two hot tubs, shallow warm pool or cold pool. The room key was attached to a plastic card that had to be inserted into a slot behind your curtain to activate the lights and heat/air. If you arrive after dark, it was a bit more challenging to locate the slot on the wall. We did like the tea/coffee options in our room along with the complimentary milk that was in the mini refrigerator. The king size bed had six pillows to choose from (firm to soft). However, the breakfast was disappointing compared to other hotels that I’ve stayed in within New Zealand. Our first morning, we had a small buffet with bacon, scrambled eggs and a few continental options. The bacon was very good and made up for the limited choices. The next morning, we only had the continental options along with a small menu (scrambled eggs with one slice of bacon or a ham, pepper and cheese omelet). The omelet was almost all egg with only a few tiny cubes of ham and very little cheese.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I visited on holiday, the rooms were clean and adequately appointed. The resort is a bit tired and for the cost of the online booking I expected more. The spa wasn't open on one of the days I visited but staff did accommodate by making a late evening booking the day I arrived. It was nice but should take bookings everyday as the "spa" in the hotel's name suggests. The staff were lovely and attentive but the hotel was a bit shabby.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I would have liked to rate it good but I cant
Its a long way from town and literally in the middle of nowhere so it you don't have transport of don't want to drink and drive you are stuck unless you walk to McDonalds
Facilities are ok
BUT gardeners digging up trees all day on 6th Jan is not conducive to relaxation.
They worked until well after 7
View of lake is good but people vaping below your room is not nice
The staff were pleasant and helpful, they had to do everything from checking guests in etc. to waiting on tables in restaurant.
Housekeeping quite spotty.
There is FREE laundry
Parking is ok
Room quite nice
on first night ate in on site restaurant which was very good
If the weather had been better wopuld have been a great retreat to relax but it was poor so made you feel very isolated.
It wasnt cheap.
Its a long way from town and literally in the middle of nowhere so it you don't have transport of don't want to drink and drive you are stuck unless you walk to McDonalds
Facilities are ok
BUT gardeners digging up trees all day on 6th Jan is not conducive to relaxation.
They worked until well after 7
View of lake is good but people vaping below your room is not nice
The staff were pleasant and helpful, they had to do everything from checking guests in etc. to waiting on tables in restaurant.
Housekeeping quite spotty.
There is FREE laundry
Parking is ok
Room quite nice
on first night ate in on site restaurant which was very good
If the weather had been better wopuld have been a great retreat to relax but it was poor so made you feel very isolated.
It wasnt cheap.
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We recently stayed here for 3 nights. On arrival I was disappointed with the room and facilities it offered. We had booked this through Hotels.com and the description said the room had a separate dining area and a spa bath in the bathroom. There was no bath only a shower and there was no dining area. This may be the fault of Hotels.com of course. The other facilities were also very lacking. We had to ask constantly for things, such as mugs for our coffee (as we had one between two of us) which would then be cleared away by the housekeeping staff, so we would have to get them again. The tea, coffee, milk and toiletries were not replenished during our stay. When I asked about towels for the pool, I was told use the room towel then phone up for it to be replaced. Although this may seem reasonable, it is a nuisance to keep having to ask for things that should be supplied. The staff were helpful but I got fed up of asking and waiting for things. Why when I asked for a towel couldn’t I be given one then? As this is called a resort there was not a relaxing atmosphere about the hotel. I saw only one sun bed in the whole of the hotel and that was in the hot tub area, which was a small and enclosed area, instead of the nice open lawned area. The hotel gave you more of a motel feel than spa resort.
The restaurant had a much smarter appearance than the rest of the hotel. On our first night we asked to book a table for 7pm, we were told that the restaurant was very busy then so would 6:30 be ok. We agreed. On arrival at 6:30 no one else was in the restaurant and no one else arrived until about 7:15. When we left at 8pm there were only 2 other couples in there. We ordered our food quickly but did not receive anything to eat until at least 45 minutes later! When it did come some of my steak was over cooked. This restaurant is expensive and vegetables and potatoes must be ordered as extra because if anything is stated on the menu as coming with it, the portion is tiny. The food did taste very nice. We were given one dessert between us when I complained about the wait and my steak being overdone. The restaurants may have won awards as advertised but I did not choose to eat there again.
There are many take away restaurants near which offer a good alternative and it was nice to have it by the side of the lake.
We did not try the breakfast so cannot comment.
The location is good for visiting what Rotorua has to offer and being on the lakeside is nice. The pictures show this hotel as much better than it is.
The restaurant had a much smarter appearance than the rest of the hotel. On our first night we asked to book a table for 7pm, we were told that the restaurant was very busy then so would 6:30 be ok. We agreed. On arrival at 6:30 no one else was in the restaurant and no one else arrived until about 7:15. When we left at 8pm there were only 2 other couples in there. We ordered our food quickly but did not receive anything to eat until at least 45 minutes later! When it did come some of my steak was over cooked. This restaurant is expensive and vegetables and potatoes must be ordered as extra because if anything is stated on the menu as coming with it, the portion is tiny. The food did taste very nice. We were given one dessert between us when I complained about the wait and my steak being overdone. The restaurants may have won awards as advertised but I did not choose to eat there again.
