Government Gardens Thermal Area

Government Gardens Thermal Area

Overnight Campervan Parking

69 Rankers Reviews

1 Face-to-Face

4 Campervan Parking

Maps

FREE Header

Camping NZ NEW

Welcome to New Zealand's most comprehensive database of freely available camping information. This is the only travel map of its kind in NZ.

Images

Information

Government Gardens Thermal Area

Limited free parking spaces for large campervans available in the Government Gardens opposite the Polynesian Spa, Hinemoa Street. The aim is to provide an easily accessible parking facility within a few minutes' walk of the inner city, museum, pools, supermarkets and the shared paths which offer a designated route walking, cycling, scootering and mobility scooters through our city to Kuirau Park and the wider suburban area.

Only self-contained campervans/motorhomes permitted to stay overnight
Space for a maximum of 17 campervans/motorhomes
Maximum stay is 2 consecutive nights per calendar month
No tents permitted
No toilets, showers or water provided
No dogs
No fires or fireworks

Self-Containment Warrant and Responsible Camper stickers must be displayed at all times on your vehicle.
Please take your rubbish with you.
Alcohol may not be consumed in any public places.

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

Rotorua Lakes Council

Council organisation

Location

North IslandRotorua RegionRotorua

Categories

  • Activity__freedom_campingFreedom Camping
  • Campervan Parking
  • Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-38.1377089392923

176.257123851776

Latitude
-38.1377089392923
Longitude
176.257123851776

Nearby

Reviews

    ✓ Prime location in Rotorua

    ✓ Free parking

    ✓ Close to Polinesia Spa

    ✓ Safe and quiet

    ✓ Clean public toilets

    𐄂 Sulfur smell can be overwhelming

    𐄂 Toilets locked at night

    • It’s fine.
    • Couldn’t find toilets.
    • Will do for one night.
    • Really practical place to stay in Rotorua.
    • Smell dropped rating.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 5
    7%
    9/10 11
    16%
    8/10 15
    22%
    7/10 19
    28%
    6/10 10
    14%
    5/10 6
    9%
    4/10 0
    0%
    3/10 1
    1%
    2/10 2
    3%
    1/10 0
    0%
  • 3.0/5

    It’s fine.

    I arrived 6.30pm and got a spot. Good location for exploring town and lakes but not picturesque. Clean public toilet shuts at 9pm. The Polynesian spa has nicer bathroom and shuts at 11pm.

    Reviewed 13 days ago

  • 1.0/5

    Freecamp constantly full, time for more self contained sites in Rotorua In addition, there are often non-self-contained cars

    Reviewed 18 days ago

  • 3.0/5

    To be able to sleep at this car park you will need to arrive before 14:00 pm.

    Gets fills very quickly.

    It’s very close to the center, and all its ammendaties. Toilets a bit far and closed after 23:00.

    Reviewed 30 days ago

  • 4.5/5

    Great free basic camping spot - perfect location for everything you could want in Rotoura.

    It is a car park but great for exploring the town.

    Public toilets are clean but literally across the road is the Polynesian spa which is open until 11pm if you want a coffee and the loo in warmth.

    It does fill up (even in July!) so would recommend going early!

    Reviewed 4 months ago

  • 3.5/5

    , bars & restaurants.

    Handy spot to park, close walk to Rotarua shops

    Across the road from the popular Polynesian Spas that were unfortunately very overcrowded when we visited them but I guess that's expected in the school holidays. Felt safe parking here nice walkways around parking spot.

    Reviewed 8 months ago

  • 3.5/5

    Smell dropped rating.

    Free, lots of spots and easy walk to city center. Bathrooms nearby are locked at night, so if needed a 1/2 mile walk into town is closest.

    Reviewed 10 months ago

  • 5.0/5

    Can't be a better place to park campervan and go for a visit in town.

    The lake is close, 10min walk. We arrived very early (about 12pm) and was full quickly. No toilets but if need there is the Polynesian spa at 20m. Next to the parking a little plan of water so sulphur odor really present.

    Reviewed 10 months ago

    Rya's avatar

    Rya

  • 4.0/5

    So convenient to town!

    It's worth a drive by to check for spots, bc vans came and went all day.

    Reviewed 11 months ago

  • 3.5/5

    A fantastic spot right next to town.

