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Novotel Rotorua Lakeside

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Traveler (713)
Room & Suite (321)
Dining (31)

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About

#35 of 89 hotels in Rotorua
Location
4.7
Cleanliness
4.2
Service
4.1
Value
3.9
GreenLeaders GreenPartner
Centrally located on the shores of Lake Rotorua, Novotel Rotorua Lakeside featuring a buffet restaurant, a fitness Centre, geothermal spa, hot pools and 11 meeting rooms. Novotel Rotorua is in the heart of the city and provides guests with easy access to shopping, dining and entertainment outlets. Guests can relax with a walk around the lake, enjoy the hotels free geothermal spa pools or exercise in the well-equipped fitness Centre or enjoy a fun day with the many activities on offer in Rotorua. Atlas Café and Restaurant offers buffet breakfast and dinner. Clarks Bar offers a bar snack menu, specialty cocktails, local beers and wine and an extensive range of spirits All 199 air-conditioned rooms have a 42-inch flat-screen TV with cable channels. Each room includes a large work desk, ironing facilities, tea and coffee making facilities. Novotel Rotorua is a 10 min walk to the Polynesian Spa, 5 min walk to QE Health Wellness & Spa and a short drive too many adrenaline rushed activities and geothermal sites.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Wifi
Pool
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Bar / lounge
Bicycle rental
Bicycles available
Children's television networks
Electric vehicle charging station
Parking garage
Paid wifi
Hot tub
Pool / beach towels
Swimming pool toys
Indoor pool
Heated pool
Saltwater pool
Plunge pool
Fitness / spa locker rooms
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Complimentary tea
Kid-friendly buffet
Kids' meals
Outdoor dining area
Special diet menus
Wine / champagne
Bowling offsite
Canoeing offsite
Raquetball offsite
Squash offsite
Tennis court offsite
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Highchairs available
Taxi service
Business Center with Internet Access
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Baggage storage
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
First aid kit
24-hour check-in
24-hour front desk
Express check-in / check-out
Clothes dryer
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Washing machine
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Room features
Blackout curtains
Bathrobes
Air conditioning
Desk
Refrigerator
Cable / satellite TV
Sofa bed
Bath / shower
Housekeeping
Interconnected rooms available
Room service
Safe
Sofa
Telephone
Wardrobe / closet
Clothes rack
Iron
Private bathrooms
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Electric kettle
Flatscreen TV
Radio
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
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Room types
City view
Landmark view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
4.5 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
City View
Bay View
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish, Chinese, Afrikaans and 3 more
4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles3,262 reviews
Reviews Summary
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
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Nestled in a prime location near the lake and local attractions, Novotel Rotorua Lakeside earns praise for its centrality, which many guests find enhances their stay. However, some travelers express disappointment with the hotel's value, pointing to high costs that don't match the outdated and sometimes poorly maintained rooms. While the atmosphere is often described as inviting with its comfortable and modern touches, opinions on the amenities and service are divided, with commendations for certain helpful staff members contrasted by frustration over cleanliness and upkeep issues.
Location
Central
Atmosphere
Inviting
Rooms
Neglected
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Underwhelming
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3,262Reviews17Q+A100Room tips
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Philippa C wrote a review Mar 7
1 contribution
Don’t actually expect them to accomodate your family. As a part of a “family deal” I booked two rooms. On arrival, they’re not connected (even though I did check this when I booked). They said they’d not even necessarily bre next to each other!!! There was no remote concern about splitting a family up, or how this arrangement would work. The clerk and the supervisor then blamed me for not putting in my own special request to have connected rooms! Don’t book this place. They don’t care.
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Date of stay: March 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Don’t book it
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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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Response from Edward Judd, General Manager at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside
Responded 1 week ago
Kia ora, Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience you experienced during your stay, especially with the room arrangements. We understand the importance of family comfort, and we regret falling short of your expectations. Your feedback is invaluable, and we will use it to review our processes and ensure better communication regarding room preferences. We appreciate your understanding and the opportunity to improve our services. If your travels bring you back to Rotorua, we would be honored to have another chance to provide you with a seamless and enjoyable stay.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Diane W wrote a review Mar 7
Adelaide, Australia330 contributions115 helpful votes
Wonderfully located in close proximity to the lake. Suggest requesting a lake view as it was outstanding. Welcoming reception staff and morning greetings from housekeeping. Reception area is well laid out , bar area, access to an outside area. A pleasant stay just a little tired.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip: Request room with a view of the lake
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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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Response from Edward Judd, General Manager at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside
Responded 1 week ago
Kia ora Diane, Thank you for choosing to stay with us and sharing your feedback. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the wonderful location, outstanding lake view, and the warm greetings from our staff. Your positive comments are appreciated. We understand your mention of the property feeling a bit tired, and we want to assure you that we continuously strive to enhance our facilities. Your insights are valuable as we work towards providing an even better experience for our guests. We look forward to welcoming you back and ensuring your future stays are even more enjoyable.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Louise R wrote a review Mar 4
1 contribution
Do not book this hotel if you want money to spend on the rest of your holiday. They take a holding payment for the room fee and $100, then charge you in full on departure. The next day they then take the payment again. $205.00 room cost me $ 715.00 hold on my account for 4 days !!! I spoke with the hotel the day after and they confirmed this is common practice. Well not in any hotel I have stayed in before , room rate upfront then $100 holding fee normally .
