Parks and reserves

Following the ratification of the original gift in 1883, the reserve was vested in the Government of New Zealand in 1898 as an area where the thermal waters could be used and promoted as a health spa similar to those in Europe.

The name of J M Camille Malfroy, an engineer appointed to Rotorua in 1886, is inextricably linked with the geothermal features of the Government Gardens.

Originally under Department of Lands and Survey control, the responsibility for the area was then transferred to the newly formed Department of Tourist and Health Resorts in 1901 who administered the Gardens until 1963. At that time the area containing the Bath House (which now houses the Rotorua Museum), the land to the east to the lake and the main access roads were transferred to the then Rotorua City Council.

The Rotorua District Council formally accepted administrative control in June 1983 and full control in March 1987.

The Gardens provide facilities for bowls, croquet, petanque and golf (the Motutara course is leased to private operators). There are various points of interest including the Arawa Soldiers Memorial, geothermal features, the Kwaqiulth Totem Pole and various buildings of historic interest.

A wildlife refuge exists in the Sulphur Bay area of the Lake Rotorua foreshore on the eastern side of the gardens while a well-used walking track connects the Lakefront Reserve (near the Sea Scout Den) to Government Gardens via Motutara and Sulphur Points.

The Government Gardens is also home to the famous Rotorua Museum and the restored Blue Baths.

The Stadium includes covered grandstand facilities, floodlights and media facilities. In addition to sporting fixtures, the Stadium also hosts concerts and community recreational activities.

Much of the work to develop it as a reserve was done during the Depression of the 1930s. However the majority of the area reverted to scrub during the Second World War until the only remnants of the original paths and a small portion of park remained.

Work resumed in earnest in the 1950 and the area became a popular drawcard for locals and visitors.

Current features include a children's play area, a large garden area, ornamental lake, geothermally heated foot pools and a raised scented garden. A boardwalk near the northern edge enables viewing of the very active geothermal features. The Rotorua Aquatic Centre is on the western edge of the park

Kuirau Park is also home to a very popular weekly (Saturday morning) Farmers’ Market featuring fresh produce.

The Rotorua District Council has a major, long-term redevelopment plan in place for the park.

The reserve covers almost eight hectares and, like Government Gardens, is one of the reserves gifted by the Ngati Whakaue sub-tribe.

The area presently occupied by the Soundshell was originally set aside for a canoe landing site and horse grazing for Ngati Whakaue who lived at Kawaha Point, Mokoia Island, Owhata, Ohinemutu and Maketu.

The Volcanic Playground on Lakefront Drive was completed in 1995 following a large community fundraising drive. It’s a far cry from Rotorua’s first recorded playground equipment, a merry-go-round gifted “to the children of Rotorua” by local bakers Mr. and Mrs. Graeff in 1929.

In 1931, the Rotorua Borough Reclamation Act was passed and a portion of the lake bed was reclaimed adding to the land area of the Lakefront Reserve.

A wharf or jetty has been part of the reserve for its full history. The first fuel pump was installed on the wharf in 1966 and floatplane operations commenced 1968.

Linton Park is a large (44 hectare) and not fully developed park serving the western side of the urban area and divided into two parts - Linton Park East and West-by Edmund Road.

There are numerous access points into the park which is traversed by the Mangakakahi Stream and three playgrounds sited off Homedale Street, Kamahi Place and Alison Street.

The land was traditionally used as a catchment and spoil disposal area; its use as a recreation facility began in the late sixties. It was named for a long-serving Mayor, Murray Linton, and is used for bowls, walking, running, dog exercising, soccer and touch rugby.

This reserve at the corner of Pukuatua Street and Old Taupo Road, was gifted by the Ngati Whakaue at the same time as the land for the public hospital and was intended as grazing for the medical officer's horses. It is now used as a winter sports training ground and for cricket.

This park was acquired and developed by the former Rotorua County Council who named it for a long serving County Chairman.

The area of the park is some 11 hectares; much of the land has been used in the past for various industrial activities - at one time a timber industry was situated in the area and much of the base of the existing sports fields is composed of sawdust. Another part of the park is the site of a former quarry now utilised by various clubroom type activities.

This became part of the headquarters of the Rotorua Rugby Sub-Union after they ceased use of fields on Arawa Park. Planning began in 1955 and was followed by clearing of the land and formation of the fields with much of the work undertaken by voluntary labour.

During the 1957 season, plans were completed for a covered grandstand for which a loan of $4,000 was obtained from the New Zealand Rugby Football Union. This grandstand was demolished in 1994.

This park is now being developed as the home base for Rotorua Soccer and is currently extensively used by Junior Soccer and Business House Soccer. Poor soils and drainage problems within the park have meant that major re-design and upgrading of the grounds and playing fields are necessary to accommodate the new code. This work is being undertaken in three stages.

A long-established park associated with a well-known former Rotorua resident, Mrs Smallbone, this park was subdivided out (with the Springfield Golf Course) from a larger block of land in 1957.

It was bought by the Rotorua Racing Club who gifted it to Rotorua City with some money for development in exchange for a 33 year rental of Arawa Park. The park is now used for hockey (including an all-weather artificial surface) and cricket. Past uses include dog obedience, pony club and athletics.