There are many take away restaurants near which offer a good alternative and it was nice to have it by the side of the lake.
We did not try the breakfast so cannot comment.
The location is good for visiting what Rotorua has to offer and being on the lakeside is nice. The pictures show this hotel as much better than it is.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
From the initial e mail stating early check in would incur a $30 per hour fee to the copious amount of info required when checking in I had my reservations about the “resort “ Glasses and cups were not clean. All the outside chairs had bird droppings on them. When we got back our room which had been serviced which entailed only new towels but they did not even make the bed. This is the first time ever we have never had the bed made when our room has been serviced.Mugs and glasses once again not clean. Received another email this morning late check out will incur a $30 penalty. No fear we will flee at first light never to return.
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Date of stay: February 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My friend brought this lovely get away for my 50th Birthday and finally we were able to lock in a weekend to go away.. we had both had a hard stressful year, so this was the treat we needed.. On arriving to our destination, the first thing we noticed was all the overgrown grass and dandelions at the entrance to the resort, it looked very untidy. On entering the car park it was quite clear that there hadn't been a gardener or grounds person for some time.. we got shown to our room (dust and cobwebs all on the tiled floor of the entrance to where we needed to go) our room only had one bed! my friend had specifically asked for 2 beds, lights not working in the bathroom..so we then got moved to another room.. where they had to make up the pull out couch as the 2nd bed.. Cleaning in general was very poor, plughole in sink dirty, the rubber strip on edge of shower hanging off, the fridge was leaking and barely working so we had to put towels down..
Then we get told if we want to dine in the restaurant, there is no liquor licence!! come on now this is the weekend, and busy times ahead.. so we decided on room service that night.
The next day again another stuff up, we booked a double massage and arrive there and get told one of the workers hadn't turned up to work so we would have to do the massage seperately!! so then we had to re book for the next day, the massage was very nice, and they were very apologetic about the muck up..
all the outdoor spa area needed a good waterblast and sweeping, cobwebs etc
The saving grace of this place was the chef! , the food was fantastic , credit to him.
It really needs a good sprucing up and maintenance done in all areas..
Then we get told if we want to dine in the restaurant, there is no liquor licence!! come on now this is the weekend, and busy times ahead.. so we decided on room service that night.
The next day again another stuff up, we booked a double massage and arrive there and get told one of the workers hadn't turned up to work so we would have to do the massage seperately!! so then we had to re book for the next day, the massage was very nice, and they were very apologetic about the muck up..
all the outdoor spa area needed a good waterblast and sweeping, cobwebs etc
The saving grace of this place was the chef! , the food was fantastic , credit to him.
It really needs a good sprucing up and maintenance done in all areas..
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Date of stay: November 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: Noise wise the room was fine, just the outlook to seeing overgrown grass and road cones on the...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Let me start by saying I would normally never give a 1 rating but the for the Wai Ora I have to make an exception.
We’ve stayed here several times & were always happy with the accommodation & service, especially the restaurant & cozy bar area so we booked again for a special break.
What a letdown. First they told us, after check in & paying, that the restaurant was no longer the Pacific Rim cuisine as advertised but now only Chinese cuisine. Their website & all their other advertising is still promoting the ” classy Mokoia Restaurant “.
Then we returned to our room to find the rain had leaked in all over my camera gear & soaked the couch & carpet. It was also coming through the light fitting.
From there things went downhill quickly. This was 9:30 p.m. & the whole place was deserted. I tried to call on the room phone but it was dead so I had to use my mobile. Initially there was no answer and a message said the voice mail was full.
When we were finally able to contact someone their attitude was dismissive and totally unhelpful. They immediately went on the defensive. They said the leak was due to a heavy rainstorm that night. Well, we kinda guessed that, we’d been out in it. They were totally unconcerned that thousands of dollars worth of camera gear might have been damaged and were intent on pointing out their issues due to being fully booked later in the week.
We had to argue to get moved to a dry room and told we’d have to move back into the leaky room the next day as they were fully booked over Easter. It was after 11 by the time we got to bed.
It’s a real shame, this used to be one of our favourite places to stay but we’ll not be going there again.
We’ve stayed here several times & were always happy with the accommodation & service, especially the restaurant & cozy bar area so we booked again for a special break.
What a letdown. First they told us, after check in & paying, that the restaurant was no longer the Pacific Rim cuisine as advertised but now only Chinese cuisine. Their website & all their other advertising is still promoting the ” classy Mokoia Restaurant “.
Then we returned to our room to find the rain had leaked in all over my camera gear & soaked the couch & carpet. It was also coming through the light fitting.
From there things went downhill quickly. This was 9:30 p.m. & the whole place was deserted. I tried to call on the room phone but it was dead so I had to use my mobile. Initially there was no answer and a message said the voice mail was full.