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Date of stay: March 2024
Value
Service
Trip type: Traveled 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.
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Response from Edward Judd, General Manager at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside
Responded 1 week ago
Kia ora, Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by the holding payment process. We understand the importance of transparent billing and will investigate this matter promptly to ensure that our procedures are communicated correctly at check-in. Your feedback is crucial for us to continually improve our services, and we appreciate your patience and understanding. We value your patronage and hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back for a more seamless experience.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Ed S wrote a review Mar 4
Dewsbury, United Kingdom89 contributions19 helpful votes
The hotel is smart, if a little impersonal, the room was good and the facilities fine. Excellent view over the lake from our room and a 2-minute walk brought you to the centre. Parking in the next door car park was free if you sign up for reward programme.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled 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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Response from Edward Judd, General Manager at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside
Responded 1 week ago
Kia ora, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about your recent stay with us. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed our excellent location, smart facilities, and the beautiful lake view from your room. We strive to provide a comfortable and convenient experience for our guests. We appreciate your mention of the free parking through our reward program. It's always our goal to make our guests' stay enjoyable, and your comments encourage us to continue delivering excellent service. We look forward to welcoming you back on your next visit to Rotorua.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Tomas V wrote a review Feb 2024
1 contribution
+1
Terrible hotel, stay away. After arriving at the hotel at 17:00 our rooms were not ready. They made us wait with 3 babies in the square on front of the hotel for more than an hour. After they gave us our room, the bathroom was filthy with hairs all over the place. Do not recommend this hotel at all.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Stay away
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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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Response from Edward Judd, General Manager at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside
Responded 1 week ago
Kia ora, I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience you experienced during your recent stay at our hotel. The delay in providing your room and the cleanliness issues in the bathroom are unacceptable, and I deeply regret that we fell short of your expectations. Please be assured that we take your feedback seriously, and we are addressing these issues with our team to ensure improvements are made. We understand the importance of a smooth check-in process, especially with young children. I appreciate your candor, and I hope you might reconsider staying with us in the future to provide you with the experience you deserve.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Joyce C wrote a review Feb 2024
Hertford, United Kingdom30 contributions49 helpful votes
The Novotel Rotorua Lakeside is in an amazing location - close to the Lake, bars and restaurants. The rooms were very spacious and comfortable. However, the decor was jaded, the carpet was worn and not very clean, The shower head was rusty and had seen better days. For the money we paid I would have expected better. Would recommend for the location alone but an upgrade to the rooms is overdue.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled 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.
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Response from Edward Judd, General Manager at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside
Responded 1 week ago
Kia ora, Thank you for your valuable feedback about your recent stay at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside. We appreciate your positive comments regarding the location and spaciousness of the rooms. However, we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by the condition of the decor, worn carpet, and the shower head. Your observations are important to us, and we assure you that we are actively working on plans for upgrades to enhance our guests' overall experience. We value your recommendation and hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for an improved stay in the future.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Tj from Mullum wrote a review Feb 2024
Mullumbimby, Australia15 contributions2 helpful votes
I was fooled by the pricepoint and my experiences of staying in Novatel branded hotels.... the previous reviews are correct. Great staff, beyond brilliant location and views from the lakeside rooms yet desperately in need of a renovation. Ripped carpeting, stained floors, damaged furniture. Staff do a good job of keeping it clean yet for almost $400 a night (aud) PLUS another $15 a day parking it was a disappointing experience. Room service meals were OK yet again, quite overpriced and definately worthwhile the short walk to Eat Street ....
