Weekend Getaways NZ

15/10/2024

Guuuys, I'm so super stoked about this! 😱 Polynesian Spa Rotorua gave me a promo code for you to use when you book with them directly! ♨
So now if you don't need a full Rotorua package with accommodation and other activities or you just visit for the day, you can now use the promo code WGNZ10 and get 10% off your next 1-hour spa treatment or pool entries (Deluxe Lake Spa, Pavilion Pools and/or Family Pool)!
How awesome is this??!!

Read more about it here: https://weekendgetaways.co.nz/trip/polynesian-spa-discount-code/

How to reddem:
Go to https://www.polynesianspa.co.nz/
Choose which pool and/or spa treatment you like, what day and time
When prompted, add WGNZ10 into the promo code field and hit 'apply'
Continue by entering your personal and payment details
And done!

18/07/2024

📢️ WIN A ROTORUA GETAWAY OR A NZ$100 WEEKEND GETAWAYS NZ GIFT VOUCHER!♨️

What's included in the Rotorua Getaway:
1 night at 5* Black Swan Boutique Hotel Rotorua in a Lakeside Suite
including breakfast
Hell's Gate Twilight Spa Experience for two (until 31 Aug, if travel is in September it will be the Hell's Gate Experience)

Weekend Getaways NZ gift voucher:
NZ$100 towards your next New Zealand getaway

To go in the draw, please fill out this short survey (https://forms.gle/5efko3q8yb7KA4xg9 or click through Linktree). It shouldn't take longer than 5 - 10 minutes. Enter your email address at the bottom and into the draw you go!

Increase your chances of winning by filling out the survey AND tagging a mate here! For every person you tag, you get one additional entry, as long as you filled out the survey and entered your email address.

The winners of the Rotorua Getaway and the WGNZ gift voucher will be drawn on Monday, 29 July 2024.

T&Cs:
Rotorua getaway: Travel before 30 September 2024. The voucher cannot be used when the hotel occupancy rate is above 75% or during public holidays and long weekends. Please call the hotel to confirm the specific time and date. Unused values cannot be refunded or applied to any transactions after the expiry date. Gift vouchers cannot be exchanged for cash.

WGNZ gift voucher: NZD 100 towards your next New Zealand getaway. Valid for 1 year from date of issue. Gift voucher cannot be exchanged for cash. WGNZ gift voucher can be used for pretty much all NZ tourism experiences and accommodations apart from flights or holiday homes (eg AirBnb, Bookabach, etc).

04/07/2024

It suddenly hit me the other day that I've never formally introduced myself. Or if I have, it's so long ago I can't even remember 🤔 Let's fix this today! So, who's Alex from Weekend Getaways NZ, who am I exploring Aotearoa with and why should you trust me with your booking?

7 years ago, I moved from Switzerland to New Zealand to live with my partner Chris (the classic story, I did my OE in NZ in 2010, met him and moved here a few years later). We live right on the border of Auckland and Waikato with our 3-year-old dog, Bailey.

Whenever possible, the three of us explore the country together over the weekends. When we take Bailey along, we often travel with our little retro caravan as we all love to be in nature. If it's just the two of us, or when I'm going somewhere by myself, we like to treat ourselves to a soft hotel bed, and ideally an included brekky 🥞

I'm a sucker for hot pools, walking, (e)biking and kayaking. The destination you find me at the most is - unsurprisingly - Rotorua ♨️ My favourite travel seasons are all apart December to March - too hot for Bailey and too many people out and about 😅 And when I'm not out exploring, I love spending time in our garden and growing edible plants.

Ever since I first entered the workforce 24 years ago, I have worked in tourism and love travelling with all my heart 💞 Call it a passion, an obsession even 😉 For short getaways closer to home, there was nothing better than going away with my friends and spending a weekend eating, drinking and chatting while soaking in a hot pool and sweating in the sauna.

It's my mission to find stunning places on and off the beaten track of New Zealand for you. While you might know some of the places or activities, I try and include activities you may not have been aware of before.

Whenever possible, I prefer to work directly with the tourism operators and develop a good working relationship rather than going through a third party. Depending on the operators' preference or where I don't have a connection yet, I also use a travel wholesaler.

And that's me in a relatively big nutshell 🙂 Got any more questions? Just message me 🙂

Cheers, Alex

20/06/2024

Reviews like these make my heart sing 🥰💕🥰

And sharing them makes my anxiety go through the roof but as a small business owner you gotta toot your own horn occasionally 😅🙈 I go hide now, see you later 🤪

26/03/2024

Rotorua, Bay of Islands, a staycay in Auckland and more... If you've already sorted your Easter accommodation or just want to go somewhere for a day trip, we've got some great promo codes ready for you 🐰🐣

https://weekendgetaways.co.nz/trip-types/promo-codes-travel-deals-nz/

21/03/2024

I am off to check out Wellderness Retreat in mt Aspiring NP tomorrow! 2 days of nature, mindfulness and adventure, I can't wait! Keep an eye out for my stories! 🧘‍♀️

After Wellderness, I'll also explore around Wanaka and Queenstown for a bit to find new hidden gems for you 💎

29/02/2024

Which is your favourite hot pool in Rotorua? ♨️

Confession: I have a teensy addiction to hot pools, saunas, steam baths, spa baths, hot springs and spa treatments 😁 (and also all things geothermal)

No wonder Rotorua is one of my favourite places in New Zealand. I've tried and tested (almost) all hot pools in Rotovegas and they all have their own perks.