When we were finally able to contact someone their attitude was dismissive and totally unhelpful. They immediately went on the defensive. They said the leak was due to a heavy rainstorm that night. Well, we kinda guessed that, we’d been out in it. They were totally unconcerned that thousands of dollars worth of camera gear might have been damaged and were intent on pointing out their issues due to being fully booked later in the week.
We had to argue to get moved to a dry room and told we’d have to move back into the leaky room the next day as they were fully booked over Easter. It was after 11 by the time we got to bed.
It’s a real shame, this used to be one of our favourite places to stay but we’ll not be going there again.
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Date of stay: March 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had seen the bad reviews on Trip Advisor but they seemed to be people upset about the spa and restaurant, or people with high expectations from Wai Ora's advertising who were let down. We went into this planning to avoid the spa and restaurant, just expecting a basic place to stay, and were still disappointed. Our room looked like it hadn't been vacuumed. There was dust on the shelf, and dead bugs all over. They left a note about lake flies, and we can understand that it's hard to get rid of live lake flies, but if the walls have a web of dead flies, that should be cleaned by the cleaning staff before renting the room out. There were a few holes in the walls. The bathtub looked really nice but we didn't use it because it was dirty. The sheets even had some blood stains on them. Bed was very uncomfortable and hard to sleep on. The hotel is also very creepy at night with hallway lights turned off and the front entrance closed. We cut our trip short and stayed at a different hotel after two nights. The reason I didn't give one star is they had given us a free upgrade and refunded the night's that we stayed at the other hotel.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The whole place was dirty - outdoor pool and ‘spa’ were filthy.
The place has a real problem with flies and these covered the walls inside. There was a note in the room claiming this would happen if doors and windows were left open but even though we didn’t there were loads, making me think the room hadn’t been cleaned.
They provide bug killing spray but then they fell off the walls onto our beds. I ended up cleaning them off the walls and ceiling so we could sleep without them falling on us. Considered sleeping in the car.
Restaurant wasn’t open.
Did get a full refund the next morning after initially being offered 50% back.
Would recommend staying literally anywhere else, it’s grim.
The place has a real problem with flies and these covered the walls inside. There was a note in the room claiming this would happen if doors and windows were left open but even though we didn’t there were loads, making me think the room hadn’t been cleaned.
They provide bug killing spray but then they fell off the walls onto our beds. I ended up cleaning them off the walls and ceiling so we could sleep without them falling on us. Considered sleeping in the car.
Restaurant wasn’t open.
Did get a full refund the next morning after initially being offered 50% back.
Would recommend staying literally anywhere else, it’s grim.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There is not a great deal to mention with the hotel.
It is advertised as a "Resort". If you've ever been to a "Resort" before, mark my words. Disappointment.
Room is clean. Bed is hard. Towels are very nice, so are the Bath robes.
All in all, not worth the price we paid. We were attending an event in Rotorua, which usually has facilities bump up the price.
Budget hotel, with OK staff.
It is advertised as a "Resort". If you've ever been to a "Resort" before, mark my words. Disappointment.
Room is clean. Bed is hard. Towels are very nice, so are the Bath robes.
All in all, not worth the price we paid. We were attending an event in Rotorua, which usually has facilities bump up the price.
Budget hotel, with OK staff.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Megan, Thank you for your inquiry.
On Sunday- 5.06.16, we have only one availability at the moment at 9am in the morning for either 1 hour miri miri massage ($135) or 1/2 hour miri miri massage ($85). However, our all spaces are getting filled out very quickly so please let me know ASAP.
You can ring on 073435100 to make a booking.
Thank you again.
Wai Ora Management
I don't know about the fishing. You can contact the resort. Yes, I was on an OAT trip. Fantastic!
Jeanette M asked a question Feb 2015
Cheboygan, Michigan, United States25 contributions1 helpful voteAre rooms equipped with hair dryers?
Yes. Also, washers and dryers are available at the resort. I think there is even no charge to use them!
You can look it all up on their website which gives full details and will and your questions.
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PRICE RANGE
$180 - $244 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
wai ora lakeside hotel, wai ora lakeside resort
LOCATION
New ZealandNorth IslandBay of Plenty RegionRotorua DistrictRotorua
NUMBER OF ROOMS
30
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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Claim Your ListingWAI ORA LAKESIDE SPA RESORT | UPDATED 2025 Reviews & Price Comparison (Rotorua, New Zealand) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort
Which popular attractions are close to Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort?
Nearby attractions include Volcanic Air (4.5 km), Redwoods Treewalk (5.0 km), and ZORB Rotorua (7.2 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, a pool, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort?
Conveniently located restaurants include EL Mexicano Zapata Cantina, El Mexicano Zapata Express, and Barrel & Co..
Are there opportunities to exercise at Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort?
Yes, guests have access to a pool and a sauna during their stay.
Are any cleaning services offered at Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Does Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers a business centre, meeting rooms, and a banquet room.
Are there any historical sites close to Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village (6.2 km), Te Puia (6.6 km), and Government Gardens (4.1 km).
Does Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the lake view available here.