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Wanderlog staff Updated • updatedMar 31, 2023
How long is the drive from Paihia to Wellington?
The direct drive from Paihia to Wellington is 539 mi (868 km), and should have a drive time of 11 hrs 16 mins in normal traffic.
If you’re going on a road trip from Paihia to Wellington, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way — with Auckland, Rotorua, Taupo, Hamilton, Whangarei, and Tongariro National Park, as well as top places to visit like Devonport and Waiheke Island, or the ever-popular Rangitoto Island.
The top cities between Paihia and Wellington are Auckland, Rotorua, Taupo, Hamilton, Whangarei, and Tongariro National Park. Auckland is the most popular city on the route. It's 3 hours from Paihia and 8 hours from Wellington.
Whangārei, located in the Northland region of New Zealand's North Island, is a picturesque city known for its natural beauty and cultural attractions. Visitors can marvel at the stunning Whangārei Falls cascading into a serene pool and explore the historic Maori villages atop volcanic Mount Parihaka. The Town Basin along the Hatea River offers a charming waterfront experience with its marina, restaurants, shops, and galleries.
5% as popular as Auckland
2 minutes off the main route, 9% of way to Wellington
Auckland is a major city located in the northern part of New Zealand's North Island. It is situated around two large harbours and offers stunning views of Viaduct Harbour, which is full of luxurious super-yachts and has many bars and cafes lined up. The city's oldest park, Auckland Domain, surrounds an extinct volcano and features the formal Wintergardens. Mission Bay Beach, near downtown Auckland, also provides visitors with a beautiful seaside promenade.
Most popular city on this route
1 minute off the main route, 28% of way to Wellington
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Hamilton, located in the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island, is a bustling city with plenty to offer visitors. The city boasts Hamilton Gardens, a sprawling public park featuring themed gardens ranging from Italian Renaissance to Japanese and Maori styles. The Waikato Museum showcases Maori art and artefacts while ArtsPost gallery exhibits local art. Victoria Street in the busy city centre is lined with restaurants, cafes and bars.
8% as popular as Auckland
1 minute off the main route, 39% of way to Wellington
Rotorua is a town situated on its namesake lake in New Zealand's North Island. It is well-known for its geothermal activity and rich Maori culture. At Te Puia’s Whakarewarewa Valley, visitors can see bubbling mud pools and the Pohutu Geyser, which erupts numerous times each day. The site also includes a living Maori village and the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute with traditional wood carving and weaving schools.
53% as popular as Auckland
20 minutes off the main route, 49% of way to Wellington
5
Taupo District
Taupō District is a territorial authority district in New Zealand. It covers 6,333 km² of land, and a further 610 km² of lake area, including Lake Taupō, New Zealand's largest lake, and Lake Rotoaira. Wikipedia.
17% as popular as Auckland
6 minutes off the main route, 56% of way to Wellington
I'll never travel to Wellington without this trip planner again
Tongariro National Park is one of the most popular national parks in New Zealand. The park is known for its stunning views, glaciated mountains and emerald lakes. The park also has UNESCO World Heritage status.
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a stunning hike which is a must for anyone visiting the park. It’s fairly challenging but 100% worth the effort. Try to pick a clear day if you can to enjoy the most amazing views, some of the best in NZ.
Nick Whales — Google review
An awesome adventure across an amazing landscape. Make sure you prep and pack correctly. Very quick changes in weather here and there have been some horrible stories. Other than that it's an incredible hike and unforgettable!
John Phelan — Google review
Very beautiful location nice and cold for a family touring. The ha dial ride was amazing just a bit pricy $45 for adult just to travel on top. The cafeteria on top has beautiful views as well food family spot.
udharv deshpande — Google review
This walk is a must when visiting the north island. Beautiful nature and a great exercise. You may download some Lotr mordor music and listen to it while admiring "Mount Doom" ;D It took us 8 hrs - we stopped to take photos and to enjoy some refreshments along the way. We also visited Soda springs and went around the lakes.
Martin Hässler — Google review
Highly recommended to do this hike!
like many of the people who did this, it was the best hike I ever did!
The slopes to the emerald lake was the toughest for me at least.