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled solo
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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Response from Edward Judd, General Manager at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside
Responded 1 week ago
Kia ora, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We appreciate your kind words about our great staff, exceptional views, and convenient location. However, we apologize for any disappointment caused by the condition of the hotel. Your comments regarding the need for a renovation have been duly noted, and we assure you that we are constantly working to improve our facilities to enhance the overall guest experience. We value your input and hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future for an improved stay.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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kawh wrote a review Feb 2024
sebastopol, ca973 contributions461 helpful votes
yes, there are some carpet stains and signs of age, but overall this hotel had everything we wanted. Great location near water and restaurants. super comfy bed and pillows. charging and lights next to the bed. quick elevators. great air conditioning. Breakfast was a high point... busy but servers were on top of it. eggs to order. lots of choices. special thanks to always-smiling Angelica and helpful Keeden during the busy breaakfast times. the thermal little pools are ok, but the little regular pool was WAY too crowded. we had hoped to get some peace when we went at 10pm, but it was wall to wall screaming kids having fun... so crowded that i can't believe someone didn't break a tooth or such. literally so loud that my ears hurt. I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST that you have adult hours from 9-11 pm or so.
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled 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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Response from Edward Judd, General Manager at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside
Responded 1 week ago
Kia ora, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We're delighted to hear that you had a pleasant stay overall and enjoyed our convenient location, comfortable amenities, and the excellent service provided by our staff, especially Engelica and Keegan. We appreciate your suggestion regarding adult hours for the pool and will certainly consider implementing such a policy to ensure a more serene experience for our guests during later hours. Thank you once again for choosing to stay with us. We look forward to welcoming you back in the future.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Marianne C wrote a review Jan 2024
Austin, Texas4 contributions
+1
If I could have rated this hotel lower, I would have. Our travel agent booked us into it, saying she’d stayed there and found it excellent. Clearly, it has gone terribly downhill since her experience. I have never seen such a filthy place, the rooms as well as the common areas. The carpet in my room was stained and dirty. The bed linens and towels were yellowed and stained. The drinking glasses were tinged brown. When I went downstairs to complain, the front desk staff told me my complaints were nothing new, but management just didn’t care. When my friends and I went down to the buffet breakfast, the eggs were watery, the friend potato wedges looked like McDonalds,’ but not anywhere as tasty. It took several minutes to find chairs to pull up to a table, because the fabric seats and backs were stained and dotted with bird droppings. The location of this hotel is excellent, but Please avoid it if you care about cleanliness and sanitation.
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Traveled 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.
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Response from Edward Judd, General Manager at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside
Responded 1 week ago
Kia ora Marianne, We deeply regret that your experience fell below expectations, and we sincerely apologize for the inconveniences you encountered. Your feedback is concerning, and we assure you that we take it seriously. Our housekeeping and maintenance teams are actively addressing the cleanliness issues to ensure a more pleasant stay for our guests. Rest assured, we are committed to rectifying the situation and improving our standards. We appreciate your candid feedback and hope you might consider giving us another chance in the future.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Ian G wrote a review Jan 2024
Poole, United Kingdom1 contribution
Excellent location nice room . Food is only buffet both breakfast and evening Receptionist surly , room still not made up by 4.00 pm despite requests The main reason for the low score was the quality of the breakfast by far the worst of any 4. 5 star hotel I have stayed at. Coffee awful , quality of food poor and no service Overall very disappointing
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Ok for position and room advised not to book breakfast and eat at local restaurant.
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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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Response from Edward Judd, General Manager at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside
Responded Jan 31, 2024
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about your recent stay at Novotel Rotorua. We sincerely apologize for the issues you encountered, from the delayed room service to the disappointing breakfast experience. This falls short of our standards, and we appreciate your patience. Rest assured, we will address these concerns promptly and use your input to enhance our services. We hope you give us another chance to provide the exceptional experience you deserve.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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PRICE RANGE
$134 - $178 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
novotel rotorua lakeside hotel rotorua, accor rotorua lakeside, rotorua novotel
LOCATION
New ZealandNorth IslandBay of Plenty RegionRotorua DistrictRotorua
NUMBER OF ROOMS
199
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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NOVOTEL ROTORUA LAKESIDE - Updated 2024 Prices & Hotel Reviews (New Zealand)

Frequently Asked Questions about Novotel Rotorua Lakeside
Which popular attractions are close to Novotel Rotorua Lakeside?
Nearby attractions include Volcanic Air (0.2 miles), Fancy Meow Cat Cafe (0.2 miles), and St. Faith's Anglican Church (0.3 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include an indoor pool, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
Which room amenities are available at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside?
Yes, free parking, a parking garage, and street parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Novotel Rotorua Lakeside?
Conveniently located restaurants include EL Mexicano Zapata Cantina, Poco Tapas & Wine, and Gelato Mio Ice Cream.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside?
Yes, guests have access to an indoor pool, a fitness center, and locker rooms available in the fitness center during their stay.
Is Novotel Rotorua Lakeside located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.3 miles away from the center of Rotorua.
Are any cleaning services offered at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Does Novotel Rotorua Lakeside offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers a business center, meeting rooms, and a banquet room.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Thai, Filipino, and Afrikaans.