Rotorua Venues Theatre Banquet Classroom Cocktail Style Accomodation Blue Baths Foyer & Galleries 80     120   Blue Baths Tearoom 100 80 60 130   Blue Baths Pools       150   Blue Baths Lido Lounge 500 350 300 500   Government Gardens Marquee 350 200 200 400   Government Garden Party       1400   The Bath House Pump Room at Rotorua Museum   90   300   Te Runanga TeaHouse & Band Rotunda 50 40 30 70   Rotorua Convention Centre   700   1400   Shambles Theatre   50   110   The NZ Caterpillar Experience       250   Te Aomarama, Ohinemutu 80 60 50 80   The Redwoods, Whakarewarewa (5 areas)   200   300   The Orchard, Lake Tarawera (Marquee)   200   350   The Native Bush Camp (300 pax using Marquee option)   100   100   Agroventures BBQ   100   150   Agrodome (3 venue options)   450   650   Lawrence, Otago Venues           The Church   30   40 8 Jafas Motels         10 The Post Office   18 18 40   Gabriels Café   40   50   Marama Lodge   30   40 14

The Blue Baths are set in the tranquil beauty of Government Gardens, Rotorua. Built in 1933 and meticulously restored, the historic Blue Baths are once again the epitome of glamour and style. Within this unique building with its many original features, lies a dazzling collection of Museum Galleries, thermally heated sapphire pools, an elegant Foyer, classic Tearoom and spectacular 600 m² function room, once the adult pool.   The building was designed for recreational bathing and when it opened in 1933, males and females could indulge in mixed-sex bathing for the first time in New Zealand. Liquid light, white tiles, sparkling blue water, submerged lighting, diving towers and sun balconies the Blue Baths had it all. It was promoted as a very glamourous place and people came in their droves, lured by the luxury of it all. Huge swimming carnivals were held, scientific swimming and diving instruction was taught, local swimmers became stars and the Blue Baths became a national icon. The Blue Baths closed from 1982 till 1999 when they were restored and reopened. Care has been taken to retain the original identity of the rooms and spaces. To make further enquiry about this venue please contact the Historic Venues team.

The Foyer provides an elegant reception area for entertaining guests before they progress to either The Lido Lounge or to The Tearoom above, or as a stand alone venue for meetings or cocktail parties for up to 80 pax.   The Foyer is situated on the ground floor with views across Government Gardens. Polished cork tiled floors, 1930s furniture and a phalanx of French doors opening onto The Lido Lounge and spacious outdoor Terraces... set the mood of retro glamour! For more information on this venue please contact the Historic Venues team.

The Tearoom provides a fabulous venue for an intimate dinner, cocktail party, seminar or product launch. It is also well known as an exclusive wedding and special occasion venue.   The Tearoom, which has been returned to its former elegance with loving attention to detail, is accessed from The Foyer via a sweeping Art Deco terrazzo staircase. There is also a lift.   Balconies can be accessed through ten sets of French doors, and the area provides splendid views of the Government Gardens. Visitors are awed by The Tearoom with its high totara beamed ceiling, circular fan lights, cork tiled floor, kentia palms, piano, and replica tables and chairs. For more information on this venue please contact the Historic Venues team.

This spectacular 600 sq metre area was once the adult pool, with the old pool signs and diving board platforms providing a visual reminder of that glamorous heyday. Now waterless and just 30 cm deep, the former pool provides the setting for a new era of glamour and romance. Protected by a high roof and encircled with balconies, The Lido offers unique event possibilities. The large open space is perfect for themed cabaret style gala dinners, balls, casino evenings, seminars, and product launches. It’s the perfect place for wedding receptions. Just ask the dozens of brides who choose the Lido every year! For more information on this venue please contact the Historic Venues team.