Hiking pole is strongly recommended.
with magnificent view all throughout the crossings it was an experience of a lifetime.
The descent path was compact and hard and it was not good for our knees.
Irenetan288 Tan — Google review
Taranaki falls walk.
Walked from the Grand Chateau. Was an easy 1.5 hour walk on path the whole way. Magnificent scenery. Well worth the experience.
Rhendy Visser — Google review
Absolutely phenomenal. Once in a lifetime trip and I highly suggest you take the opportunity to do it if you're physically able. I took over 250 pictures so I'll leave that to the true professionals but will gladly say it was worth my while. Check the weather before going, we actually overpacked a little, but be prepared for a full day of walking! It took us just under 8 hours, intermediate fitness, late 30s - early 40s couple.
TRe Blah — Google review
This is the best hiking experience you can find in the North Island, considering Tongariro is one of the worlds oldest national park.
After extensive research, this hike was difficult about 7/10 I would say with my above average fitness level. DOC estimates around 7-8 hours to hike but I managed to complete it in around 6 hours one way with the last couple hours being the easiest walk.
You will also need to arrange a shuttle at the beginning, I highly recommend which is priced around $35 depending on the websites. Overall I highly recommend this hike to anyone, every steps is worth it at the end.
Carronl — Google review
Must do in New Zealand, it’s not a difficult walk, most of parts are flat and the views are so worth especially on sunny days!! One of my favorite places in New Zealand, please be aware of the shuttle must be booked in advance as it has been sold out soon in peak season .
Juanita Huang — Google review
Park with multiple excursion possibilities. We opted for the Northern Circuit and then entered the Alpine Crossing which leads to Blue Lake. It's a very long route, but if you're fit it's worth it. to go and return scheduled 10.12 hours to travel 35km.
Marco Marazzi (Maraziño) — Google review
Wow, one of the most beautiful hikes! The route is incredibly diverse, passing through stunning and varied landscapes. The climb towards the end becomes more physically challenging, but it's totally worth it. Highly recommended to check the weather beforehand, as it's a significant factor.
Mai Srugo — Google review
This place is not to be missed! We walked the Taranaki Falls path, which passes 3 waterfalls, a desert plateau, views of perfectly shaped volcano cones, one used to represent Mount Doom in Lord of the Rings, streams, and a forest. The terrain is amazingly varied and beautiful. It took us 4 hours to make the loop with stops to view and take pics. Don't miss this!
Kathy Burdick — Google review
One of the best hikes I ever did!
Everyone should definitely do this hike once if they are traveling through this region. I highly recommend it because you can witness a stunning landscape that makes you feel as if you are standing on a different planet. It took us around 7 1/2 hours, including multiple breaks, to complete the Tongariro Crossing, but it’s definitely worth it.
Julian Elsner — Google review
Had an amazing time in this park. I went there during new year’s. It was quite hard for me. It was so unforgettable.
Catherine Chen — Google review
An amazing adventure for our little family of 4. We went there to celebrate our son's first birthday. It was my first snow trip as well. I absolutely loved it. The beauty took over the senses and left us mesmerized.
Avikil Nadan — Google review
We did the Tongariro Alpine Crossing track and it was one of the best day hikes we did so far! Definitely worth it if you are in the area!
A few tips to make your trip better:
* book a shuttle in advance because the car park is limited to 4 hours only and the hike takes between 6 to 9 hours depending on how fast you walk, how many breaks you take for pictures, etc
* there is no shop/restaurant or anything on the track so make sure you have enough water and snacks with you. I would recommend 1.5 - 2 liters.
* good footwear is required! This is a volcanic track so some parts are a bit slippery because of the volcanic terrain. Hiking boots with good ankle support would be best in my opinion
* take a wind jacked with you, gloves and a beanie. A part of the track was particularly windy and it is easy to get cold up there if you are not dressed properly.
* photo tip: take a time-lapse with the volcano❤️ The clouds move very fast and they create an amazing view
Note: check the weather before! You will not be able to see anything if the weather is bad :(
Cristina Meirosu — Google review
Nice drive up to the busy ski centre where we walked up as far as we could, even got to walk on some snow! lovely views, very busy with ski folk (as you would expect!)