    It fills up quickly, so a bit of luck is needed. A security guard arrives at 6 p.m., and you can ask him anything. The toilets are a 3-minute walk away. Note that the smell of sulfur in this area can be very strong at times.

    Reviewed 12 months ago

    Jan's avatar

    Jan

  • 4.5/5

    Really practical place to stay in Rotorua.

    We were here for 3 nights and always found a space to park mid afternoon. Quite a strong smell of sulphur but compensated by the east walk into the city centre and the fact it’s free! Toilets are 3 mins walk away and the Polynesian Spa is over the road if you really need a shower.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 4.5/5

    Was pretty busy, we arrived at around 1900 and we had the last available spot.

    It was a Saturday so that is probably why. Public toilets, which were open till late, were a 2 minute walk and clean. The smell is just something you will have to put up with in Rotorua so we didn't mind!

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

    D&S's avatar

    D&S

  • 3.5/5

    Couldn’t find toilets.

    Quiet and safe. Busy all parks used. Strong Sulfur smell. Walking distance to town

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 3.0/5

    It’s fine.

    I arrived 6.30pm and got a spot. Good location for exploring town and lakes but not picturesque. Clean public toilet shuts at 9pm. The Polynesian spa has nicer bathroom and shuts at 11pm.

    Reviewed 13 days ago

  • 1.0/5

    Freecamp constantly full, time for more self contained sites in Rotorua In addition, there are often non-self-contained cars

    Reviewed 18 days ago

  • 3.0/5

    To be able to sleep at this car park you will need to arrive before 14:00 pm.

    Gets fills very quickly.

    It’s very close to the center, and all its ammendaties. Toilets a bit far and closed after 23:00.

    Reviewed 30 days ago

  • 2.5/5

    Full early two night we checked.

    We couldn’t get in so left. Lots of non self contained ars

    Reviewed about 1 month ago

  • 4.5/5

    Great free basic camping spot - perfect location for everything you could want in Rotoura.

    It is a car park but great for exploring the town.

    Public toilets are clean but literally across the road is the Polynesian spa which is open until 11pm if you want a coffee and the loo in warmth.

    It does fill up (even in July!) so would recommend going early!

    Reviewed 4 months ago

  • 3.5/5

    , bars & restaurants.

    Handy spot to park, close walk to Rotarua shops

    Across the road from the popular Polynesian Spas that were unfortunately very overcrowded when we visited them but I guess that's expected in the school holidays. Felt safe parking here nice walkways around parking spot.

    Reviewed 8 months ago

  • 2.5/5

    Im not sure why this is rated to high.

    It is literally a car park with no space to put chairs out. The only good thing is that it is in the center of town but it doesn’t even have overnight toilets. The toilets close at 8:30pm!!

    Reviewed 9 months ago

  • 3.5/5

    Smell dropped rating.

    Free, lots of spots and easy walk to city center. Bathrooms nearby are locked at night, so if needed a 1/2 mile walk into town is closest.

    Reviewed 10 months ago

  • 5.0/5

    Can't be a better place to park campervan and go for a visit in town.

    The lake is close, 10min walk. We arrived very early (about 12pm) and was full quickly. No toilets but if need there is the Polynesian spa at 20m. Next to the parking a little plan of water so sulphur odor really present.

    Reviewed 10 months ago

    Rya's avatar

    Rya

  • 4.0/5

    So convenient to town!

    It's worth a drive by to check for spots, bc vans came and went all day.

    Reviewed 11 months ago

  • 3.5/5

    A fantastic spot right next to town.

    It fills up quickly, so a bit of luck is needed. A security guard arrives at 6 p.m., and you can ask him anything. The toilets are a 3-minute walk away. Note that the smell of sulfur in this area can be very strong at times.

    Reviewed 12 months ago

    Jan's avatar

    Jan

  • 2.5/5

    Freedom camping is shit in Rotorua!

    Be early for this one, yesterday at 3 there was no space left. Today I got the last one at 12.30, even tho camping is only allowed from 2pm… there is another freedom camping ground at the opposite of the lake with heaps of spaces and toilets, but it‘s only on campermate!

    Reviewed about 1 year ago

  • 4.5/5

    Really practical place to stay in Rotorua.

