Quite a magnificent sight in the heart of the city, the Government Gardens is one of the most peaceful Rotorua tourist attractions. This scenic location and the classical building which stands proudly watching over the gardens and the playground is an iconic site related to the Rotorua travel experience. These gardens were created in the mid 1890’s in order to act as an appreciable backdrop for the bathhouse which was built much earlier.

Before the beautiful garden was designed, the bathhouse was surrounded by unruly bushes and unflattering weeds which quite predictably did not attract the attention of the visitor. As the remarkable healing powers of these thermal waters were well known, necessary measures were taken to improve the quality of the site by landscaping the property. A hospital facility was also constructed in which patients got the chance to have access to the thermal pool nearby.

Although the hospital cannot be seen today, another elegant building has taken its place. Known simply as the Bath House when it was first constructed, the facility has now been converted into a museum. The Rotorua Museum of Art and History houses an impressive collection of exhibits related to the city’s cultural heritage.

At the gardens visitors will come across several well maintained rose beds, tennis courts and a spacious playground as well. Known by the natives as Paepaekumana this site is of great significance to the Maori people as it was a famous war ground where countless battles were waged. It was only after the property was gifted to the crown by the Maori people that the Blue Baths and the Bathhouse were built on the location attracting scores of visitors in search of interesting things to see in Rotorua.