Lakeland Queen, Rotorua

Pace of Life Too Fast? Take Some Time Out With A Relaxing Scenic Cruise

A scenic cruise on the Lakeland Queen in Rotorua is the perfect way to get away from it all for an hour. Whether it's breakfast you want, lunch, coffee or a twilight wine, there's a cruise to suit. Let me show you what a typical cruise is like with one I went on.

NB: Lakeland Queen has been indefinitely closed since October 2021 with the boat dry-docked at Sulphur Point. It's not known when or if it will operate again.

All Aboard!

As a thank you for guiding at the Rotorua Museum, the volunteer team were invited to take part in a cruise and afternoon tea on the Lakeland Queen. She’s our grand old paddle steamer just like the ones you see on the Mississippi River in the United States.

The day dawned lovely and clear, cool in the morning as only Rotorua does… and the breeze stayed cool… as it also does. That didn’t matter though as we’re well used to dressing for every type of weather.

In excess of sixty of us turned up and waited. When the “All aboard!” call finally came we made our way slowly onto the Lakeland Queen.

I saw a familiar face. Greeting passengers pleasantly as we boarded and looking very smart in a crisp white uniform, was a former work colleague by the name of Terry.Terry used to put police officers through their paces for the dreaded PCT (Physical Competency Test). Lovely guy but I always associated him with pain.

We had a quick chat and I found out that he is a co-owner in the Lakeland Queen together with the the local Ngāti Whakaue tribe. 

You just never know the twists and turns lives can take do you?

Prior to taking off, Terry gave us a little spiel on how the trip would unfold. Then we were off.

I was talking to a friend at the time and didn’t even notice that we were moving; it was that smooth. The only clue came when I felt vibrations rising up through the floor.

One of the ladies told me that she had been on the Lakeland Queen when the water wasn’t as calm and that it did rock a bit in that situation.

Afternoon tea was up next. There were savouries, tasty club sandwiches, blueberry muffins crisp on the outside, soft and fluffy inside… yum, and a lovely hot drink. A number of people went back for more and the staff didn’t begin packing it up until near the end of the trip.

The sides are covered in so there’s no worries about getting cold… or wet. With two levels you can go upstairs as well. On both levels, outside access is available at either end of the vessel. Terry joked that if you’re single, ‘don’t go outside’ because it’s very romantic.

It’s a nice change and very relaxing looking at Rotorua from the water. You get a totally different perspective.

Normally the captain provides information about the various landmarks along the way, for us it was our head lady at the time, Ann Sommerville. Ann is passionate about guiding and constantly reinforced for us the information that we pass on to visitors to our city.

The Lakeland Queen made its way past Sulphur Point where the difference between the geothermal waters spilling out of the underground reservoir and the lake water itself can clearly be seen. The thermal waters are white and cloudy whereas the lake is a lot darker.

Looping around in front of Mokoia Island, Ann told us that it is a rhyolite lava dome clad in native bush. It was home to the Te Arawa people for hundreds of years with an estimated population of 2,000 people.

Now privately owned by the tribe and because it is a conservation area, visitors can only go to the Mokoia Island with Katoa Jetboat tours. The Department of Conservation manage the conservation aspect with regards to the native bush and birdlife.

During school holidays young guys go to Mokoia Island for week long taiaha camps (Māori martial arts).

These camps were set up by Mita Mohi, a lovely, gentle man, who saw that a lot of young guys had lost their way. By utilising the taiaha training as the vehicle, Mita was able to turn young people, previously on the fringe of getting into trouble, into people who knew they had a valuable role to play in society.

As the cruise continued, Mt Ngongotaha, another rhyolitic lava dome, came into view. The southern side is steeper than the northern with its gentle sloping angle. Apparently this came about because lava oozing down the southern slope would have cooled and set quickly with the southerly winds whereas the northern aspect is a lot warmer and allowed the lava to keep flowing.

The inside of the Lakeland Queen is huge and must cater for a few hundred people. She was taken out of the water for a while and cut in half with 10 metre extensions inserted. Now, it's New Zealand's largest landlocked vessel.

For relaxation, a cruise would be highly recommended.

Book a Lakeland Queen Paddle Boat Cruise Here ≫

Contact Details for Lakeland Queen, Rotorua

Address:
Memorial Drive (on the Lakefront)
Rotorua
Phone: +64 7 348 0265 or +64 0800 572 784
Fax: +64 7 348 0267
Email: Contact form available on website
Website:www.lakeland-queen.com

Getting There

Nothing could be easier than getting to the Lakeland Queen which is located on the Lakefront. Just in case, see the google map with the marker plonked right where it is located with directions from the information center.


View Lakeland Queen Rotorua Cruises in a larger map

Food & Drink

FAQ

What ages are catered for?

All ages are catered for, in fact, kids go free on the coffee cruises… one per adult that is.



What do I need to bring?

The usual, sunscreen, brollies, wet weather gear… just in case you want to be outside in the elements.





Is it wheelchair/pram friendly?

Yes, although you would be hard-pressed to get a wheelchair up to the top level. The stairs are steep.

How long does it take?

The cruises are 1 hour in duration. Private functions of course would be different.

Are there any discounts for locals on the Lakeland Queen?
Yes as a matter of fact. Locals get 10% off the cruises.

Also In The General Area Of The Lakefront