Right now, my favourite hot pools are the newly opened Wai-Ariki Pools. They're architecturally stunning and the only wellness place in the region with multiple saunas and steam baths 😶‍🌫️!
Plus, they're adult-only (from 16 years) and only allow a certain number of people per time slot so they never feel crowded.

Which is your favourite hot water place (paid or free) in Rotorua?

https://weekendgetaways.co.nz/the-best-hot-pools-in-rotorua/

Btw: the image is from Waikite Valley Hot Pools with amazing views into the greenery 😍

22/02/2024

📣 New getaway alert!

Experience true, authentic Maori culture (not the touristy versions) outside rural Mururapa, an hour from Rotorua. Reside lakefront at Kohutapu Lodge in a self-contained cottage with daily continental breakfast.

Learn more about the local iwi and their whakapapa from Nades and her whanau, visit local waterfalls and Maori carvings. Sip kawakawa tea in Whirinariki Forest and eat a scrumptious dinner, homemade with local ingredients (if enough people stay that night it will be a hangi) 🤤

This getaway is perfect for couples, small groups and families and even lager (eg corporate) groups.

Check it out here:
https://weekendgetaways.co.nz/trip/experience-maori-culture-kohutapu-lodge/

13/02/2024

Happy Valentine's Day! What are your plans with your special other today? 💘

Seeking a romantic retreat in the middle of nowhere, maybe with some outdoor bathtubs and saunas? Or are you after some mouthwatering dining and wining? 😍

Head over to https://weekendgetaways.co.nz/trip-types/romantic-getaways-nz/ and find the perfect romantic getaway now!

Images:
Te Whare Ruruhau near Taupo
Hawthorne House in Hawkes Bay
Maruia River Retreat between Hanmer and Westport
Cascades Creek Retreat near Dunedin
New Wai Ariki Spa (adult-only) in Rotorua

29/01/2024

💕 We're back with more regular updates! - https://mailchi.mp/6970044d51cc/winter-getaways-8776684

06/12/2022

Where's your next ladies' weekend away on the North Island going to be? 🤔 Look no further, we've got you covered with the best places for you and your besties 💕

Looking for a girls' weekend away? Find the best places on the North Island to relax, explore and make new memories with your besties!

30/11/2022

It's December! Have you sorted all your Christmas presents yet? 🎁😅

Treat your loved ones and/or your employees (or everyone😁) to a weekend getaway in New Zealand.

Just email me at [email protected], letting me know who the gift voucher is for and what amount and you'll have your Christmas gift in your inbox in no time. Easy as 👍️

22/11/2022

Hang in there, the weekend's almost here! 😍

By the way, there's more to Waitomo than your average, touristy glowworm caves. Waitomo Adventures take you on an epic trip through their massive cave system. And the tour starts right here, with a 100m abseiling session 😱 Plus, of course, there are glowworms too 🐛, so you get the cake and eat it too 😉

Who would you want to hang out here with?

📸 by

18/11/2022

Fly into the weekend like... 🦅

📸 by

09/11/2022

Grab the girls for a fun-filled ladies weekend away 💕 Make new memories while soaking in a hot pool ♨️together in Rotorua or sipping a pinot 🍷 in Queenstown. Or how about a zipline or caving adventure for the more adventurous gals 🤘

Where would you want to take your girls? 🤔

02/11/2022

Enjoy the most beautiful ocean sunsets with your significant other from Castaways Resort 🌅
Every room boasts these amazing ocean views and so does their restaurant 🍴
Go for a walk on the black sand of Karioitahi Beach and relax at a spa treatment at Bersantai Spa 🧘🏻

Only an hour from Auckland city, this place truly feels like a world away 😊

02/11/2022

Do you agree with Lonely Planet? Are Taranaki and Rakiura / Stewart Island really offbeat destinations? 🤔🤔

I'd say the East Cape is a lot more offbeat than Taranaki on the North Island...

By virtue of being 'not for everyone', they are a sure fire way to avoid the crowds.

25/10/2022

Yaaay, Wai-o-Tapu Geothermal Wonderland is finally open again! 🥳🥳
After over two years of renovation, Rotorua's most famous geothermal park is back in action. Is Wai-o-Tapu on your Rotorua bucket list? ♨️