Mandy & Antony — Google review
Incredible park. Did the crossing on a great (but windy!!) day. Long hike, but plenty of bathrooms and incredible views. There is a skree section that is a bit sketchy after the red crater that can get a bit spooky so bring good hiking shoes and some water and food. Super worth! We didn’t find any rings though
Erik Wiker — Google review
What a breath taking trek.
Took us 9.5hrs including few short and 1 lunch break. Challenging at some sections but totally worth it. Cannot wait to do it in when the mountains are covered in snow.
If you are thunking of doing this, make sire to book yourself a shuttle service coz its aint a loop track.
Hardika Italia — Google review
Probably one of the best hikes I
I did.
It’s not hard but moderate- about 20k and 700merers ascending.
The views are sooo nice and the trail is really easy for hiking (do bring hiking shoes or boots as it’s still technical at the section of the pools).
Dekel R — Google review
Did the Ohakune Old Coach Trail on a bike (no bike either 😅), starting at the Horopito end. Absolutely crazy downhill sections, the body was definitely feeling it. Well worth it. Cool spot to have lunch across the old viaduct. Lots of little history fact signs along the trail.
Jax Cullen — Google review
Tongariro National Park, located in the North Island of New Zealand, is a breathtaking destination that offers a myriad of natural wonders and outdoor adventures. As one of the oldest national parks in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tongariro boasts stunning landscapes, including active volcanoes, alpine meadows, and turquoise lakes.
The park is renowned for its diverse range of hiking trails, catering to all levels of fitness and experience. The most famous of these is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a challenging but rewarding day hike that takes you through volcanic terrain, past steaming vents, and alongside emerald lakes. The scenery along the way is simply awe-inspiring, with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
In addition to hiking, Tongariro National Park offers opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, and mountaineering in the winter months. The park is also rich in Maori cultural significance, with sacred sites and legends adding depth to the visitor experience.
Accommodation options in the park range from campsites to luxury lodges, ensuring that there's something to suit every traveler's preferences and budget. However, it's worth noting that booking accommodation well in advance, especially during the peak season, is advisable.
Overall, Tongariro National Park is a must-visit destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Its stunning beauty, diverse landscapes, and rich cultural heritage make it a truly unforgettable experience.
ajleeblog — Google review
This hike (the Taranaki Fall Track) was easily the most beautiful place I have ever seen. The trails were well maintained but not intrusive with a lot of great care taken to minimize environmental impact while making the area very reasonably accessible. We did not do the full alpine crossing, but it is definitely on my bucket list for any future chance to return. Simply amazing and humbling.
John Westendorf — Google review
4% as popular as Auckland
19 minutes off the main route, 62% of way to Wellington
Best stops along Paihia to Wellington drive
The top stops along the way from Paihia to Wellington (with short detours) are Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Devonport, and Hamilton Gardens. Other popular stops include Waiheke Island, SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium, and EcoZip Adventures.
Rangitoto Island is a volcanic island that forms part of Auckland, New Zealand. The island was formed by an eruption approximately 600 years ago and is now a scenic reserve. Many trails weave their way amongst its lava fields, pohutukawa forests, and lava tube caves. The island is popular for hiking and kayaking as well as for views of the Hauraki Gulf.
Absolutely love doing this walk. I feel like every time I have done this track I still find something that I missed on my prior walks here. There's toilets well marked tracks and they are well maintained. Its a must do. Ferry from downtown is available as well.
Ayesha Singh — Google review
Worth doing if you like walking. The walk up to the summit is a nice track and is in good condition. It is not too difficult We arrived on the 10am ferry and left on the 3:30pm, and that was a perfect amount of time to go to the top, visit the caves and also to visit the beach.
guy domett — Google review
Rangitoto trail is awesome. I recommend you to go around the volcano and then up to the summit. Great view! Come down by the middle of it passing by the lava flow.
Bruna Keller — Google review
Great day out, but do this when it is cloudy as the volcanic rocks get hot in broad sunlight and there isn’t much shelter. Take lots of water- I rationed mine.
