Katy RosserOn a class trip to the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park, I was expecting a pretty uneventful day, but when the landscaped gardens greeted us as we entered, I was hooked.
That was the first garden I saw in Auckland and ever since then, I’ve been hunting for the next best things. After years of adventures, I’ve curated some of the best gardens I’ve visited in the city.
Whether you seek the serene beauty of a garden that has it all or a more exotic option, Auckland is filled with captivating gardens waiting for you. Let’s unearth the city’s best-kept secrets and stroll through Auckland’s best gardens.
- Roam through the Widely Popular Ayrlies Garden
- Embark on a Journey at Auckland Botanic Gardens
- Discover Elegance at Domain Wintergardens
- Experience Eden Garden at the foot of Mount Eden
- Step into History at the Old Government House Gardens
- Stroll Through the Enchanting Highwic Garden
- Discover Serenity in the Japanese Friendship Garden
- Uncover the Secrets of Plant Care at Joy Plants Garden
- Immerse Yourself in History at Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Gardens
- Experience Romance at Mincher Garden in Coatesville
- Roam Through the Timeless Beauty of Nancy Steen Rose Garden
- Explore Art and Nature at Pah House in Monte Cecilia Park
- Indulge in the Sea of Colors at the Parnell Rose Gardens
- Discover Nature’s Beauty at Wrights Water Gardens
Roam through the Widely Popular Ayrlies Garden
Address:125 Potts Road, Whitford 2571, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 530 8706
Hours: Open from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm
Fee: $20
Nestled in east Auckland, Ayrlies Garden stands as one of the country’s best. It’s not just a garden, it stretches over 4 hectares of vibrant terrain. You’re treated to a peak into the variety of New Zealand’s botanical wonders.
You get to wander through a mesmerizing array of plants and flowers, for a delightful dose of nature therapy. They have roses, perennials, and clematis in one area and the subtropical zone has Petrea, bromeliads, and Alocasia.
Huge trees are also scattered throughout the Ayrlies Garden including swamp cypress, pin oak, and liquidambar varieties.
| Pro Tip: Most people don’t know about the many ponds and waterways that can also be found at Ayrlies Garden. These also feature some paintings from different artists that you can try and spot. There’s also a wetlands area that connects directly to the sea. |
Embark on a Journey at Auckland Botanic Gardens
Address: 102 Hill Road, The Gardens, Auckland 2105, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 267 1457
Hours: Open everyday from 8 am to 8 pm
Fee: Free
In the heart of Manurewa lies the Auckland Botanic Gardens, a floral haven. Boasting over 10,000 plants, this garden is a celebration of New Zealand’s biodiversity.
You can stroll along the winding paths that go through the entire grounds while you discover both common and unique species. The entire location is divided into 25 different areas. There are gardens for African plants, conifers, native forests, and roses.
There is also a Potter Children’s Garden with tougher plants that can survive the kids’ curiosity and eagerness to touch everything.
| Pro Tip: Don’t miss out on the edible garden and the herb collection. In these 2 areas, you’ll find common fruits and vegetables, as well as everyday herbs you can use while cooking. You can learn tips on how to grow them yourself at home. |
Discover Elegance at Domain Wintergardens
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Address: Wintergarden Road, Parnell, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 301 0101
Hours: Open everyday from 9 am to 4:30 pm
Fee: Free
The Domain Wintergardens, dating back to the 1920s during World War I, is the oldest of its kind in the entire city. These gardens exude Victorian charm with stunning glasshouses, a tropical oasis, and seasonal blooms.
The main star of the garden is the temperature controlled house that allows for the display for different plants with varying blooming seasons and needs. There is also a Tropical zone and a fernery filled with different species of plants.
The Domain Wintergardens has a courtyard where you can relax after your strolls. You’ll find many statues and art installations here as well as a sunken pond.
| Pro Tip: If you’re going with a special someone, ask the staff where to find the Lover’s Walk. This walking path takes you into the hilly area of the native forest. You’ll pass a stream that leads to a quaint pond area that’s perfect for a romantic moment. |
Experience Eden Garden at the foot of Mount Eden
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Address: 24 Omana Avenue, Epsom, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 638 8395
Hours: Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 4 pm
Fee: $12 for an adult and $8 for a child 12 years old and below
Eden Garden got its start in 1964 as an abandoned quarry that was later redesigned by renowned horticulturist Jack Clark and other volunteers who shared his vision. Today, the Eden Garden spans 2.25 hectares that serves as the home of many kinds of plants.
The collection of camellias that are found in this garden is the largest in the entire country. Eden Garden also has the most variety of the flower. Other blooms you can find here are rhododendrons, azaleas, bromeliads, and hibiscus plants.
