The Hamilton Botanical Gardens in New Zealand
The Botanical Gardens in Hamilton are situated on the banks of the Waikato River as it runs through the east part of the city.
Run by the city council, this 54 hectare park offers a range of gardens and open lawns to enjoy.
We visited the gardens several times during our stay in New Zealand. Sometimes we strolled through the various gardens, sometimes we took a blanket and lay on the lawn and watched the world go by. And twice we took a picnic with us and enjoyed a casual meal surrounded by the plants and abundant bird life that the area attracts.
The gardens are free to all comers although that might change as the local Council was thinking of ways to charge visitors. That would be a pity but in many ways unavoidable as a lot of money must go into keeping them in the pristine condition we always found them in.
The fact that entry is free also encourages the locals to make good use of the grounds and weekends and afternoons were especially busy during the summer months. But even then, with 54 hectares to wander, there are plenty of places you can escape to if you want to get away from humanity.
Sample Some of the World’s Gardens in 54 Hectares
Within these botanical gardens you will find an astonishing array of individual garden’s that have been inspired by different styles of gardens from around the globe.
They are divided into five “collections” which together make up the majority of the gardens.
These collections are: The Paradise Collection, The Productive Collection, The Fantasy Collection, The Cultivar Collection and the Landscape Collection.
Each of these collections boasts between 4 to 8 separate gardens, so you could easily spend a whole day just wandering through these various different gardens, soaking up their design and cultural meanings.
This focus on design, culture, heritage and historical significance rather than just plant collections positions Hamilton Botanical Gardens away from the traditional concept of a botanical garden.
It certainly makes for an interesting and varied visit.
Not Just a Garden
If you are not that into just wandering around open spaces, then there are lots of other activities you can partake in.
To really appreciate what goes on and what has been created here, then one of the guided tours or the audio tour will give you some wonderful insights.
And then of course there is an information and gift shop as well as café where you can buy refreshments or sit down for a well deserved coffee and something to nibble on.
Kids are well catered for with a wonderful playground and activity sheets that get them involved and moving around the gardens observing and answering questions or undertaking challenges.
On one of our visits we had grandparents with us and we zooted them around in wheelchairs without too many issues….not always easy to achieve in a place designed to be a garden.
Take a Break and Enjoy
Whether you are just passing through Hamilton or can stay a while, make the effort to visit these botanic gardens. We visited them several times and every time we discovered something new about them.
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