Government Gardens
Government Gardens
4.5
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,196 reviews
Excellent
533
Very good
562
Average
91
Poor
7
Terrible
3
Gregory D
New Lambton1,026 contributions
Dec 2019
The gardens are immaculate, beautifully kept. Dotted around this extensive area are historic buildings ( The Former Bath house, now museum has been closed for several years to get refurbished, but the exterior is still spectacular), various thermal pools, monuments, the sculpture symposium etc. We were very luck to arrive outside the museum just after 11am and got to go on a free 1 1/2 hour fascinating walk around features of the gardens with Julie, a wonderful guide with encyclopedic knowledge. A lovely way to spend a morning and gin more insight into this amazing city.
Written January 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
roaming_kiwi58
Christchurch, New Zealand2,816 contributions
Sep 2021
On a sunny day it is a very pleasant walk around the Government Gardens in Rotorua. The museum is an impressive centrepoint of the gardens - a pity the buildings is going to be closed for years for earthquake strengthening. Behind the museum you can continue your walk around the lake edge to Sulphur Point.
Written October 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda H
92 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
After the most amazing breakfast at Mac’s steakhouse, our walk round Rotorua took us to the information building- beautiful in its own rights & still with Christmas decorations up.
From there we walked into Government gardens, round the museum that’s currently closed as it’s having major works done to make it earthquake safe, not an easy task on a heritage building.
We then walked down onto the lakeside and back into the town.
From there we walked into Government gardens, round the museum that’s currently closed as it’s having major works done to make it earthquake safe, not an easy task on a heritage building.
We then walked down onto the lakeside and back into the town.
Written January 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeff1903
King's Lynn, UK1,476 contributions
Mar 2020
This place has everything that you could wish for. Iconic buildings, lovely plants, thermal activity, interpretation boards, the lot. Rarely, if ever, have I seen such a beautiful park and it is set to get even better when the museum reopens.
This just maybe the best park I have ever visited. Go and see for yourself.
This just maybe the best park I have ever visited. Go and see for yourself.
Written March 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JElliot32
New South Wales, Australia3,962 contributions
Apr 2023
The Government Gardens are extensive, right next to Rotorua's CBD, and on level ground with lots of walking paths - just like Kuirau Park. But that is where the similarity ends. While Kuirau Park may be a bit like something out of 'The Inferno', these gardens are much more cultivated: well laid out with beautifully maintained flower beds and lawns, statues and fountains, plus a massive and mighty impressive Tudor-style building that used to house the thermal baths and is now undergoing renovations to become the Rotorua Museum, scheduled to open in 2024. There are some geothermal pools in these gardens, but nowhere near as much as Kuirau Park. The gardens face onto Lake Rotorua on two sides and we had wanted to walk around the perimeter. Unfortunately we couldn't do the circuit as a large part of the path around the lake foreshore is closed for repair at the moment, so we had to backtrack.
Written April 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julia
7 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
This is just a lovely peaceful interlude to your day. The museum is onsite but closed until 2025 for renovations. That doesn’t matter though, it’s a nice place to picnic or stroll for an hour and relieve stress. The Polynesia Spa adjoins the gardens and there are some geothermal mud pools at two places. One is close to the Polynesian Spa, but the others are sort of at the very back of the gardens (go beyond the museum and events centre). They are a few minutes walk from the centre of town and there is a children’s play park with swings etc. very pleasant to walk around for 60 - 90 minutes or so.
Written April 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mdh969
Canberra, Australia1,010 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
We were in Rotorua and driving around taking in the sites when we came across the Government Gardens. In prime position was the old bath house which became a museum in 1969. Unfortunately the earthquake in 1996 closed it and works will continue though to 2025 before it reopens. It is a very grand building that still takes a great photo.
There is also an impressive rose garden nearby.
Well worth a look 👀
There is also an impressive rose garden nearby.
Well worth a look 👀
Written November 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AlexandBeth
Lymm, UK207 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Spent all morning here, strolling thru the beautifully manicured gardens, looking at flicks if geese walking, lots playing croquet, how genteel is that, walking along the lakeside finishing with a bit of well needed golf practice at the driving range. Great historical war memorials. Pity the museum was closed but it was a well worth 4 hours!
Written February 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OSUGYPSY
Oklahoma City, OK289 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We walked through this beautiful place our last day in Rotorua. It’s so peaceful and everywhere you turn there are lovely plants and flowers. And we even found thermal pools and geysers. There is a guided tour if you want more information but it’s wonderful just to walk through by yourself.
Written March 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Strickes
Rotorua District, New Zealand1,590 contributions
Jul 2020
The Government Gardens are always well maintained. Great place to go for a walk by the Museum, Blue Baths, Rose Gardens. There are bowling greens, and more.
Nice path up the centre of the gardens looking toward the Museum Easy walking. Parking not always so easy to get, alot of the spaces tend to be filled up.
Nice path up the centre of the gardens looking toward the Museum Easy walking. Parking not always so easy to get, alot of the spaces tend to be filled up.
Written July 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
They are still trying to repair it
Written January 19, 2020
Yes sadly , but the gardens are worth visiting
Written November 22, 2018
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