New Zealand is rated one of the most “inclusive and progressive” gay–friendly travel destinations in the world by Lonely Planet. Rotorua, including has a few gay friendly hotels Rotorua to accommodate during your stay in NZ.
The Wellington Pride Festival is an annual festival held in Wellington, New Zealand . Wellington Pride Festival is the capital’s annual queer festival. Comprising of many community events over a two week period.
Rotorua, a town set on its namesake lake on New Zealand’s North Island, is renowned for its geothermal activity and Maori culture. In Te Puia’s Whakarewarewa Valley, there are bubbling mud pools and the 30m-tall Pohutu Geyser, which erupts many times daily. It’s also home to a living Maori village and the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, with traditional wood carving and weaving schools.
Rotorua is the place to be for Maori cultural activities and for visiting thermal pools and areas. It is also centrally located, so you could visit several other locations while staying in Rotorua. You could spend 2 to 3 days in Rotorua depending on what you would like to see or do.
1. Guysers Gaystay – Gay Friendly Hotels Rotorua

24-hour airport shuttle service is available. Fees may apply. Contact the property in advance to make arrangements.
How much does a room costs at Guysers Gay Stay for Men?
Prices start 85 $/night for Double Room.
Where to book online – Guysers Gay Stay for Men – Gay Friendly Hotels Rotorua – you can find the best hotels deals in Rotorua during Rotorua Festival of Gardens which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Rotorua on Trip.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
2. Novotel Rotorua Lakeside 4* – Gay Friendly Hotels Rotorua

Centrally located on the shores of Lake Rotorua, Novotel Rotorua Lakeside features a restaurant, a fitness centre, a Maori cultural centre, geothermal spa and hot pools.
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 or enjoy a fun day with the many activities on offer in Rotorua.
Matariki offers a nightly Maori cultural performance and a traditional Hangi buffet. Atlas Café and Restaurant offers buffet breakfast and dinner and a la carte lunch. Clarks Bar offers a bar snack menu, classic cocktails, local beers and wine and an extensive range of spirits.
Centrally located on the shores of Lake Rotorua, Novotel Rotorua Lakeside includes a restaurant, a fitness centre, Maori cultural centre, geothermal spa and hot pools. 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. Matariki offers nightly Maori cultural performance and traditional hangi buffet.
Atlas Café and Restaurant offers buffet breakfast and dinner and a la carte Lunch. Clarks Bar offers a bar snack menu, classic 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, a mini-bar, tea and coffee making facilities, slippers and robe. 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.
The hotel is extremely well located with great lake views and car parking is free and accessible.
Yes, the decor and bathrooms are not new but the cleanliness is excellent. The buffet offers a great selection to suit all tastes.
The beds are super comfy and sometimes you can smell the sulphur but for other reviewers who have complained about this, please note, this is what sets Rotorua apart as a tourist destination. It is part of the town.
There is a fabulous ambiance about this hotel, from the cosy bar to the relaxing lobby area.
The hotel is in a great location, with great views over the lake.
It is close to the Eat Streat food area with lots of choices of food to eat. It is a short walk to the lake and lovely walks around it. It is also close to a few of the tourist attractions.
The Novotel is well located between the lake and the main city street which is a great location. The staff were efficient and had time to be hospitalitable. The main restaurant serves a buffet which Is top notch and the bar is very cosy with a nice fireplace. Just 50 meters from the front door is a mall of bars and cafes which is convenient if you want to dine out.
The location is excellent very close to the lake, and ample free parking. Check in was quick and efficient. We booked a suite were the bedroom is upstairs from the lounge. The room was good with corner views but not a full view of the lake, we had a town view. It was clean but starting to show it’s age in certain places, carpet on the stairs had thread bare areas. The bed was comfortable and made for a good night’s sleep. A good size bathroom with large shower and spa bath, and large soft towels.
The complimentary thermal pools was a nice experience for us. There are 3 small pools, all indoor which are mineral water. The pools ranged from hot to warm and they all had an odor which is natural for thermal water. There is a cold plunge pool (brrrr but had to try), a cooler hot tub with regular water and then a mid sized pool with regular water. There are pool towels and water provided and you do need your room key to get into the area. We enjoyed soaking and trying all the pools.
Five Star Hotel, 5 Star service, great room with view, was quiet, modern and clean. We were made to feel welcome and valued. Loved the house bar and the buffet was great.
The pool and thermal tubs were just fantastic and very relaxing with well thought out change rooms right there.Lake and eating mall was just across the road and everything else close by. Will definitely be back.

How much does a room costs at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside?
Prices start 135 $/night for Superior King Room. The Superior King Room with Lake View is 152$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.
This spacious, air-conditioned room features beautiful lake views. Guests can enjoy an en suite bathroom. It also includes a work area, LED TV and bedside USB charging ports, internet access and complimentary parking.
Where to book online – Novotel Rotorua Lakeside – Gay Friendly Hotels Rotorua – you can find the best hotels deals in Rotorua during Rotorua Festival of Gardens which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Rotorua on Booking.com or Trip.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
3. Prince’s Gate Hotel 4* – Gay Friendly Hotels Rotorua

The
is a historical, boutique-style hotel in the centre of Rotorua. This classical 4-star hotel is opposite the Polynesian Spa and the famous Government Gardens.The hotel has 52 stylish guest rooms and apartments, all decorated in a traditional and classical style. Each room is air-conditioned and beautifully furnished with luxurious en suite bathroom and a range of personal toiletries. The larger apartments offer a living area and kitchen facilities.
The Princes Gate Hotel, dates back to 1897 and is situated in the historical area of the city. The hotel is only 100 m from the lakefront and city centre and is also within easy reach of the Convention Centre.
The Prince’s Gate Hotel, the ideal accommodation whilst staying in Rotorua. The most famous Hotel in Rotorua built in 1897. This timeless, beautiful hotel is privately owned and operated. Our hotel rooms offer style and sophistication that depict a bygone era. The Prince’s Gate Hotel is not just a hotel but also an attraction. It has been masterfully restored through passionate attention to details. We look forward to having you stay with us in our beautiful & grand Prince’s Gate Hotel.
The hotel’s central city location and the nearby gardens and lake make it very convenient to explore places of interest on foot. The historic charm of the building is enhanced by the tasteful furnishings. The service in all areas was excellent and the dining options, quality and price were very good. Together these aspects created a memorable stay which exceeded our expectations.
Great location for easy walking throughout the central business district to attractions, bars, restaurants and shopping.
Good parking. Quiet rooms with a kitchenette/coffee maker/small refrigerator. A living room space with table/chairs, couches and TV.
The hotel is gorgeous in it’s own charming way, it dates way back to the heyday of the victorian Waihi gold mining era of 1897. It’s far from perfect with lots of dents and dings like you get with an old building. However our designer room, which is one of the more luxe rooms was fine.
I would mention that the room was quite warm, it was on the first floor. I was glad we could open the window at night. WIFI was good as well.
The lobby is very atmospheric and at 6pm people were enjoying some very nice tapas type platters there with the fireplace going. It also has a quite good restaurant dining room and we dined there. I had the salmon salad and my partner had a very nice lamb shank.
Location & Prices in Rotorua
There aren’t many hotels right near town in Rotorua, there’s only the Sudima, the Quest and the Millenium.
So you need a car in Rotorua if you stay on that motel strip on Fenton St.
I loved the proximity to Polynesian Spa which is about a 7 minute walk away, where I went for a divine dip in their Rachel pool. The hotel gave me a 10% off discount voucher. Everything is quite pricey in Rotorua!
I would say it’s second to Queenstown in touristiness for NZ. I would also recommend the Hells Gate Soothe mud bath experience where I got a deal on the Grabone site.
Built in 1897, has hosted the Prince of Wales in the 30’s plus the current Queen in her earlier years this Hotel is delightful. It had been neglected a bit by the previous owner and the new Chinese owners are starting to rectify this. Excellent location to central city and Government Gardens. Of course the floors creak and groan but the rooms are clean and the beds are comfy. Why pay to go to the nearby hot baths when there are mineral pools here of different temperatures. Breakfast was included and a la carte; very nice. Excellent service and a very quiet Hotel with plenty of newspapers to read in the luxurious leather chairs in the lobby.
The location was excellent, very central to Rotorua, next to the main park and close to the attractions. Parking is on the street but may have some behind the building. The staff were very friendly and provided great service. The quality of the food was also very good.
The hotel is an older building and some may regard run down in some aspects. We loved the generally feeling of the hotel. The hotel and rooms were very clean and comfortable. We originally booked a snug room however we were upgraded to a King room which we certainly appreciated.

How much does a room costs at Prince’s Gate Hotel ?
Prices start 121 $/night for Snug Room. The Designer Room is 173$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.
This room features an en suite bathroom, air-conditioning, TV, tea/coffee making facilities and a minibar.
Where to book online – Prince’s Gate Hotel – LGBT Friendly Hotels Rotorua – you can find the best hotels deals in Rotorua during Rotorua Festival of Gardens which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Rotorua on Booking.com or Trip.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.