The original ‘Juvenile Pool’ was the earliest part of the complex to open, in 1931. For the first time in New Zealand males & females could bathe together…liquid light, white tiles, sparkling blue water, sun balconies – the Blue Baths had it all. It was promoted as a very glamourous place to see & be seen. People came in their droves, lured by the luxury of it all.   Begin your evening with predinner drinks around the crystal blue water of the Juvenile Pool. Entertainment can be matched to your event, with slapstick comedy from our very own synchronised swimmers ‘Artists in Aqua’ or on a more formal note, have your guests serenaded from the balcony overlooking the pools, by the mysterious Phantom of The Baths!   The perfect place to celebrate with a family style barbecue, relaxing on the loggia, paddling in the pool! Set a sophisticated mood at sundown, with guests assembling round the fountain for a star lit wedding, mist rising from the blue waters. Ah the stuff of romance!For more information on this venue please contact the Historic Venues team.

With the magic of marquees and covered walkways, we can link the Gardens to the Blue Baths main entrance, enabling the venue to cater for groups of up to 700 guests. With two other historic properties, the Bathhouse Pump Room and elegant Te Runanga Teahouse just 100 m away, there is the opportunity to link Rotorua’s most iconic buildings into one amazing venue creating a heritage ambience unrivaled anywhere in New Zealand. Using just two covered walkways, we can link the Energy Event Centre to Rotorua Museum, and the Museum to the Blue Baths. With the option of a Marquee on the gardens Petanque Terraine, guest capacities soar to 1600 persons.   Indulge in a Gourmet Safari.....Take your bwana by the arm, gather your friends or trek on alone, as you hunt down the exotic edibles and follow the migrating herds of hors d’oeuvres while wandering a heritage Trail from one stunning venue to another! Ever attentive waitstaff, a fabulous evening guaranteed! Pith helmets optional.   The tranquil beauty of The Government Gardens, a large park located on Hinemaru Street in Rotorua’s central city area is a favourite location for wedding ceremonies, receptions, art displays and intimate candlelight dinners. From the sprightly Victorian panache of the iron lace festooned Band Rotunda to the gracious old world style of the Te Runanga Tearooms, there are many different options. For more information on this venue please contact the Historic Venues team.

Five majestic dining and event locations are set within the 107 year old Redwood Forest. Each of the designated settings is unique. The most spacious area has a permanent sail canopy ensuring an all weather venue. The four other areas each have their own fabulous features from spectacular stonewalls and lovely lawned areas to intimate bush clad settings. But which ever you choose you will be awed by these forest giants, technically still in their infancy, but already tall enough to have you recalling Gulliver’s travels and feeling very small indeed! The stunning peace and beauty of this unique location ensures a magical backdrop for any occasion from intimate wedding ceremonies & receptions to gala dinners and product launches. The magnificent redwoods offer a calm oasis, a world removed, yet only a few minutes from Rotorua CBD.   The talented Historic Venues team of Fine Food Services have a long history of delivering blue-ribbon catering to the Redwoods venues. For more information on this venue please contact the Historic Venues team.

The Bath House building, home to Rotorua Museum, is an architectural landmark and is recognised as the city’s signature throughout New Zealand. Completed in 1908, the Bath House attracted visitors from around the world, lured by Rotorua’s curative waters. By day visitors bathed in the thermal baths and received a variety of treatments. Evenings were a time for relaxation and entertainment.   The Pump Room (foyer and mezzanine area) was the focal point for social occasions. The Pump Room features a spectacularly high ceiling, detailed plaster mouldings, finely crafted native timber fixtures, and commands sweeping views over the Government Gardens.The building, with its imposing presence, elegant gables and mullioned windows, will create lasting memories for guests. The Pump Room has outstanding acoustics and is truly brought to life by vocal or instrumental entertainment.   A dinner function can be enhanced with a guided tour or viewing of the Museum’s galleries. Unravel the layers of Rotorua’s dramatic past through innovative exhibitions that capture the imagination, including the high impact cinema experience “Rotorua Stories”   Guests can explore the fascinating and sometimes bizarre past of the building they are dining in - a place where patients were encouraged to bathe in electrifying currents! Those who venture beneath the building can also view the remaining baths in the buildings mud bath basement. For more information on this venue please contact the Historic Venues team.

