New Zealand is blessed with many beautiful gardens that are open to the public. Here’s some of the the best New Zealand gardens you should consider visiting on your next trip to the North Island.
New Zealand Gardens – North Island’s Finest
Whangarei Quarry Gardens
Whangarei Quarry Gardens describes itself as a subtropical oasis created by volunteers in the remnants of a former quarry in Northland, New Zealand. Making the best of the sheltered quarry site and rainfall figures in excess of 1500mm a year, a wealth of native and exotic subtropical plants have been nurtured to create a stunning display that really is a labour of love. Highlights of the Quarry Gardens include a sensory garden, camellias, bromeliads and, perhaps ironically given the climate, an arid garden.
Hackfalls Arboretum
One of the finest New Zealand gardens is Hackfalls Arboretum. This incredible collection of over three thousand different species of trees includes oaks, magnolias, cherries, maples and much more. Occupying a site of about four hectares, this, the former home of Lady Anne Berry, overlooks Lake Kaikiore near Gisborne. There are four walks designed to showcase these New Zealand gardens: the Lake walk, Ridge walk, Karangata walk and Bush walk.
Hamilton Gardens
Hamilton Gardens in Waikato brings the world to this small corner of New Zealand. Visitors to Hamilton Gardens can travel from the Sung Dynasty Chinese Scholar’s Garden to the Indian Char Bagh Garden by way of the Italian Renaissance Garden and the elegant Japanese Garden. In all there are over twenty to explore, each created with historical accuracy to make this as much a museum as anything else. Daily guided tours are offered to help you get the most out of your visit to these beautiful New Zealand gardens.
Hamilton Garden’s Japanese GardenEden Garden
Auckland’s Eden Garden is another ex-quarry turned beauty spot. Once a volcanic cone and then a source of building materials for the early settlers over a century ago, these New Zealand gardens now boasts the country’s largest collection of camellias as well as a comprehensive range of rhododendrons and azaleas, vibrant hibiscus and pretty bromeliads. A stroll through the 5.5 acre Eden Garden site reveals waterfalls, rock formations and of course, stunning harbour and city views.
Eden Gardens Waterfall, AucklandThe Garden at Caccia Birch House
Located at Palmerston North, this historic home features a delightful sunken rose garden overlooking the Hokowhitu Lagoon, once part of the Manawatu River. Jacob Nannestad, a saw miller from Norway, built the house in 1895 for his family, though the place takes its name from the widow who gifted her property to the Crown for the war effort following the death of her husband. The New Zealand gardens at Cacchia Birch House is a treat year-round, but a special mention should be made for September, when the magnolias are at their best and for October, when the hundred year old wisteria comes into flower.