There are also lots of native plants from different parts of the country including miniature trees, shrubs, and other flowers.
| Pro Tip: A unique thing that Eden Garden allows you to do is to purchase a memorial for a loved one who has passed. They have many packages where you can choose from plants, trees, rocks, or a wall. These include a membership that lets you enter for free. |
Step into History at the Old Government House Gardens
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Address: 24 Princes Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Hours:
- Open from Monday to Thursday from 8 am to 7 pm
- Open on Friday from 8 am to 9 pm
Fee: $15 for an adult and free for kids 5 years old and below
The Old Government House is most known as a historic place to visit as the first Classical mansion of that size and kind to be built in the country.
But, what most visitors don’t know prior to going and get pleasantly surprised by are the beautiful gardens attached to the house. There are native shrubs and miniature trees growing in front of the house and flower beds on either side of the front lawn.
There are trees around the grounds of the Old Government House that are as old as the main mansion. On the northern corner towards the west are 2 oak trees that were grown from acorns from the Windsor Great Forest.
| Pro Tip: There is also a tall coral tree on the south part of the lawn rumored to be planted there by previous governor George Grey. Another tree, a Norfolk pine located in the same area, was also there because of him. |
Stroll Through the Enchanting Highwic Garden
Address: 40 Gillies Avenue, Epsom, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 524 5729
Hours: Open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm
Fee: $10 for an adult and free from kids 17 years old and below
For a garden adventure that feels like you’re stepping into a set of a fairytale movie, then we suggest you embark on a captivating journey through the narrow pathways of Highwic Garden. Here, New Zealand plants meet Victorian charm.
The location features an 1862 mansion built with a Carpenter Gothic style that’s surrounded by an expansive garden. There are laurels, lilly-pilly, and conifers that run parallel the driveway, while 2 Norfolk Island pines stand guard of the house.
The lower portion of the grounds were made into a kitchen garden and a paddock, while the upper grounds feature native species like ferns, Nikaw, and Totara trees.
| Pro Tip: The Highwic Garden also has its own orchard filled with different blooms, but an important feature here are the beehives that call it home. We suggest taking a look and bringing some honey home with you too! |
Discover Serenity in the Japanese Friendship Garden
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Address: Western Springs, Auckland 1022, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 301 0101
Hours: Open everyday from 10 am to 5:30 pm
Fee: Free
If you’re looking for a garden that’s more exotic in Auckland, then you’ll be glad to know that tucked away in Western Springs, the Japanese Friendship Garden is a hidden gem awaiting your exploration. This garden has over 1,800 native and imported plants.
Some of these are from New Zealand, while the majority of the plant life are species endemic to Japan, including 4 fully grown bonsai trees.
Also known as the Fukuoka Friendship Garden, the current one was remade from the original friendship garden at the Auckland Zoo which was donated by Japan. A professor from Fukuoka and the original gardener made it as authentic as possible.
| Pro Tip: This place comes complete with a Japanese tea pavilion. Apart from the Japanese influences in the architecture, there is also an Asian water wall that trickles into a pond filled with koi fish. This is a good spot to do some inner work and meditation. |
Uncover the Secrets of Plant Care at Joy Plants Garden
Address: 39 Tidal Road, Māngere, Auckland 2022, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 275 4209
Hours: Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm
Fee: Free
Joy Plants, the brain child of plant lover Terry and Pam hatch is a plant nursery in Auckland that has been in the industry since 1986. The grounds are one giant garden where you can enter and walk around for free even if you don’t buy anything.
In the nursery, you can see different kinds of common house plants in pots, but the location also has plants and trees growing out of the ground. There are chrysanthemums, heleniums, iris, kniphofia, salvias, and hostas.
The entire collection features perennials, damp soil plants, bulbs, tubers, summer bulbs, grasses, allies, restios, natives, and ferns.
| Pro Tip: Terry and Pam, along with some of their kids and grandchildren are at the location everyday. Whether you’re there just to browse or you’re an avid gardener, we highly recommend talking to them to learn about the plants there or gardening tips! |
Immerse Yourself in History at Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Gardens
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Address: 19 Hapimana Street, Orakei, Auckland 1071, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 301 0101
Hours: Open from 6:30 am to 9:30 pm
Fee: Free
Take a journey back through time at the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Gardens. The gardens are located in a 49 hectare park sharing the same name that honors the country’s first Labour Prime Minister and the founder of the Welfare State.
Although the main feature of the park is the huge obelisk located in the middle of the grounds and the sunken pool, the gardens that surround these 2 are just as amazing.