The tranquil beauty of The Government Gardens, a large park located on Hinemaru Street in Rotorua’s central city area is a favourite location for wedding ceremonies, receptions, art displays and intimate candlelight dinners. From the sprightly Victorian panache of the iron lace festooned Band Rotunda to the gracious old world style of the Te Runanga Tearooms, there are many different options.   Te Runanga, (The Meeting House), built in 1903 lies at the heart of the 50 acre garden. It became the social centre of the nearby spa facilities. The place to be seen, for invalids, tourists and locals alike, relaxing and drinking tea or mineral waters from the local springs. A gracious villa with wide verandas on three sides it’s perfectly positioned to enjoy the expansive views across the Gardens to the city’s two most iconic heritage buildings, the Tudor styled Bathhouse Museum and contrasting Spanish Mission architecture of The Blue Baths. For more information on this venue please contact the Historic Venues team

The Convention Centre is located in the midst of Rotorua’s downtown business and retail area, just minutes walk from major hotels, Blue Baths & Museum in Government Gardens, shops, bars, cafes, restaurants, and the lakefront.   The building reveals unique architecture blending historic features with a stunning, contemporary look. It skilfully incorporates the old (a wartime theatre in the Spanish art deco style) and the new, (a boldly curving façade encasing the original building). The centre greets the visitor with seven metre high glass walls that create a welcoming sense of space, light and a display window for any conference or exhibition.   The Rotorua Convention Centre has been designed specifically for conferences, exhibitions and tradeshows, with rooms of varying sizes, including the stunning Banquet Room, a fully acoustic Concert Chamber, a modern auditorium with state-of-the-art technical equipment, a mezzanine floor area, a multi functional foyer and four smaller break out rooms. For more information on this venue please contact the Historic Venues team. Historic Venues Fine Food Services is a registered caterer at Rotorua Convention Centre.

For a change of pace, The Orchard, with its lovely lakeside location, presents a wonderful opportunity for staging unique weddings & corporate events.   In an area of pristine bushland, a place has been set aside for a marquee. It of course comes with the Historic Venues Fine Food team, at your service! The Department of Conservation reserve contains walking tracks and many recreational and cultural sites. The devastating eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886 completely reshaped this landscape and lifted the level of the lake by 12 m. Nearby Tarawera landing is the departure point for scenic boat tours, and traditional Maori paintings of archaeological significance, decorate the rock walls close by.   The location of this enchanting and somewhat spiritual setting is just 8 km from Rotorua via Tarawera Road, off Te Ngae Road. For more information on this venue please contact the Historic Venues team.

This magnificent location is steeped in cultural importance and allows guests to experience a very special part of Rotorua’s heritage which is often unseen. Meaning ‘the ever-changing world we live in’ this venue is located in the historically significant precinct of Ohinemutu lying adjacent to St Faiths Church on the shores of Lake Rotorua. Te Aomarama is an ideal venue for international visitors to be given an authentic Maori welcome and concert with lunch/dinner provided, or for a conference group wanting to meet and relax out of the hotel environment. The venue has one large room – seating 80 pax and two smaller meeting rooms. An on-site steam oven also allows for the option for diners to sample a traditional hangi . A tour of St Faiths Church and Ohinemutu Village can be arranged with a local guide, allowing guests the opportunity to fully appreciate the unique geothermal environment and historical background of this site.   The spiritual centre for the Arawa tribe who were the main pre-European inhabitants of Rotorua,and home to the people of Ngati Whakaue who have traditionally hosted visitors since the early 1880s. The Tudor styled St Faiths Anglican Church built in 1991,is richly decorated with woven and painted wall hangings. A window overlooking the lake depicts a Maori Christ, garbed in traditional feather cloak who appears to be walking on the waters of Lake Rotorua. Ohinemutu is also home to Rotorua’s paramount marae, Te Papaiouru Marae, home of Tamatekapua’s ancestral house. Tamatekapua is revered as the captain of the Arawa canoe which brought the ancestors of this tribe to Aotearoa NZ, circa 1350AD. For more information on this venue please contact the Historic Venues team.

