Mobile visitors get free parks

The council has set aside the carpark between the Arts Village and Polynesian Spa for campervans and motorhomes during the day. Photo / Stephen Parker

The Rotorua District Council is setting up a free daytime parking area for visiting campervan and motorhome drivers.

The aim is to provide an easily accessible parking facility within a few minutes' walk of the inner city and other downtown visitor locations.

The designated parking area is located just behind The Arts Village, across from the Polynesian Spa, on Hinemoa St. It will have free all-day parking spaces marked out for larger vehicles as well as spaces for cars.

Street signs are expected to be up by the end of the month, directing motorhome drivers to the park. The parking area will be promoted through campervan rental companies, visitor-information services, brochures and websites.

The council's Inner City Revitalisation portfolio leader, Karen Hunt, said the inner city had experienced campervan parking issues for some time, especially with their growth in use in recent years.

"Rotorua is a major destination for motorhomes and campervans but some drivers find that they can't park close enough to the inner city so avoid the area altogether.

"This means retailers, cafes and other businesses in the central city often miss out on their custom.

"Others park their large vehicles on the street in spaces meant for smaller, regular-sized cars, making it difficult for other motorists to drive past.

"During our recent consultation with the local community to develop our Rotorua 2030 vision and goals, we received comment about the lack of daytime parking for these vehicles."

Ms Hunt said the parking area was a practical compromise which helped take larger campervans out of the centre of the city.

"But at the same time it provides an easily accessible designated parking location that's free to use and is still only a few minutes' walk to Tutanekai St, Rotorua Museum, the i-SITE and other visitor spots."

It also meant easy access to Te Ara Ahi cycleway and the new cycle route proposed across the inner city.

The council hoped the new campervan facility would be the first of a number of designated parking areas for motorhomes around the city.