Government Gardens facts for kids

A beautiful view of the Rotorua Museum in Government Gardens. It used to be called the Bath House!

A historical picture of Government Gardens, showing the lake and the old Bath House.

The Government Gardens is a fantastic public park and garden area in Rotorua, New Zealand. It's right next to Lake Rotorua in the North Island. The government built this park a long time ago to attract visitors, and it's still a super popular place for tourists today!

What Can You Do at Government Gardens?

The Government Gardens has lots of cool things to see and do. It's a great spot for families and friends to explore.

Explore the Rotorua Museum

The Rotorua Museum is located inside the old Bath House building, right in the heart of the gardens. This historic building used to be a place where people came to bathe in the special Rotorua waters. Now, it's a museum where you can learn all about the history of Rotorua and the local Māori people.

Enjoy Sports and Fun Activities

If you love sports, you're in luck! The gardens have several places to play:

• The Blue Baths: This is a famous swimming pool building. It was quite special when it opened because it allowed both men and women to swim together, which was new for the time!
• Bowling Green: You can find a place to play bowling here.
• Croquet Lawn: There's also a lawn for playing croquet, a fun game with mallets and balls.
• Bandstand: Sometimes, you might even catch a musical performance at the bandstand!

Relax at the Polynesian Spa

Very close to the gardens, right by Lake Rotorua, is the Polynesian Spa. This is a place where people can relax in warm, natural mineral pools.

The Story of Government Gardens

The land where Government Gardens now sits has a long and interesting history, especially for the local Māori people.

How the Gardens Got Their Name

Long ago, parts of this area had different Māori names. One part was called Paepaehakumanu, which means a place where birds were caught. Another part to the north was called Motutara. This land is very important to the local Māori because many battles were fought here in the past.

In the late 1800s, the Māori people generously gave about 50 acres of this land to the British Crown (which means the New Zealand government at the time). This combined area, Paepaehakumanu and Motutara, then became known as the Sanatorium Reserve. But most people just called it the Government Gardens.

Famous Buildings and Their History

The New Zealand government built some very important buildings in the gardens:

• The original Bath House: This large building opened in 1908. It was a grand place for people to come and bathe in the healing waters of Rotorua. It stopped being used for bathing in 1966. Later, in 1995, it was completely updated and turned into the Rotorua Museum we see today.
• The Blue Baths: This second bathing building opened in 1933. It caused a bit of a stir because it was one of the first places where men and women could swim together! The Blue Baths closed in 1982 but were beautifully restored and reopened in 1999–2000.

Protecting History at Government Gardens

Many parts of the Government Gardens are officially protected because they are so important to New Zealand's history. These protections are managed by Heritage New Zealand.

Special Historic Places

Several buildings and structures in the gardens have special "heritage registrations," which means they are recognized for their historical value:

• The former Bath House (now Rotorua Museum) and the Blue Baths are both "Category I" sites. This means they are of outstanding historical importance.
• Four other structures are "Category II" sites, meaning they are historically significant. One of these is the Prince's Arch and Gateway. This special archway was built for a royal visit in 1901 by the Duke and Duchess of York (who later became King George VI and the Queen Mother). This archway is now the only one of its kind left in New Zealand!
• The entire area of Government Gardens is also protected as a "Historic Area."

Historic Structures in Government Gardens

Here's a quick look at some of the important historical structures you can find:

Photo	Name	Category	What it is
	Former Bath House, now Rotorua Museum	Category I	A beautiful building with a unique half-timbered style.
	Blue Baths	Category I	A bath house built in the Spanish Mission style.
	Prince's Arch and Gateway	Category II	An archway that looks like a royal crown, built for a royal visit in 1901.
	Te Runanga Tea Pavilion and Ticket Office	Category II	A charming tea kiosk and a small, eight-sided building that used to sell tickets.
	Rotunda	Category II	A round building where bands used to play music.
	Gardener's Cottage	Category II	A small house where the park's gardener lived.
	Rotorua Government Gardens	Historic Area	This covers the entire park and its historical setting.
	Arawa War Memorial	Historic Monument	A special monument built to remember those who fought in World War I. It was revealed in 1927 by the Duke of York, who later became King George VI.