Auckland Botanic Gardens - Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland Botanic Park, Auckland Overview

Also known as the Gardens of Auckland, Auckland Botanic Gardens are spread over 64 hectares in Manurewa, a suburb in South Auckland. With evergreen plants and flowers, this attraction isn’t open only to Science freaks but to anyone who wants to relax and rejuvenate their senses with flora from across the world. Even though the Gardens are open throughout the year, the best time to visit them is from April to October. Their new project Potter Children’s Gardens includes two areas for children and adults to explore the dynamics of adaptation and the interconnection between Kereru and Puriri trees, two of the most common trees in the area.

Started by the government in 1973, the botanic gardens have now become a full-fledged garden complex with over 8000 varieties of plants. The gardens were first opened by the Governor-in-chief in 1982, with around 98,000 visitors registering the first year at the original information centre which is now called the Huakaiwaka Visitor’s Centre. The Auckland Botanic now has over 1 million visitors per year, making it one of the most-visited attractions in Auckland.

What to do

Huakaiwaka Visitor's Centre- Head to the visitor's centre to get brochures and maps that will guide you across the 64-acre expanse of the Auckland Botanic Gardens.

Cafe Miko- Indulge yourself with some hot-chocolate dipped marshmallows at Cafe Miko.

The Friends Library- Read up on some horticultural literature at one of New Zealand's most comprehensive libraries on the subject.

African Plants Garden- Step into the world of African plants in Auckland as this garden showcases flora that is native to the African continent.

Rose Garden- Enthrall yourself with the huge variety of roses on display at the Rose Garden.

Threatened Native Plants- Visit this garden to see the species of plants endemic to New Zealand that are under threat of extinction.

Native Forest- Lose yourself in this section of the gardens as you walk along streams and native nikau palm trees and ferns and experience the New Zealand bush.

Potter Children's Garden- Get the kids involved and teach them in interactive ways about how all forms of life are interconnected at the Potter Children's Garden.

Free guided walks- Take free guided walks across the garden complex as staff and volunteers regale you with interesting tidbits and facts about the gardens.

Biodiversity of the Gardens

The 37-year-old Gardens have a variety of over 8000 plants and trees. These include Kereru and Puriri trees. African plants, magnolias, camellias, perennials, roses, salvias, herbs, palms and many edibles. The edible garden consists of fresh produce such as kiwi, carrots, vine crops, lettuce, melons, tomatoes, pumpkins, cucumbers and many more.

Apart from that, Native plant ID Trails, Orchards, Harakeke Collections, Potter Children’s Garden, Rock Garden, Rose Garden, Spring Blossom Valley, Trial Garden and Urban trees are also gardens that have exotic flora.
Interestingly, the gardens also have a separate section for threatened native plant and free guided walks every Wednesday take you through these gardens.

Architecture

The Huakaiwaka Visitors centre also displays a collection of landscapes and artworks. At the entrance, is a sculpture called Manu Torino that signifies the Manu birds. The Auckland Botanic Gardens Visitor centre has been conferred with a number of prestigious architectural awards since 2005, which goes to show how carefully and well-thought-out the Botanic Gardens were conceived.

Entry Timings and Entrance Fees

Entry to the Auckland Botanic gardens is free of cost. However, one should watch out for the timings since they vary according to the time of the year.

Mid-October to mid-March:

Garden Timings - 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Visitor’s Centre - 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Mid-March to Mid-October:

Garden Timings - 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Visitor's Centre - 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Library timings:

11:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

It is important to note that on Christmas day, the Visitor’s centre and Cafe remain closed. However, maps and brochures are available for visitors.

Gardens remain open on Christmas Day from 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Facilities and Tips

The following facilities are available at the Auckland Botanic Gardens

A walking guide
Wheelchairs, mobility scooters
Water
Washrooms and bathrooms
Changing rooms
Multilingual visitors guides
Despite the availability of these facilities, visitors are to note a few things:
Even though water fountains are placed throughout the botanical gardens, they are quite far apart. Hence, visitors are requested to carry their own water bottles.
A hat is a must! Especially during summers
Visitors should dress according to the weather, especially during the monsoons and winters.
Comfortable shoes need to be worn because visitors need to be walking on different terrains.

How To Reach Auckland Botanic Park

Auckland International Airport is around 12 kilometres away from the Botanic Gardens. The nearest metro station is the Britomart Transport Centre. One can take a cab, rent a car or even take the bus from these locations till the Gardens. However, locals insist that visitors ride a bicycle from nearby locations so as to be able to experience the scenery that surrounds the Gardens.