Set right on the edge of the Whakarewarewa Redwoods at Te Whare Nui o Tuteata (Scion), this forest cafe pairs trailside refuelling with wood-fired pizzas, cooked breakfasts, beer, takeaway coffee, and a fully stocked cabinet. With both an indoor dining room and an outdoor terrace, the setup caters naturally to muddy mountain bikers, forest walkers, and dogs winding down after laps among the trees. The wood-fired oven shapes the afternoon menu, turning out crisp crusts that suit a post-ride pint as easily as a sit-down family lunch.
Doors open seven days a week at 8am, running through until 3pm Sunday to Thursday, with late trading until 8pm on Fridays, and the kitchen taking its last orders half an hour before closing. You will find it at the end of Titokorangi Drive (Long Mile Road, accessed off Tarawera Road) on the Scion research grounds. Our pick in Rotorua for wood-fired pizza and a cold drink straight off the forest trails.