Home of Rotorua’s most innovative Theatre ensemble, Shambles Theatre is located in the downtown area of the city. The completely renovated theatre provides a quirky venue for a fun occasion! The 110 pax theatre also has lounge facilities for private dining and an extensive costume hire department for those who want to really “dress for dinner...” The actors who call The Shambles home, can also be hired to amuse and entertain with their thespian skills! And of course Fine Food Services can be relied on for blue ribbon catering, whatever the mood of the event. For more information on this venue please contact the Historic Venues team.

Not just a load of old bulldozers!   Experience the drama and raw power of the Caterpillar® story. See how this innovative farming, agricultural, earthmoving, forestry and roading machinery helped shape New Zealand history. The Caterpillar Experience isn’t just a museum, it’s place where you can see big machines, tractors and classic trucks up close in recreated New Zealand native bush settings. Follow the story of the tough men and the brave women who pioneered the development of New Zealand, through storyboards and audio-visual presentations, featuring archival film footage.   There are over 30 impressive restored and refurbished Caterpillar® and other classic vintage vehicles in this private collection.  The New Zealand Caterpillar Experience is a unique historic destination for all ages and genders, groups, tours and educational visits, corporate events, conference and incentive groups and special occasions.   The location provides a relaxed informal atmosphere for guests to gather and mingle.  This pre-themed venue offers convenience and a unique space that incorporates a visual and sensory experience of our pioneering past.   Catering: We favour the smoke and aroma of grilled barbecue style food wafting through the air, blending perfectly with our character and complimenting our rustic style. Offers an excellent opportunity to feature New Zealand produce, game meats, cheese and other delicacies, intergrated with a variety of superb accompaniments. Casual buffet, individually plated or cocktail food, the choice is yours.  For more information on this venue please contact the Historic Venues team.

Relax & replenish after a day packed with unforgettable adventures. Return to the authentic Native Bush Camp exhausted and exhilerated from testing your Off Road skills. Be greeted by a wisp of woodsmoke and the aroma of prime cuts on the grill. Salads galore in summer and hearty winter fare when the weather turns cooler.   You can trust the Fine Food team to satisfy hearty outdoor appetities, as they craft authentic Kiwi fare just for you. With a heritage of passion, dedication and a committment to service underlining everything they do. For 100 guests using existing facilities, to 300 with marquees, Fine Foods knows how to cater to your every need. Onsite entertainment can be provided for your private event, please enquire. For more information on this venue please contact the Historic Venues team.

Do you just want to have fun after doing the hard yards in the office? Agroventures is just the place for you – with a brand new adventure centre, complete with an outdoor entertainment area, BBQ facilities and surround sound, you can opt for exclusive use of this area and also all of the activities on site.   This is the perfect place to do business by morning and to energize and inspire your delegates by afternoon. Imagine being hidden away in the midst of an organic orchard, when a farm tractor and trailer pulls up outside to whisk your delegates off to Agroventures and then next thing you know – you’re on a jet boat, whizzing around a 1km course at 100kmph, Swooping towards the earth with your colleagues from 40 metres or learning to fly Freefall style or racing against the clock on the world’s first human powered mono rail – Shweeb   Agroventures is located within the heart of the world famous Agrodome. The Agrodome has a number of unique venues in which you can hold your conference or conference/gala dinner, with capacity for up to 450 pax with banquet style catering.   With an easy understanding of New Zealand’s culinary heritage, the Fine Food team of Historic Venues, are your perfect choice for scrumptiously satisfying catering for any occasion. Drawing onNew Zealand’s famous fresh produce, our chefs can deliver everything from a casual Agroventure barbecue with fireside flair to a more formal menu for a corporate event within Rotorua’s iconic Agrodome. For more information on this venue please contact the Historic Venues team.