We walked around past the cottages, past Flax point to McKenzie beach. Had lunch on that beautiful sandy beach- good toilets and a great place for a swim. (1.5 hour walk) then walked up to the summit(1.25 hour walk)
Great views into the crator and from the top back to Auckland. You can explore the lava caves on the way down the summit track back to the wharf( 1.25 hour).
Was tired at the end- but an interesting, different experience
Ferry arrived at the island at 10:50am and picked us up at 3:30pm, so 20 mins rest at the end. Some people walk up to the summit and back exploring the caves- that would be far less walking.
Diana Mackie — Google review
Absolutely incredible hike we've done today! The ferry to the island offered great views of the Auckland skyline. Once you reach the island, make sure you go on your toilet break as there won't be any toilets anywhere else on the island. Sturdy shoes is a must as the paths are filled with volcanic rocks which could be very sharp.
The lava caves was also very fun! A torch is a must and do watch your head towards the end bit :)
Do bring togs and a towel if you like to go for a swim, too.
Overall, incredible!
N V — Google review
Great easy walk up to the summit. We did it on a sunny day in July and had a swim at Mackenzie Bay…beautiful clear water 😊 The three little caves were awesome, but keep going down the path and you’ll stumble across a larger one which was also fabulous. Totally recommend!!
Lauren Gaffaney — Google review
A good place to walk, even kids of all ages. There are different lengths of walks around the Island. A really good app to us is AllTrails. Incase u get lost. But definately worth the ferry ride there.
ZiwiKiwi — Google review
Beautiful island! We went on a fine day, had a good swim at McKenzie Bay, climbed the summit, what an awesome experience!
Gnip Weis — Google review
Beautiful day hike - despite all the lava rocks, nature is blooming over there. Don't forget to discover caves too- you can go in some inside. Make sure to pack water, food, sun protection and hat with you. As water is crystal clear, you might want to enjoy swimming as well.
Linda Liepa — Google review
A nice place to go for the day, the terrain is not for weak smacked so take a good pair of tramping like shoes a part from your jandals.
Ferry is about$42 return (January 2020)
There are no cafes or water taps so take plenty of food and water for your stay.
you will find many swimming spots along the coast. There are three ways to go up plus many other little tracks, I walked all of of them and it was around 8km each way. If you don't want or can't to walk so much then there is a tour that drives you up called fuller explorer.
Very interesting flora only found there, I recommend to read all the signs they sometimes tell you about tracks that are around.
Take any rubbish you see with you weather is yours or not, particularly at the summit where people get rid of their water bottles.
Diego — Google review
Absolutely beautiful and pristine place to visit with a bunch of different trails to hike. Make sure to bring your walking shoes, a backpack, water and some snacks though cause there isn’t anything on the island but nature.
Aaron Lennon — Google review
It’s only a short ferry ride from the pier and cost about 35 nzd for round trip boat ride.
You have to brush off any dirt and check bags for things that might contaminate the island since there is a problem with rodents eating bird eggs.
There is no food shop so bring water and snacks before you go.
There is a bach (batch) that is open to visitors for you to see how locals used to live while on their little vacations on the island.
There is volcanic flows all the down to the water from the eruptions 600 years ago.
Good views from the top.
Devonport, a charming bayside village in Auckland, offers a relaxed atmosphere with its upscale cafes, seafood restaurants, and classic Kiwi pubs. Visitors can explore small boutiques and art dealerships along Victoria Road or relax at Devonport and Cheltenham beaches. The area also boasts the volcanic cone of North Head with its harbor views and underground army tunnels, as well as Mount Victoria for hiking enthusiasts.
4.5
(4154)
Auckland 0624, New Zealand
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Waiheke Island is a popular day trip destination from Auckland, which can be reached by taking a 40-minute ferry ride. The island offers plenty of options for visitors to enjoy, such as famous vineyards, diverse beaches and adventurous activities including zip lining and sea kayaking. Waiheke was once a quiet summer vacation retreat with hippie beach houses dotting its edges but now boasts of around 35 vineyards along with friendly locals and charming shops and bars.
Friendly locals, lovely little shops and bars
cameo wilson — Google review
We just went last Saturday and to my surprised 😮 there’s a long line waiting for us. We arrived in Viaduct at 10:00 am and get in at 11:40 am. Around 35 mins travel time. When we arrived in Waiheke Island we waited for another 1 hour for the Tour Bus. Lots of patience you need if your going here 😤 we had our lunch at cable bay vineyard at around 3pm and just enjoyed the rest of the day.
