Sometimes, there’s nothing better than a weekend away with your other half. New scenery, sleep-ins, exciting things to do and making new memories together are all great reasons to escape for a romantic weekend away. We’ve put our heads together to come up with the ultimate itinerary for a ‘weekend of romance’ in Rotorua: 

• Friday Evening: Treetops Lodge & Aorangi Peak 
• Saturday: Rotorua Canopy Tours, Okere Falls, Stratosphere Restaurant
• Sunday: Pure Cruise, White Island by Helicopter, Eat Streat

Friday Evening

Arriving in the evening, check in to your accommodation and freshen up for dinner. A luxurious accommodation option is Treetops Lodge - nestled amidst a native forest, this is a great place to stay if you're wanting to spoil your other half. Head to Aorangi Peak Restaurant for dinner, and dine high above the twinkling lights of Rotorua - a very romantic way to kick off your weekend.

Photo: A perfect Saturday morning wake up immersed among native forest with Rotorua Canopy Tours and your better half

Saturday

AM: Kick-start your day with a Canopy Tour through a lush Rotorua forest. Explore an emerald-green native forest via a network of swing bridges, ziplines and trails. You'll conquer any fear of heights, bonding over experiencing such a unique tree top activity together.

PM: Around midday, head to Okere Falls Store, just before the turnoff for Okere Falls itself. A quirky, authentic store and restaurant, enjoy a gourmet hot dog and a beer for lunch before heading to Okere Falls itself. Don't forget your camera when you embark on one of the many short walks in the area - see if you can spot people rafting down the river; and enjoy a stroll in the fresh air amongst the native ferns.

Evening: Dine high above Rotorua again tonight, this time at the gourmet Stratosphere Restaurant atop Mt Ngongotaha. You'll need to take the gondola to reach the restaurant - an experience in itself.

 Photo: Enjoy a date on Sunday morning sailing around Lake Rotoiti with Pure Cruise

Sunday

AM : Begin the day with a luxurious morning of sailing on Lake Rotoiti. Jump aboard the yacht Tiua, enjoy the spacious saloon, soak up the views and even take a dip in the natural hot pools on the very edge of the lake (accessible only by boat).

For lunch, head to nearby Eat Street - one of the newest and most modern places to eat in Rotorua. Quality restaurants and a funky pedestrian-only street make this a great place for day time dining.

PM:  See Rotorua and the White Island volcano by air with a scenic helicopter flight before lunch. Soar high over Lake Rotorua, the coastline and White island's steaming crater - an active volcano. You'll remember a scenic flight like this for years to come.

Did you know that Rotorua is also famous for its enormous groves of Redwood Trees? Don't leave town without taking a walk through these natural giants. Walk the Redwood Memorial Grove Track, an easy, 30-minute stroll through Californian Redwoods towering 67 metres tall. It's a great way to reflect on your weekend.

With so many things to do in Rotorua, it's the perfect place to visit for a romantic weekend getaway - so what are you waiting for?