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City Lights is a Boutique Lodge half way up Mount Ngongotaha overlooking Rotorua with spectacular views over the city and surrounding countryside, only 8 mins drive from the city centre. We have 3 en-suite rooms with all the comforts of home.Our fantastic facilities include a guest lounge with computer station including FREE WIFI, real fire and heat pump/air conditioner, outdoor spa overlooking the city, gym with infrared sauna. Continental breakfast included for B&B guest rooms.
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
Modern
Boutique
Languages Spoken
English, Chinese
Location
56c Mountain Road Western Heights, Rotorua 3015 New Zealand
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We arrived to a wonderfully warm welcome, David and Grace could not have been more friendly. We stayed in the self contained cottage and found it well equipped with everything you could need including a washing machine and tumble dryer. The small extras like tea, coffee, milk, butter, cereal and cooking oils were really appreciated. The hot tub was perfect with lovely views. Even the resident alpacas came to say hello. Location is away from the busy town, very peaceful with great views, but close enough for a quick drive in for meals.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Rooms
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.
Response from citylights10, Owner at City Lights Boutique Lodge
Responded 25 Feb 2020
Thank you very much for your review. We are very happy that you enjoyed your stay with us also enjoy meeting and feeding our alpacas, they are lovely pets to have and we also enjoy keeping them. We are very happy that your enjoyed you stay with us thanks again.
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My husband and I recently stayed in the Kiwi Room and were sad to leave. The place is clean and modern. When we arrived, it was after a long day from our visit to Hobbiton, and David and Grace greeted us, celebrating our anniversary with custom towel foldings, allowing us to feed the goofy and cute alpacas, and telling us about all the various activities / delicious restaurants around Eat Street.
We only stayed for 2 nights, but it was a convenient location to town, the nearby Kiwi hatchery in Rainbow Springs, etc.
The shower was glorious. I wasn't able to take advantage of Grace's professional beautician skills, and neither my husband nor I are fans of saunas, but they have that on premises.
It was such a pleasure to sit and look at the the majestic scenery (and alpacas).
Since we had skipped the breakfast, Grace packed us some homemade black sesame-topped almond cookies and a bag of fruit for the road - and they came in handy and were delicious on our trip to Tongariro!
It was quiet and a lovely place to stay. We came during the end of summer, so temperature was great, although if it gets much hotter, I think the place doesn't have central AC, so you need a fan to cool off.
Book your stay here- you won't regret it.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Cleanliness
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.
If you like to stay at a small cozy B&B with grate breakfast this one would be yours. David and Grace the hosts are very friendly and helpful.
The breakfast is excellent with Tea, Coffee (Espresso machine), fresh fruits or Muesli and few others.
A nice touch is as well feeding the Alpacas that David and Grace are raising. They will provide you with good insights about the area and even Grace is trained in giving massages.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Rooms could be a bit bigger but they have a quite nice view.
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.
Response from citylights10, Owner at City Lights Boutique Lodge
Responded 25 Feb 2020
Thank you for your review. We are happy that you enjoyed your stay with us and found the information we gave you helpful We're glad you liked the massage and breakfast too. Grace & David
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David and Grace were very nice hosts. The Lodge is situated up above Rotorua so you need transport to get into town. The facilities are fine however we didn’t like the room that we had as it was very claustrophobic. It is described as having a mountain view but this is very limited. The view is more of the back yard and lemon tree. The only window is above the bed so if the window is ajar to let in some air it is directly above your head when sleeping. We saw a glimpse inside the adjacent rooms and these looked far more appealing with both a view over Rotorua and patio doors onto the terrace. We could ourselves sit on the the terrace and could also use the jacuzzi if we wanted. Be careful of which room you choose.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip: Avoid the ‘mountain view’ room.
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 lodge is owned and run by a charming and helpful couple, David and Grace. You need to be aware that it is a small hotel with only 5 bedrooms so there is an intimacy, absent from larger hotels, that you get from interaction with other guests at breakfast. All the facilities are modern and first rate. The lodge has its own small herd of alpacas, which may appeal to families with young children. It is situated on the rural outskirts of Rotorua so a car is necessary for travel into the city centre. We spent 3 very pleasant nights here. However, for maximum comfort for this length of stay, or longer, we would recommend booking the suite and not one of the smaller rooms.
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Date of stay: October 2022Trip 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 our arrival on, it could not have been better. The amount of time that David and Grace spent explaining the location, amenities and area was exceptional. The house is immaculate and the attention to detail second to none. We could have spent the whole evening with the alpacas; they are enchanting. The room was superb with a wonderful view over Rotorua. Breakfast delicious and beautifully presented. Nothing was too much trouble, can’t recommend highly enough. Must return!
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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.
Response from citylights10, Owner at City Lights Boutique Lodge
Responded 25 Feb 2020
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We are so happy that you enjoyed your stay with us so much and appreciated the tips we gave you so that you could make the most of your time in Rotorua. It was lovely meeting you both and we do hope that we meet you again one day. We hope you enjoy the rest of your time in New Zealand too. Thanks again, Grace & David
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What a great place to stay. City Lights is in a great location tucked away on the side of the mountain just outside Rotarua yet it’s convenient for getting into the city and for moving around the area. It’s homely and comfortable with the use of a lounge, hot tub and sauna. David and Grace are the loveliest couple and are both helpful and very welcoming. The breakfasts were really nice and the preserves, bread and granola were all home made. I would recommend staying with Grace and David and if we’re ever back in New Zealand we’d definitely stay here again.
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Date of stay: February 2023
Rooms
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.
David and Grace are the perfect hosts: friendly, very helpful and informative on the local area, sights to visit etc. The lodge is set in a beautiful high location with excellent views over the countryside. It has a guest lounge/breakfast room complete with a PC that is available for guests to use. The rooms are comfortable and well fitted (ours had a sliding glass door onto the rear patio and garden with distant views). Excellent selection of mostly home made breakfast items.
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Date of stay: March 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â On site parking in front of the lodge
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.
Grace and David are running a very nice and very clean well appointed B&B. Great display of home made food and in beautiful surroundings,tucked away in Rotorua- including the alpacas and the cat. Thank you.
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Date of stay: March 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.
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Of all the lodges and b&bs we stayed at during our stay in New Zealand, City Lights was my favorite.
This vast residence located in the hills of Rotorua ticks all the boxes.
Its hosts, Diane and David, welcome you warmly and give you relevant advice on choosing your activities.
The panoramic view from the garden is breathtaking.
If like me, you are an animal lover, you will be delighted to sympathize with the owners' adorable alpacas.
Coming back to the accommodation itself, we had the chance to occupy the Tui suite, cozy, colorful and refined.
As for breakfast, even if it does not include a cooked breakfast, it is plentiful and varied enough to satisfy all appetites.
We plan to return to City Lights in a few years.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip 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.
There are more places to choose from in the Rotorua area.
PRICE RANGE
$326 - $365 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
New ZealandNorth IslandBay of Plenty RegionRotorua DistrictRotorua
NUMBER OF ROOMS
4
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