Government Gardens Thermal Area
Overnight Campervan Parking
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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.
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
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Organisation |
Rotorua Lakes CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Rotorua |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Freedom Camping
Nearby
Reviews
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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!
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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.
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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!!
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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.
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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.
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4.0/5
So convenient to town!
It's worth a drive by to check for spots, bc vans came and went all day.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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3.5/5
Couldn’t find toilets.
Quiet and safe. Busy all parks used. Strong Sulfur smell. Walking distance to town
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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!!
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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.
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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.
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4.0/5
So convenient to town!
It's worth a drive by to check for spots, bc vans came and went all day.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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3.5/5
Couldn’t find toilets.
Quiet and safe. Busy all parks used. Strong Sulfur smell. Walking distance to town
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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.
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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!
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3.0/5
This is a convenient place to visit Roturua, but no special charm or appeal remember to arrive early
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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5.0/5
Great spot, so close to town.
Can walk everywhere! Lots of parks and campers were coming and going all day so easy to get a spot. Definitely recommend going to the polynesian spa across the road too!
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5.0/5
Easy to locate, great signage.
Right next to the gardens and short walk into town.
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4.5/5
Right in town which is handy.
We got there around 4pm and took last spot. Very busy. Toilet close by.
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5.0/5
You could not get a better in town spot close to everything we arrived at 7pm and still spots free