Stephanie Worsop: A city's hidden gems the secret to boosting local tourism

Nobody knows a city's hidden gems like its locals. Photo / File

OPINION

When going on holiday anywhere in New Zealand, a quick Google search will tell you where to find the museums, aquariums, parks - all the standard attractions tourists want to see.

But if you really want to know where to find a city's hidden gems, locals are the ones in the know.

Rotorua is, in my opinion, the best example of this.

Being a former Aucklander, Rotorua was always a top destination for family weekends when I was a kid.

We'd do the luge and see the mud pools in Kuirau Park. We'd go to Rotorua Museum and feed the swans at the Lakefront.

Over the years and multiple family trips, we ticked off all the attractions we could find until we thought we had clocked the city.

So when hubby and I moved to Rotorua seven years ago we were surprised to discover a plethora of unwritten secret spots only locals seemed to know about.

These hidden gems are the spots locals cherish, the spots not regularly found on the most popular 'to do' lists, the spots that, once discovered, you wonder how they are kept a secret.

For us, upgrading to 'Vegas local' status meant we discovered walks, natural hot pools and restaurants we go back to time and time again but previously never knew had existed.

We found an Italian restaurant (which sadly has since closed) that made the best pomodoro sauce which, in our pre-child days, we would eat at every week.

We also found a walk which is perfect for the dog and, if you get far enough up it, offers uninterrupted views of Lake Rotorua.

Now, when our family and friends come to Rotorua for a holiday, we are able to let them in on the secret, let them get a taste of the city through a local lens.

But, of course, not everybody has the luxury of knowing locals in the cities they're visiting.

That's where this paper is going to come in handy. This Saturday is the second of four that we are offering up our local intel about our city's hidden gems to readers wanting to find something new to do.

In this unprecedented summer, when more Kiwi families will be travelling around the country than ever before, we want people to find the spots that truly make our country great.

We want people to see New Zealand is worth exploring because there is always something new to stumble upon and fall in love with.

Then, when borders eventually reopen, hopefully Kiwis will remember a holiday at home can be just as fulfilling as one abroad, and has the added bonus of contributing to our economy.

So enjoy our picks of some of the best hidden gems and start exploring!

But don't make the mistake of thinking they're all the secret spots the city has to offer - some things are just too good to share.