There are flower beds and rose bushes that surround the perimeter of the pool. These feature different perennials that bloom at different times of the year. There are bushes that line the wide well maintained lawns at the back of the obelisk area.
| Pro Tip: There’s plenty of seating scattered around the park grounds from benches to stones remade into comfortable seats. These are perfect places to enjoy a cup of coffee or read through some pages of your favorite book. |
Experience Romance at Mincher Garden in Coatesville
Address: 338 Coatesville Riverhead Highway, Coatesville 0793, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 21 853 518
Hours: Upon appointment only
Fee: $25 for an adult
For a touch of romance, we suggest you venture into Mincher Garden in Coatesville. This place welcomes you to a world of Georgian-inspired beauty. The garden’s walking paths are all paved with gravel for a more refined feel.
These paths lead you through the garden’s orchards and native plant sanctuaries. There are both informal and formal planting techniques used in growing the plants that call this place home like rhododendrons, camellias, acers, and even cherry trees.
What adds the romantic aspect to these gardens are the kissing gates. Tall willow trees droop down to make the perfect frame for couples giving a smooch to each other!
| Pro Tip: The Mincher Garden is privately owned, so you can’t just walk in and drop by for a visit anytime. You have to get in contact with the owners via phone call or on their website and book a date and time for your visit. |
Roam Through the Timeless Beauty of Nancy Steen Rose Garden
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Address: Parnell, Auckland 1052, New Zealand
Hours: Open during daylight hours
Fee: Free
The Nancy Steen Rose Garden was made as a tribute to Nancy Steen who contributed a lot to the city’s movement in cultivating and preserving heritage roses.
The rose garden features over 200 species of roses that she has encountered while she was still alive. This collection includes common roses and rare ones. Old fashioned roses and classic ones make up the bulk for a beautiful sea of deep reds and whites.
On the other hand, the Nancy Steen Rose Garden also has shrubs and perennials that line the walking paths. The garden was built in the country-garden style
| Pro Tip: If you want to make the most out of your visit to the Nancy Steen Rose Garden, we highly suggest you drop by during the summer months. It’s during this time that the majority of the flowers are in bloom. Plus, you get great weather for walking outdoors! |
Explore Art and Nature at Pah House in Monte Cecilia Park
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Address: 72A Hillsborough Road, Royal Oak, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 301 0101
Hours: Open everyday 24/7
Fee: Free
Perched on the slopes of Monte Cecilia Park, Pah House is an English country style house that now serves as a haven for art enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. This country house is home to a whole line of art from all over New Zealand.
But, the gardens that surround the house are works of art themselves. You can expect to find Chilean wine palm trees and Australian bunya bunya pines here which are both exotic species. There are also blue lily pilly, Dutch elm, holm oak, and camphor laurels.
Plus, dogs are welcome to the gardens as long as you clean up after them. So, you won’t have to worry about leaving your furry friends at home.
| Pro Tip: While you’re at the Monte Cecilia Park, don;t leave without dropping by the Homestead Cafe located right with the park grounds. This is a great place to grab classic breakfast food to fuel up before starting your adventure at the gardens. |
Indulge in the Sea of Colors at the Parnell Rose Gardens
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Address: 85-87 Gladstone Road, Parnell, Auckland 1052, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 301 0101
Hours: Open everyday 24/7
Fee: Free
The Parnell Rose Gardens is probably one of the most iconic entries included in this list. I doubt we need to tell you about it, but if you’ve never been before, you should definitely give it a go. You might know it better as the Dove Myer Robinson Park.
This garden lets you enjoy an early morning walk through beckons activity the landscaped grounds with over 5000 individual roses at all times of the year.
The grounds are divided into 2 parts, the White Garden and an area with a mini rose maze with a fountain. Make sure you bring your camera with you. The White Garden is always Instagram ready and is often the background to many wedding photos.
| Pro Tip: If you have a flexible schedule, we suggest you time your visit to coincide with the Parnell Festival of Roses where stalls are put up all over the garden. You can find flower bouquets, art pieces, crafts, live performers and music during the event. |
Discover Nature’s Beauty at Wrights Water Gardens
Address: 128 Mauku Road, Patumahoe 2678, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 236 3211
Hours: Open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 4:30 pm
Fee: $8 for an adult
The Wrights Water Gardens, located right next to the captivating Mauku Waterfall is the place to be if your idea of the perfect garden is a more rugged and natural one. The picturesque gardens feature hidden pathways among lots of greenery and wild plants.
You can walk through the soil walkways that extend into every area of the location. There are wildflower bushes and more manicured landscapes scattered within the gardens. There are also bridges that let you cross over small streams and creaks.
| Pro Tip: The Wrights Water Garden is home to the Frog and Lily Cafe. The outdoor seats overlook the garden which you can enjoy with good food like pizzas, eggs benedict, omelets, and fritters. All of these pair perfectly with their coffee drinks! |
