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Hamilton Gardens is a free public park located halfway between Auckland and Rotorua, Auckland and Waitomo, and only a short 45 minute drive from Hobbiton. It is the perfect stopover to stretch your legs, take a guided tour or river cruise, and indulge in morning/afternoon tea or lunch.
Visitors are guided on a journey of discovery along paths leading to mysterious surprises: step from a peaceful Sung Dynasty Chinese Scholar’s garden into an Italian Renaissance Garden, before being enthralled by the grandeur of the Indian Char Bagh Garden. Hamilton Gardens has 21 themed garden areas with more being developed.
Hamilton Gardens is not a botanical garden. Instead, its unique and internationally recognised concept has been compared to a museum. Each garden collection has historic integrity and provides a window into the story of civilisations, their arts, beliefs and life styles.
Hamilton Gardens has five Garden Collections and 21 themed gardens.
The Paradise Garden Collection illustrates the gardener’s desire to create paradise on Earth. The English word ‘paradise’ derives from the Old Persian ‘pairidaeza’, meaning simply ‘enclosed garden’.
The Landscape Garden Collection focuses on landscape garden traditions that have been inspired by different philosophical perspectives throughout history. Landscapes as artefacts contain a richness of expression and a subtlety, which can illuminate our relationship with the natural world.
The Productive Garden Collection is a group of gardens that illustrate the relationship between people and productive plants. They demonstrate that the process of gardening can be understood from the perspective of Nature as well as of culture.
The Cultivar Garden Collection: Gardens that contain plant collections demonstrating the story of plants that have been bred for the garden.
The Fantasy Garden Collection illustrates the use of fantasy and imagination in garden design, and the use of garden design to stimulate fantasy and imagination in visitors.
Photo and blog by Aurelie Laoec: www.iwheeltravel.com/en
Parking for people with disabilities is reserved in each of the main carparks. Most paths in the gardens are at less than a one in twelve grade. However the paths up to the Camellia Carpark and Victorian Flower Garden are steeper and we advise parking in the Camellia Carpark accessible from Gate 2 for easier access to the top areas of Hamilton Gardens. The café and restaurant are accessible to wheelchairs and scooters and provide accessible toilet facilities.
Two mobility scooters are available for hire from the Information Centre. The charge is $8.00 per hour and a refundable bond of $20 is required. The time limit is two hours and instructions for their use can be given as required. Access by mobility scooter into the enclosed Paradise Gardens is restricted but most other paths in the gardens are accessible by mobility scooter. Two wheelchairs and two pushchairs are also available from the Information Centre for $5.00 per hour. The proceeds are passed on to the Friends of Hamilton Gardens. The mobility scooters and wheelchair can be booked in advance by contacting the Information Centre on 07 838 6782 and are available for use before 4pm.
Great access for young children traveling in pushchairs.
Good upper body strength can transfer own body weight.
Traveling with a Caregiver.
A site map and brochure is available at the Information Centre.
Access from Cobham Drive by either Gate 1 or 2 will take you directly to parking near most of the main facilities. During the weekends you are more likely to find plenty of parking from Gate 2.
Toilets are located near Gate 1 entrance, and beside the Hamilton Gardens Pavilion.
The Hamilton Gardens Cafe and Lakeside Function Centre is located next to Turtle Lake, not far from the main carpark and Information Centre.
Seating is dotted around the site, with most gardens having a covered shelter in case of rain.
The Gardens is perfect for picnics. Sit beside Waikato River, Turtle Lake or choose any of the gardens to picnic in.
The Gardens is suitable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and pushchairs, however there are some enclosed gardens which may not suit. But please chat to the Information Centre team and they can assist.
Wheelchairs, mobility scooters and pushchairs are available for hire at the Information Centre.
Dogs on a leash are allowed through the wider gardens area, although they are excluded from the enclosed garden sector. An off-lead area for exercising your pooch is available beside Turtle Lake car-park.
The Discovery Trail activity sheet takes children on a journey where they can explore an enchanting world of secret themed gardens.
Behind every door at Hamilton Gardens there is a magical story and a portal through time and to far-flung corners of the world. The free activity sheet can be picked up from the Information Centre, or downloaded from the website.
Marry amongst the grandeur of an Italian Renaissance Garden or chose the romantic English Flower Garden for your nuptials followed by a heavenly indulgent high-tea.
Hamilton Gardens provides magical backdrops for your special day and is the ideal venue to delight your guests. Our pavilion can seat between 50 and 600 people for your reception. Private wedding receptions can be arranged in any of the enclosed gardens, and closed to the public.
Hamilton Gardens is a beautifully unique venue and the themed gardens will provide a magical backdrop to wedding photographs you will treasure.
Seasonal plants are available for purchase from the Information Centre.
Be guided through nine themed gardens and learn the ‘inside story’ of how the Gardens was transformed from a rubbish dump into an internationally significant garden. Discover paths leading to mysterious surprises: step from a peaceful Sung Dynasty Chinese Scholar’s garden into a Japanese Garden of Contemplation, before being enthralled by the grandeur of the Indian Char Bagh Garden.
Spend longer Follow your guided tour with morning or afternoon tea, or perhaps a decadent lunch overlooking the Italian Renaissance Garden.
The Hamilton Gardens are a huge complex, needing at least half a day to explore properly. The highlight is six separate area-themed gardens, such as the Italian Garden, which feature plants from that particular geographical area. There is also an extensive rose garden, There is a cafe on site,For the disabled, mobility scooters are available for hire extremely cheaply. A stunning place all year round, it is especially glorious in spring.
C. Jones - July 2015