The Churrch…discover luxury, heritage & gracious hospitality. Exclusively yours......... Providing luxury accommodation and gracious hospitality for up to eight guests, The Churrch, offers a connection with real New Zealand! Off the tourist track, yet only one hour from Dunedin and two hours from Queenstown, The Churrch is splendidly sited in the goldrush town of Lawrence, gateway to the Central Otago wine country. Business conference or retreat, dream wedding or romantic getaway, be assured of a memorable stay.   The Churrch was designed by New Zealand’s pre-eminent Victorian architect Robert A. Lawson, who also designed the nearby former Lawrence Post Office, which provides an additional conference venue. Lawson’s outstanding buildings enrich the Dunedin streetscape and include such notable examples as the Dunedin Town Hall, First Church and Larnach’s Castle. The restored brick church with its stunning modern architecturally designed interior, features four double/twin bedrooms, luxury bathrooms, and fully equipped kitchen. The intimate reception area leads to the soaring space of the baronial dining room and lounge, providing guests with exceptional comfort and ambience. Climb to the Belfry for sweeping views over the historic hamlet of Lawrence and the rolling green hills of the Tuapeka countryside! Your personal chef offers a selection of menus for the discerning diner, accompanied by fine Central Otago vintages. Menus celebrate fresh local ingredients and vary with the seasons. Luxury linens, down duvets, comfy bathrobes, and quality toiletries pamper The Churrch guests. A short stroll through the garden finds further accommodation for ten, in Jafa’s modern studio units. The Churrch*the rolling r’s of Southern hospitality.   To make further enquiry about this venue please contact the Historic Venues team.

The elegant old Lawrence Post Office owes its dignified architecture to it’s original function as the Warden’s Court. Designed by noted Victorian architect Robert Lawson and built in 1866, it was the judicial heart of the Tuapeka Goldfields, and as such governed the life of the entire town. Situated on a rise overlooking the town, it was strategically positioned with a view directly to Gabriels Gully. Later when its diminutive size was overwhelmed by the additional business of the Supreme Court and circuit courts, a new courthouse was constructed next door, and in 1876, the building became the Lawrence Post Office.   Later of course the telegraph office was added to its functions, and as the gold-mining faded and died, the building once again gained preeminent status in the community! Closing in the 1970s, it was replaced by a new building in the main street. Narrowly escaping demolition, it languished for many years as the community mulled various ideas for its use. It was sold to private ownership, which did little to halt its decline. However the passionate owners of The Churrch saw the worth in the old building, and it has now been completely restored.   One room is used as office space for a national history program, but the former main courtroom can be adapted to many uses, including receptions and conferences. It is flanked by a small theatre, which also has multiple possibilities. The building links happily with The Churrch, directly across the road. For more information on this venue please contact the Historic Venues team.

Turreted Marama Lodge set in an arboretum of old deciduous trees is located on State Highway 8, at the Dunedin end of Lawrence. This outstanding kauri home was built in 1875 by Samuel Miller for a wealthy merchant man Edward Herbert.   The Herberts arrived in Lawrence during the feverish days of the 1861 gold rush in nearby Gabriel’s Gully, and quite quickly turned their attention to supplying the needs of the miners. As storekeepers they prospered and Marama stands as an enduring reminder of those heady days. Later they decided to forgo life in Lawrence and took up farming.   Marama was purchased by Hugh Craig of Craig & Co, Stage Coach Services. Many a coach load of weary travelers came to rest at the lovely old house. Beginning in the 1940s it operated as a childrens home for around 30 years.   Present and previous owners have restored Marama to reflect some of its original style and it is once again a ‘stopover’ for travellers.Marama Lodge operates as a B & B with facilities for private dinners for up to 30 pax, and cocktail receptions and garden parties for many more. For more information on this venue please contact the Historic Venues team.

This magnificent building was built in 1886 and is located in the main street of Lawrence, just a 2 minute walk from The Church & Post Office. It is currently operating as a licensed café & private function venue, catering for groups of up to 30. Originally the Bank of New Zealand, it played a pivotal role in the early days of the Tuapeka gold rush. The bank manager lived above, and enjoyed considerable status in the community. Though the banking days are long over, much of the interior has been retained, including the vault, now protecting Otago vintages as a restaurant wine’s cellar. For more information on this venue please contact the Historic Venues team.