Getting around Rotorua
Council is committed to providing people with options for travel within the District.
Travel by bus
The ‘Cityride Rotorua’ bus service is run by Reesby Buses. All routes start/end at the Pukuatua Street Terminal in the centre of Rotorua. In addition to stopping at designated bus stops, buses can be hailed or stopped at any safe location en route.
The Cityride service operates 10 routes:
- Ngongotaha
- Polytechnic
- Owhata
- Sunnybrook
- Western Heights
- Koutu
- Mitchell Downs
- Westbrook
- Springfield
- Rotorua Airport
Bus times and routes can be viewed online at:
The standard single trip cash fare is $2.20. A 30% concession per trip is available when purchasing a Smartride card. Cards are available from Cityride bus drivers or from Reesby Buses, 146 Riri Street.
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Travel on Foot
Rotorua local roads have plenty of footpaths which facilitate walking, including ‘Share with Care’ facilities on some commuter routes.
For more information go to the following links:
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Travel by Bike
Rotorua has an enviable reputation as an international mountain biking destination. Its potential as a cycling city stretches beyond the Redwoods however, with a cycling friendly landscape providing for easy riding throughout the city and its environs.
Several routes into the central business district (CBD) have cycle lanes or ‘Share with Care’ facilities. Why not give cycling a go to get into work? Even one day a week will help your fitness, your pocket and the environment.
If you’re interested in riding off-road, there are over 90kms of recreational mountainbiking trails just a short distance from town.
Benefits of Cycling
- Saving money. Bicycles pay no road tax, no warrant of fitness, no insurance, no licensing, no breakdown recovery services, and above all no fuel bills. A good bicycle needs at most about $200 worth of maintenance a year - less if you do a bit yourself. How much does your car need?
- Easy parking. A bicycle can be parked just about anywhere (20 bikes can be parked in the space needed for just one car), so no more car parking costs.
- Reducing emissions. One less car on the road means one less source of emissions.
- Health and exercise. Walking & cycling are great forms of exercise. Fit more exercise into your day by leaving your car at home for some of your trips. Regular cyclists enjoy a fitness level equal to that of a person ten years younger.
- Benefits to the environment. To make a bicycle requires only a fraction of the materials and energy needed to make a car, and bikes produce absolutely no pollution.
'Bike Rotorua' Cycling Strategy
A medium term plan for the development of Rotorua cycleways is contained in the Rotorua Cycling Strategy ‘Bike Rotorua’ (copies available from Rotorua District Council). This is reviewed on a 3-yearly basis, in consultation with cycling stakeholders. Cycleways will be planned to achieve the objectives set out in the strategy.
'Rotorua in Gear'
'Rotorua In Gear' is a SPARC Active Communities project. The aim is to get more people cycling more often, by creating a social norm around cycling. The programme started in July 2009, promoting many biking opportunities and a pathway of development. It involves local and national organisations including BikeNZ, Sport Bay of Plenty, Rotorua District Council, Health Rotorua PHO, Lakes DHB, Rotorua Police, and SPARC.
A Regional Development Manager will manage the project and ensure all objectives are met. The project will cover three key areas:
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Social marketing - to raise the profile of cycling and encourage individuals to become regular cyclists.
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Cyclist skills education - to remove key barriers to people getting on bikes.
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A regional collective cycling forum - to align interests of individual cycling groups.
Contact Us
Please contact the council about any aspect of cycling in our district. We welcome feedback, suggestions, enquiries and ideas on how to improve cycling in Rotorua.
Phone: 07 348 4199
Email: cycling@rdc.govt.nz or mail@rdc.govt.nz
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Travel by Car
Metered car parking is available throughout Rotorua. There are also a limited number of free all day parking spaces.
Council operates a public multi-storied Car Parking Building at 1222 Pukuatua Street.
Opening hours are:
- Mon-Fri. 7.30am – 6.00pm
- Sat. 8.30am – 1.00pm
Cost of parking:
- $1.00 per hour
- $27.00 for 5 days concession (not necessarily in succession), includes free parking on Saturdays.
An additional uncovered car park is located opposite the Library on Haupapa Street. Tickets for this car park are available from Customer Service staff in the RDC Civic Centre.
Cost of parking:
- $5.00 per day
- $25.00 per week
- $90 per month
- $240 per quarter
- $960 per annum
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Car Share BOP is a web-based application that promotes the idea of sharing a journey for travel in the Bay of Plenty region. By encouraging people to leave their cars at home whenever they can, we help improve air quality, reduce traffic congestion, save money on fuel and promote better health. Car share BOP helps you find people to share a ride with by finding other people who live near you or along your route and have similar work schedules and lifestyle preferences.
Link to Car Share BOP
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