Maricar Dela Cruz — Google review
We did a wine tour on the island. Lots of really cute wineries and great food. The beach is beautiful. I would love to go back and spend a few days exploring.
Kim Dominguez — Google review
I fell in love with this beautiful island. Family visited this on a Saturday through a ferry from East Auckland as we brought a van with us. Left 8am trip returned 7pm, had enough time to explore the beaches, vineyard, Catholic church, CBD for our brunch. We had a taste of oysters and wine tasting for our late lunch. Able to enjoy Waiheke ostend market every Saturday from 8am to 1pm, grandchildren loved the art gallery and parks. See you again.
Arlene Barraca — Google review
Great day trip from Auckland. Better if you find accommodation there for a night or two so you can enjoy the winery's and rend a bike to go around the island. It has amazing spots all around. I highly recommend to do the AT hop transport car and use that to travel to the island as the tour agency the rip you off 45$ return ticket.
Traveling with Apple — Google review
Waiheke Island is only 40 minutes ferry ride from downtown Auckland and has a lot to offer. You can walk, ride a bike or take a shuttle bus to all attractions. If you can walk I strongly recommend you do so. It’s a lovely walk to Oneroa Beach, Cable Bay and Mudbrick vineyards
Pia Cristina — Google review
Just about 20 km away from Auckland, you find this landmass, which is so magical and beautiful. Island has a population of over 1000 permeant residence. This unspoilt beauty is all about nature and landscape. I took the ferry in the morning and after speeding a day I came back to Auckland in the evening. The lifestyle, culture and locals within the island was inspiring. They were friendly relaxed and fun. Next time I would spend a couple of days on the island itself, rent a beach house and wake up to the sound of the waves. Also, I wish I could own a home on top the of a cliff like in the photos and retire in a heavy island like this.
Rajinda Fernando — Google review
Loved Waiheke Island. Such a diverse island. Well worth the visit. Must drive the island.
Vanessa Hillerman — Google review
In the summer season, it is super busy which requires preparing well to enjoy.
Things to know:
- Ferry: As the ticket says, it would be really good to arrive at the ferry terminal an hour before your estimated departing time. We aimed to take a ferry at 9 am and we arrived around 8.20 am. The 8 am ferry arrived at 8.25 am and left from the downtown ferry terminal at 8.35 am. We were super lucky, and I am unsure how this would impact the rest of the hours ferry.
- Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus: Although we purchased tickets, we didn't use them. Yes.. it is a waste of money, but we wanted to avoid possible hassles. On Friday, the interval is an hour and most of the winery at the bus stop was fully booked. Some people complained of 1.30 hours waiting at the bus stop.
- Rent a car: In the end, we rented a car a day after checking all the recent reviews.
-- Pros: good to go wherever you go, enjoy some viewpoints and avoid crowded spots.
-- Cons : limits for drinking and unable to go Man O war bay road if it is not a 4wd car.
Jean Lee — Google review
It's beautiful island and if you are a wine-lover this is a must.
We went there for a day and used the fullers hop-on hop-off bus; and highly recommended to start early to make the most out of it as it's quite expensive. It's a good way to have look at the entire island then decide which stop fits you the most.
We had lunch and few wines in Mudbrick (also quite expensive too) but the food’s yum.
mean cagadas — Google review
If you are in Auckland , this place is a never miss one . 35-40mims on boat will take you to the Waiheke . It’s a scenic island with great vineyards and some little beaches. You can go around the island by bus or on bicycles. Vineyard tours are the main attraction and you can pre book these tours. Most these vineyards offer great food too…views on the way to and from the island on ferry is also mesmerising.
Jesto Jose — Google review
Breathtaking place. If you want to see the entire island in a day, take a bus or hire an electric bike. I completed the trails on the southwest and northwest sides, and they are beautiful.
If you have some time in Auckland, do not miss out on Waiheke island. If you're there, be sure you check out the shops and the wineries if that's your fancy.
