Black Swan Lakeside Boutique Hotel

“You've found what your looking for!”

In Rotorua, this is my go-to accommodation for my clients. I'm a Travel Advisor promoting New Zealand from the US. The property is lovely - rooms, grounds, common areas, pool & hot tubs. It sits on the lake with spectacular views back to the city where you can see the geothermal steam rise; however… more

In Rotorua, this is my go-to accommodation for my clients. I'm a Travel Advisor promoting New Zealand from the US. The property is lovely - rooms, grounds, common areas, pool & hot tubs. It sits on the lake with spectacular views back to the city where you can see the geothermal steam rise; however, you do not smell it out there. Attention to detail is everywhere - from the bedding, to gardens, to food and beverage - outstanding! It's a very peaceful place to rejuvenate. This will remain a must for my future clients to stay.

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“A Serene Lakeside Retreat in Rotorua”

The Black Swan Lakeview Hotel is a gem, and it’s easy to see why from the moment you arrive. The grounds are simply beautiful — lush, well-tended gardens create a peaceful atmosphere that invites you to slow down and breathe. There are plenty of lovely spots scattered throughout to sit, relax, and … more

The Black Swan Lakeview Hotel is a gem, and it’s easy to see why from the moment you arrive. The grounds are simply beautiful — lush, well-tended gardens create a peaceful atmosphere that invites you to slow down and breathe. There are plenty of lovely spots scattered throughout to sit, relax, and soak in the tranquility, making it the kind of place you never want to leave. But perhaps the most magical moments of the stay were greeting each morning from my balcony with a breathtaking sunrise — the kind of view that stops you mid-sip and reminds you exactly why you travel. Equally unforgettable were the evenings spent by the in-room fireplace, watching the sunset paint the sky while the fire crackled beside me. It was thoroughly special, the sort of quiet luxury that stays with you long after you’ve checked out. The outdoor amenities are a real highlight. The hot tub, perched with a gorgeous view over the grounds, is the perfect place to unwind after a day of exploring Rotorua. The swimming pool is equally inviting — well-maintained and just the right touch of resort luxury. The staff deserve special mention. Friendly, warm, and genuinely helpful, they set a welcoming tone throughout the stay and made every interaction a pleasure. A nice bonus: the minibar was refreshed daily, a small but appreciated touch. Dinner was a true standout. The dining room is excellent — both in atmosphere and on the plate — and made for a memorable evening. And for those practical travel needs, the laundry service was impressively efficient, with a fast turnaround and results that were just right. Whether you’re seeking rest, scenery, or simply a beautiful base for your New Zealand adventures, the Black Swan Lakeview delivers on every front. Highly recommended.

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“Despite a few maintenance issues, we enjoyed our stay.”

Pros: The breakfast was excellent! The location and views were both fantastic, and the staff were friendly, welcoming, and always ready to help. Ivy, in particular, went above and beyond to assist us, and we greatly appreciated her kindness. The complimentary snacks and refreshments provided in the… more

Pros: The breakfast was excellent! The location and views were both fantastic, and the staff were friendly, welcoming, and always ready to help. Ivy, in particular, went above and beyond to assist us, and we greatly appreciated her kindness. The complimentary snacks and refreshments provided in the room were also generous and thoughtfully stocked. Cons: The carpet and walls in our room showed noticeable signs of dampness and water intrusion, which made the room feel somewhat uncomfortable. The property itself appears a bit dated and could benefit from some renovation. Unfortunately, the fireplace on the terrace was not functioning during our stay. As it was the King's Day holiday weekend, no maintenance personnel were available to repair it promptly, which was disappointing.

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“Black Swan .... so much potential...”

