A day out at the beautiful Hamilton Gardens

The Hamilton Gardens are the city’s top attraction, and wow, we were blown away by their beauty!

We could not believe the gardens are currently free to visit. We understand they plan to add an entrance fee soon, and this place will undoubtedly be worth it.

It’s easy to spend a few hours or a day wandering around these spectacular themed gardens.

There are five different collections, each with several gardens. For example, you can wander through the Paradise, Fantasy, Productive, Landscape, and Cultivar collections and see a wide variety of breathtaking gardens from around the world.

Each garden closely reflects the cultural meaning and context of where that particular garden’s inspiration came from.

My favorites include the Indian Char Bagh Garden, the Ancient Egyptian Garden, and the Surrealist Garden. Oh, and the Tropical Garden, since I’m very much a woman of the tropics at heart!

Hamilton Gardens boasts a fantastic setting on the Waikato River, with extensive walking and biking trails nearby. It also has an excellent playground, which is well-designed with several trees for shade, so it feels nicely immersed in the natural surroundings.

A small cafe in the gardens is perfect for grabbing an ice cream after your explorations.

Hamilton Gardens is currently under development, and a range of new gardens are coming soon. We highly recommend a visit if you’re in the area, as it’s an awesome family-friendly attraction.

If you’re visiting New Zealand’s North Island, you may also want to read about our top picks for things to do with kids in Whakatane, Taupo, and Rotorua, and the best family-friendly attractions in Gisborne, and these tips for hiking in the Whirinaki Forest Park.