 | ||
Address 9 Queens Dr, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand Similar Rotorua Museum, Lake Rotorua, Kuirau Park, Agrodome, Polynesian Spa | ||
New zealand the spectacular government gardens of rotorua
The Government Gardens (originally known as Paepaekumana) is a public park, partly laid out as gardens, located by Lake Rotorua in central Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, North Island, New Zealand. Built by the government as a tourism attraction, it is still a major tourism destination for New Zealand.
Contents
Rotorua museum government gardens
Facilities
The Rotorua Museum, housed in the old Bath House building, looks over the Government Gardens. There are sports facilities, including the Blue Baths swimming pool, a bowling green, and a croquet lawn. There is also a bandstand. The Polynesian Spa is close by, beside Lake Rotorua.
History
This site is of historical significance to the local Maori people, with battles having been fought here. The Maori gave 50 acres of land here to the British Crown in the late 1800s. The Government of New Zealand opened a large bath house here in 1908. In 1933 a second building, the Blue Baths, opened under much controversy, as mixed bathing was accommodated. The Blue Baths were closed in 1982, but were restored in 1999–2000. The original Bath House, which opened in 1988, closed in 1966 for bathing. The building was extensively renovated in 1995 and converted into a museum.
Heritage registions
A number of items are covered by formal registrations by Heritage New Zealand. The former bath house, now Rotorua Museum, and the Blue Baths have Category I registrations. Four structures have Category II registrations, including the Prince's Arch and Gateway which was built for the 1901 royal visit of the Duke and Duchess of York; this structure is now unique in New Zealand. The area as a whole is also covered by a Historic Area registration.