Hamilton Gardens

Hamilton Gardens opened in 1960. Before this time, the site was a pre-European pā, a British military post, a Victorian rifle-range and a dog-dosing station. Needless to say, this piece of land has an interesting history.

The gardens are a masterpiece of foliage divided into five sections: Paradise, Productive, Fantasy, Cultivar and Landscape. Each section works like a gallery, with different exhibits (A.K.A. gardens) cultivated to show something about gardens and our relationship to them.

The Paradise Collection of international gardens is a favourite among visitors and feels like a trip through five countries in an afternoon. There's the Italian Renaissance Garden, the Japanese Garden of Contemplation, the Chinese Scholar’s Garden, the traditional English Flower Garden and the Indian Char Bagh Garden. You can go for a longer walk through the Landscape Collection, enjoying the beautiful Waikato River that weaves through the property.

Hamilton Gardens has won a number of prestigious awards, including the International Garden of the Year award at the International Garden Tourism Network (IGTN) conference in France and Recreation Aotearoa's Outstanding Park Award.

This unique place was built to tell a story about gardens and their development across time in different cultures around the world. “The concept has also been compared to a museum, where each garden collection has historic integrity and provides a window into the story of civilisations, their arts, beliefs and lifestyles.”

Committed to the environment with a range of sustainable practices, this dreamy spot is well worth the visit and is the perfect destination for a picnic, a wander, and an escape from the city.