Government Gardens Thermal Area
Overnight Campervan Parking
Maps
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 CouncilCouncil organisation |
|
|
Location |
North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Rotorua |
|
|
Categories |
|
|
|
Directions To Coordinates |
||
|
Coordinates |
Freedom Camping
Google Maps
Nearby
Reviews
-
-
Good spot in the middle of a beautifull park.
Bert -
Full when we arrived at 630.
Kaylee -
Really nice place!
jofa972 -
OK place to stay one night.
Luis Vigil Vidal -
Right in town which is handy.
Lisa J
-
Great free camping spot right in the heart of town.
The nearby pool definitely has a sulfurous smell, but it's worth it for the location and the (free) price tag. Toilets are just a 1-2 min walk away. It can get very busy so best chance for a spot is before mid afternoon, but we got lucky with a spot in the evening too. Note there's no dump station or water refill at this spot.
-
-
When though are 17.
spots here,it s very busy with caravans ,the toilets are 3. Minute walk away … When we waited for a while, every now and then someone left after visiting spa.
Otherwise it´s quiet and smelly, exactly as we expected. Close to town, a running track, and everything’s nearby… :)
-
Juste un parking, sans aucune vue, mais bien pratique pour visiter Rotorua, faire un tour au bord du lac par exemple.
-
Great place to park up, hard standing, and great location.
Like minded friendly campers.
Polynesian spa was just the ticket after a long day - open until 11pm. Ice creams were delicious 😋. Also popped over for breakfast and to use the toilets in the morning. Very convenient and all the better for being free in the middle of Rotorua.
-
Great location for a free car park for campers.
It was full most the time however. No toilets in the car park but you can walk to the Polynesian spa until 11pm and use the ones there, you don’t need to ask as they are just in the reception area. We also went to the spa for 9am for the Pavillions pools which was lovely and then meant we could use showers and have breakfast in the café.
(Yes it does smell a bit but that’s what you are there to see anyway)
-
good location but fills super fast and terrible place for sleeping as the streetlights are on over the lot all night and the trash pickup came and made quite the racket at 2am which was insane.
-
On the positive side, there are quite a lot of parking spaces.
But since there are only two free camping places in roturoa, even these are constantly occupied. In addition, there are no private toilets. You have to walk two to five minutes to the nearest public toilet where there are strange people in the evening. The parking lot is also right next to a kind of pond which smells extremely like rotten eggs. We were here for over 24 hours and couldn't get used to it!
-
Very conveniently located, the area is basically a parking lot for campervans but so close to the centre of Rotorua and right next to the Polynesian Spa.
It fills up quickly. There are toilets nearby.the other travellers were all friendly, mostly international travellers,
-
Full when we arrived at 630.
Other camper vans were parked illegally along a curb next to some dumpsters. If you drive into the parking lot and take the little road to the left it puts you out into another little parking area. It could probably fit 10-15 cars. There was another van parked in this area but there was no signage saying yes it is ok or no it’s not for overnight/camper vans. We didn’t want to take the risk so we went to Waiapa forest park instead.
Gave a 8 bc I can’t review it properly, but the trash was overflowing.
-
-
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!
-
, 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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
So convenient to town!
It's worth a drive by to check for spots, bc vans came and went all day.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Great free camping spot right in the heart of town.
The nearby pool definitely has a sulfurous smell, but it's worth it for the location and the (free) price tag. Toilets are just a 1-2 min walk away. It can get very busy so best chance for a spot is before mid afternoon, but we got lucky with a spot in the evening too. Note there's no dump station or water refill at this spot.
-
-
When though are 17.
spots here,it s very busy with caravans ,the toilets are 3. Minute walk away … When we waited for a while, every now and then someone left after visiting spa.
Otherwise it´s quiet and smelly, exactly as we expected. Close to town, a running track, and everything’s nearby… :)
-
Juste un parking, sans aucune vue, mais bien pratique pour visiter Rotorua, faire un tour au bord du lac par exemple.
-
Great place to park up, hard standing, and great location.
Like minded friendly campers.
Polynesian spa was just the ticket after a long day - open until 11pm. Ice creams were delicious 😋. Also popped over for breakfast and to use the toilets in the morning. Very convenient and all the better for being free in the middle of Rotorua.
-
Great location for a free car park for campers.
It was full most the time however. No toilets in the car park but you can walk to the Polynesian spa until 11pm and use the ones there, you don’t need to ask as they are just in the reception area. We also went to the spa for 9am for the Pavillions pools which was lovely and then meant we could use showers and have breakfast in the café.
(Yes it does smell a bit but that’s what you are there to see anyway)
-
good location but fills super fast and terrible place for sleeping as the streetlights are on over the lot all night and the trash pickup came and made quite the racket at 2am which was insane.
-
On the positive side, there are quite a lot of parking spaces.
But since there are only two free camping places in roturoa, even these are constantly occupied. In addition, there are no private toilets. You have to walk two to five minutes to the nearest public toilet where there are strange people in the evening. The parking lot is also right next to a kind of pond which smells extremely like rotten eggs. We were here for over 24 hours and couldn't get used to it!
-
Very conveniently located, the area is basically a parking lot for campervans but so close to the centre of Rotorua and right next to the Polynesian Spa.
It fills up quickly. There are toilets nearby.the other travellers were all friendly, mostly international travellers,
-
Full when we arrived at 630.
Other camper vans were parked illegally along a curb next to some dumpsters. If you drive into the parking lot and take the little road to the left it puts you out into another little parking area. It could probably fit 10-15 cars. There was another van parked in this area but there was no signage saying yes it is ok or no it’s not for overnight/camper vans. We didn’t want to take the risk so we went to Waiapa forest park instead.
Gave a 8 bc I can’t review it properly, but the trash was overflowing.
-
-
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.
-
Freecamp constantly full, time for more self contained sites in Rotorua In addition, there are often non-self-contained cars
-
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.
-
-
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!
-
, 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.
-
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!!
-
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.
-
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.