Rotorua Lakefront Stages 2 & 3

14 April 2022

Rotorua Lakefront Stages 2 & 3 Now Open

Stages 2 and 3 of the Lakefront opened on Friday. After the successful opening earlier this year of the lakefront promenade, these latest stages signal the completion of a world-class open space with grassed terraces for picnics and what will be one of New Zealand’s best destination playgrounds with all the bells and whistles including a new scooter track, flying fox, half-court basketball court, giant net, and ropes tower and the biggest slide you have ever seen.

The playground has been co-designed with the tamariki of Rotorua, who were at the opening on Friday morning to be the first to test it out. Prior to construction, four creative workshops were held for local tamariki to share their ideas about play with the playground designers from Isthmus Group. Isthmus then used the common themes that emerged from the workshops to develop the final playground design.

“Despite another turbulent year due to COVID-19, we’ve managed to reach three very significant milestones within the Lakefront Redevelopment project. We opened Memorial Plaza in April, the new boardwalk in July, and today we’ve opened the much anticipated new playground, ahead of the summer break as initially planned. I am very proud of what has been achieved and grateful to those who have made it happen. The playground looks spectacular and every stage of this project just continues to wow us.” – Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick

The opening ceremony was led by Ngāti Whakaue Kaumātua, Monty Morrison. Project partners from Ngāti Whakaue, the Gifted Reserves Committee (Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust), Te Arawa Lakes Trust, and Kānoa – RDU, the New Zealand Government’s regional economic development and investment unit were acknowledged.

Over the summer, visitors to the lakefront will also be able to purchase coffee, snacks and drinks from the new kiosks that are now on site. The new toilet block adjacent to the playground is also near completion and will be open for public use in late January 2022. Construction continues along the lake edge, extending the new boardwalk out and over the water to the west of the lakefront reserve.

Our team is proud to be involved supporting Rotorua Lakes Council and Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit and the Rotorua community in delivering this fantastic project and place for Rotorua.

Just in time for Christmas and the opening of the Auckland border, if you get the chance head down to the Rotorua CBD to make sure visit the lakefront, a world-class attraction, it’s a must-do this summer.

Check out the latest drone footage of the Rotorua Lakefront Redevelopment below.