Adam Hof — Google review
Lovely day trip to see the sea, beautiful beaches and natural beauty of this small but picturesque island. It was easy waving on a well scheduled ferry from Auckland’s downtown Harbour to go to Matiatia ferry wharf and loved the smooth fresh air ferry ride. (I purchased tickets for both the ferry ride and hop on hop off bus shuttle at Auckland ferry terminal and was pleased I did so)
Once on Waiheke island I hopped onto the scheduled 30 minute island circuit ride and enjoyed exploring the many vineyards, several beaches and a good forest walk. There is lots of to do on your day trip so be mindful of the last hop-on hop-off bus on the schedule.
Make sure that you respect this beautiful island and avoid going off established pathways, put garbage in its proper place and keep your eyes open for the road traffic. Local drivers don’t have much patience for pedestrians.
If you like my reviews, photos or videos then don’t stay stuck on an island just jump on and off and hit the like button
Seeing the world In a different way — Google review
Definitely a must visit if you are in Auckland. Only a quick ferry ride here and lots of beautiful scenery and wineries to visit. Beautiful beaches and just an all around perfect place.
Jessica A — Google review
Waiheke Island 🏝️🏖️ .....
Yesterday we had a grand trip to Waiheke Island which is a popular tourist destination in NZ . It's been ranked 1st by 'National Geographic Magazine' as the top island escape in the world. Its the fifth largest island in New Zealand & is located off the east coast of North Island. It can be reached in 40mins by a ferry from Auckland. The ferry service is fast & frequent.
Waiheke Island is known for its Vineyards, Beaches 🏖️ and seaside villages...
Dr Rajan Ekatpure — Google review
A must do if you’re in NZ. Easy ferry service from Auckland and incredibly beautiful.
Olivia — Google review
A beautiful island with lots of beaches, walks, nature reserves and wineries. A day worth spending
wilson veranakunnel — Google review
4.7
(439)
•
4.5
(2077)
Auckland, New Zealand
4
EcoZip Adventures
Tour operator
Tours
Eco Tours
Nature & Wildlife Tours
Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks
Very lovely, helpful and knowledgeable staff, from David the shuttle driver who shared with us many local tips/well-known places to the zipline operator and guides Rosie and Sophie, who are so friendly and nice. It's quite refreshing to see someone who is very passionate about their job, the environment, sustainability and know all little cool facts about all the plants that we walked past. Thank you for the great experience guys! 😃👍
Linh Nguyen — Google review
A must do experience in Waiheke. Bookings are recommended. Awesome staff who take great care of you. There is a total of 3 zip lines on the way, with each one getting gradually more exciting. The guided walk back up is fairly easy going and a very informative talk along the way. Great family experience and beautiful views as you glide over tree tops. Don't forget to leave your problems (rocks) behind
William Lin — Google review
Fantastic experience! Felt very safe yet fun and the staff was very encouraging and entertaining. The 3 ziplines were just long and high enough to get great views and to get that thrill of speed. The nature walk was a bonus as well and learned alot about the area and the history. Thank you for a great time!
LavenderRoseFarmer — Google review
These guys were very professional and fantastic to work with. Our guides, Dylan and Frasier were amazing and fun! This place has incredible views of the country side and bay. The walk back to the top was on a well groomed trail winding its way through the jungle. We had a great time!
Craig Wall — Google review
Ziplining was awesome! Amazing location, great friendly guides and a good cause as a large part of the money goes into reforestation and caring for the land.
Wish there could be a slower, longer Iplime to appreciate the views even more, but the walk back up through the bush was a good way to complement the full experience.
Jorge Bisteni — Google review
We visited EcoZip and found the operation to be exceptionally well run, safe, and fun. The staff were wonderful. The zip line runs weren’t as exciting as we’ve experienced in other parts of New Zealand or places like Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, however they were still enjoyable. The walk through the forest was arguably the favorite for all. It was magical and informative. Overall we would recommend EcoZip for the entirety of what the experience is. Match it with a visit to Batch Winery (just one hill away) and you have a great Waiheke day!
Caleb Whitmore — Google review
Great experience! Loved the whole thing. Would definitely recommend
Trace — Google review
Great ziplining. 3 zips in total - only downside is I wish it didn't have to end!