Get ready for a total breakdown of this place; it has SO MUCH POTENTIAL but was let down by some specific things and was very expensive to boot. So, not value for the VERY EXPENSIVE $975 we paid for the package (this was a surprise getaway organised by my beloved to give me some rest after a recent… more

Get ready for a total breakdown of this place; it has SO MUCH POTENTIAL but was let down by some specific things and was very expensive to boot. So, not value for the VERY EXPENSIVE $975 we paid for the package (this was a surprise getaway organised by my beloved to give me some rest after a recent bereavement) ... Let's start with the PROS: Location: Absolute Lakefront perfection, no fault here. 10/10 Cleanliness: Clean and well appointed 10/10 Bathroom: Excellent, large, heated floor, stone bath, double sinks, great shower 10/10 Bedroom: Roomy and clean with a great view of the lake, a lovely little nook with a fireplace 8/10 (see cons upcoming) Garden and grounds: Beautiful gardens, stone walls, had a very elegant and classical vibe, these gardens are well maintained for the most part and it will be glorious in springtime 8/10 * see cons for a suggestion re the garden Grotto/ pool: Gorgeous spa pools in the stone outhouse one could pretend you are at Lake Como! 8/10, would be great to light actual candles and maybe some pot plants in the grotto to really lift it.. Other gold stars are for: fresh flowers in reception and conservatory, books and games in the conservatory, real art work on the walls, painting and sculptures by Yi Yang were quite good. (There were however other odd choices such as a photo of a squirrel... (why?) and a ceramic greyhound... (why?)), whittakers chocolate treats (we love NZ chocolate!), a comfortable bed and the staff were lovely and kind (if somewhat inexperienced), we were well looked after by the receptionist and our wait staff although when we checked in they didn't know the particulars of the deal we had booked. They cannot be faulted for this and I wish them all well. My eggs bene for breakfast was perfectly cooked and yummy. The champagne was great, a 750ml of Laurent Perrier and the other wines on offer were good. Perhaps adding basic cocktail menu would help to elevate the experience. CONS: It was advertised as a package with a four course meal as part of it, the '4th course' was some stale molenberg crust with butter on it on a side plate. Inedible. The rest of the meal was below average: the salmon appetizer was literally packet salmon on a plate with a squirt of mayonnaise and some wilted mesclun sprinkled on top, the beef carpaccio passed muster however and the horseradish sauce elevated it. The mains were ... definitely not to expectation... the gnocchi was from a packet with canned beetroot and some parsley sprinkled on top, the chicken breast was fine, the butter sauce was flavourful and the potatoes were perfection but the veges were akin to what you get in a hospital dinner, no offense to the chef but a 'three course meal' should have flair and some gastronomic appeal, and here is where I would suggest that the garden and gardener are put to use creating a small herb and salad garden; there is plenty of room and it would elevate the meals to a boutique level. Dessert was adequate and tasty. Breakfast was fine, although the coffee was disappointing and not from a proper coffee machine. Food I would say 4/10. Room for improvement if you want to charge that much money. It was quite clearly supermarket food put on a plate. Sorry bout it but do better. And the piped music in the conservatory plays through a speaker on the wall of the bedroom we were in so it was kinda intrusive to have some bad music playing into our room, also spotify with ads was played in the dining room although the dinner music was pretty good. And to my final comments, the decor. WOW, there was a small folder with history of the place... WHAT HAPPENED!!??? I can forgive the aluminium window and door frames but the penguin carpet??? What even is that? The odd foam printed wallpaper, the purple and black chandeliers... the odd random photos in glassless frames, as well as a Dick Frizzell print... the weird overly elaborate mirror frames around strange paintings on top of the weird garish wallpapered feature wall... it was incongruous to say the least, there were certainly elements of style and class but then that would be entirely obliterated by an odd print or a terrible fabric choice... the curtains were like some extravagant diamante pavlova wedding dress, the cushions were just another layer of design alphabet soup.... the dining room was lit up like a surgical operating theatre, no ambient lighting at all, and it could have done with, I dunno some gorgeous indoor plants or something.. just to soften the black and white and silver polyester curtains..... honestly... give me $200,000k and I could turn this place around and bring in so many customers who would LOVE to stay in this place. Like I say, there is SO MUCH potential, I enjoyed my stay as I needed it and the care my beloved put into booking it cancels everything out but I would love to return and stay again knowing that I would be paying for quality and style. Additionally, I have stayed in a LOT of hotels through personal choice and through my work so I do have experience in hotels and tourism, I also work in an industry where word of mouth can be passed onto some very important people. I would actually love the opportunity to turn this place around, I would make it an exceptional place to stay and one people would return to time and again.

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