    We were here for 3 nights and always found a space to park mid afternoon. Quite a strong smell of sulphur but compensated by the east walk into the city centre and the fact it’s free! Toilets are 3 mins walk away and the Polynesian Spa is over the road if you really need a shower.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 4.5/5

    Was pretty busy, we arrived at around 1900 and we had the last available spot.

    It was a Saturday so that is probably why. Public toilets, which were open till late, were a 2 minute walk and clean. The smell is just something you will have to put up with in Rotorua so we didn't mind!

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

    D&S's avatar

    D&S

  • 3.5/5

    Couldn’t find toilets.

    Quiet and safe. Busy all parks used. Strong Sulfur smell. Walking distance to town

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 2.5/5

    Location amazing and it’s free.

    The only thing is the sulphur smell can be incredibly strong and hard to adjust to. Keep silver jewelry away! Your van will be very smelly as well when you leave. Other than that great site with toilets somewhere nearby that were not open when we checked.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 3.5/5

    The better of the two central Rotorua parks, feels more secluded.

    Just a shame about high competition. I was tired & slept in until 11am without any interruptions here!

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 3.0/5

    This is a convenient place to visit Roturua, but no special charm or appeal remember to arrive early

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 4.5/5

    Will do for one night.

    Narrow spaces so not much space to sit outside and wouldn’t want to anyway due to the strong eggy smell outside. Toilets are a 5 minute walk and I think they are locked overnight.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 4.0/5

    It’s a car park and it smells of sulphur but that’s ok cos you get to see the wonderful thermal ponds and eat great food in Eat Streat.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 3.0/5

    Nice location.

    Smell you get used to but was only 2 spots left when we got here at 215pm so best to get in as early as possible

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 4.5/5

    Good place to say over night - super close to Polinesia Spa, to the supermarket, town center, and lake walk.

    The disadvantage is that it gets filled very fast - we got the last spot at 3 pm.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 4.0/5

    Stayed here Saturday and Sunday night.

    It was FULL. We got here at 4pm and we parked beside the last camper on the right which was not a proper space. The warden did come round that evening and took our reg and told us it was fine for the night but to move into a space for the next night - which we did. Toilets near by and handy location to the city centre.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 3.0/5

    Good place to stay the night !

    A lot or people (we got the last spot around 4pm...)

    Toilets are ok, but close at night. Plenty of lights out. However there's a big constant noise, caused by the spa close by (I believe), it can be hard to sleep with this.

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    A great place to stop over.

    We parked facing the spa only 100metres away. Fantastic place to visit.

    Get there early as places fill up rather quickly. Avoid the little road on the end of the parking space as it goes nowhere.

    Reviewed about 2 years ago

  • 2.5/5

    Good spot but only go there if you are very early in the day.

    Very small for a big city as Rotorua. We traveled in October outside school holidays and had no spot.

    Reviewed about 2 years ago

  • 3.0/5

    Small car park for self contained.

    No issues with car park - be warned the sulphur smell is quite intense in this area of Rotarua if you aren't used to it. Public toilets located 2 min walk away on green if needed. Other than loud camper parking immediately next to us in the empty car park we had a good stay

    Reviewed about 2 years ago and experienced in July 2022

  • 3.5/5

    Handy location to park while in Rotorua.

    Toilets not open all night but not a big deal. Strong sulpher smell at times but this is what Rotorua is known for. Pretty hit and miss with the people you will encounter here. Drugs and homelessness seem to be a problem and this spot has a lot of drinkers loitering/living here which can be intimidating. Great set up to separate rubbish and recycling.

    Reviewed over 2 years ago and experienced in April 2022

  • 4.5/5

    Nice parking space, still about 8 spaces left at night, nice gardens to walk around, toilet just across the park 2 mins, museum just up the street, lovely sounds from the frogs in the pond with a fountain

    in the morning, close to the shops also

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    This was a nice enough camp spot, however it gets very busy.

    Make sure to get there early. We got there at around 3 and there was only 3 spots left. By 4 they had all gone (around 12). The parking is right by a park which is lovely. It did get noisy at one point with people passing through the park at 2am.

    For those that don’t know, Rotorua smells due to the sulphur, therefore we would recommend keeping doors and windows closed.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago