Lakefront Paradise

When we arrived at Parawai Bay Lakeside Retreat we were welcomed by the owner's little dog, Yogi, the friendliest pup ever! Yogi and the owners took us over to our lakefront accommodation — and what a view! The first things we noticed were the paddleboards and spa, which are exactly the types of activities we love to do on a weekend away.

We dropped off our bags and decided to head out for a sunset hot tub (complete with a glass of complimentary wine!) to relax and unwind after a long drive. The tub was perched in the bush and made the most of being in nature. After our soak, we were feeling drowsy and relaxed, ready to lay our heads down for a good rest.

The next day we made some breakfast on the porch looking out over the lake before heading out wakeboarding with Yogi and the owner who offered to show us the best of Lake Rotorua. The water was like glass and we had so much fun, especially because the owner was super chilled and nice to be around. After wakeboarding, we were ready for a swim at The Secret Spot, Rotorua. The Secret Spot is where you can relax in hot tubs alongside the stream and they even have a button to push if you'd like to be served drinks. Later we headed back to the accommodation for a game of badminton in the backyard before adventuring on vintage bikes to the local river, where we even spotted some trout. The evening was spent relaxing back at the accommodation, enjoying an incredible sunset which made the sky look like it was on fire.

The next morning we opened our curtains to another 'fire in the sky' sunrise and decided to take advantage of the paddleboards on the smooth lake before heading home — the perfect way to end our stay.