Had two great guides with us who were knowledgeable about the local ferns and wildlife around the Bush too and how important it is to protect it.
Emma Hill — Google review
It was such amazing experience at EcoZip Adventures the kids and I had yesterday morning. We are from Gold Coast, Australia and just visited Waiheke Island for a day trip. It was the best decision to choose this experience. All staff members we have come across were very professional. Got picked up from the Waiheke Pier by warmly greeting staff Marie. We had Ella and Lucy as our guides for the zip lines and nature walk. The place, the view, the weather, another family that we met- everything was beautiful and perfect. We absolutely loved and enjoyed this experience. Love to come back again in the future for sure.
Nan Clark — Google review
Enjoyed our Ecozip Adventure. The scariest part was being weighed 😂 but fortunately it is discreet. We had an awesome time.
tracy nagel — Google review
Wow, the whole experience was amazing! From the pick up to the guides, they really made us feel safe while providing a great experience. The zip lines had stunning views and the hike back to base camp was beautiful and informative. Highly recommend!
Sounds Good — Google review
Great set up, views are amazing and staff were friendly. Felt it was expensive for what you experienced and took a long time for how little you do. Took around 3 hours to experience 3 zip lines and then walk which is described as a nature forest walk and it is just the walk back to the top once you have completed the zips. Glad I did it to see the island in a cool way but found it expensive for what it is.
Emma Lievesley — Google review
Great staff and ziplines. I had a lot of fun!
Mithun Das — Google review
From the Shuttle driver Ruth, to our guides, Alex and Ella; everyone was super friendly and reassuring. They know what they are doing and they all are very knowledgeable. They always made us feel safe. We had an absolutely wonderful day and i so would do it again in a heartbeat.
Thank you so much for the amazing experience team. You guys are awesome! ♥️
Shani Gunawardana — Google review
What a fun adventure! So much so, you want to do more after the 3 zip lines!
From the easy online booking process/informative website, to the straightforward free transfer service from the ferry, what a great team of staff that were professional and made you feel safe and comfortable at all times on the course.
J and Ellie(?) were an awesome team. Great communication and informative throughout the experience! Thanks guys!!
Ramona Stratful — Google review
Excellent. The driver was kind enough to let my husband and I in Onerea town explore because we got to the island early. He also recommended where the best Gelato to get, and he was right. The staff ensured you that you are in safe hands. The views from the three runs in Waiheke are beautiful, and we got lucky w the weather even though it's a dreary day in Auckland.
Jennie Yau — Google review
Fantastic adventure on a beautiful island. Friendly helpful staff in Nicky Georgia and Jess.
Had a great time very safe and professional and suitable for anyone all ages. I'm 60 and had no dramas. Get out there and do it
Laurie Kennedy — Google review
Had a great time at EcoZip Adventures! Our guides Ella and Lucy were fun but professional, making sure we were safe and comfortable during our awesome experience. Highly recommend!
Michelle Bielat Rowe — Google review
Loads of fun, beautiful scenery, very well run with great experienced friendly staff. The trip back through the bush afterwards was lovely. High recommend doing this with a group of friends/family or as a work function. Thank you all.
Linda Mudrovcich — Google review
Great, wonderful experience! Daniel and Jack were so helpful and safely harnessed us up. We flew over the forest canopy and vineyards on three separate zip lines each time adding length and height. They took the time to photograph us with our own camera. There are lockers so you can bring a backpack and bathrooms at the top. The hike was great to learn about the flora and fauna, plus get a rest from the climbs. The tour can let you off afterwards at the village above Onamia beach so bring a swimsuit and towel to do that, too! Then you can walk back downhill to the ferry. Also, when you catch the ferry in Aukland, give yourself extra time to get in the queue as we almost didn’t make the ferry as they only allow so many to board the ferry. When we signed up through Get Your Guide, make sure you buy both the zip line tickets and ferry tickets, then you will get an email to fill out the disclosure form which will save time when you arrive. This was a great experience!
Janet Smith — Google review
4.8
(771)
•
5.0
(1625)
150 Trig Hill Road, Onetangi, Waiheke Island 1081, New Zealand
The SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton Aquarium is a must-visit in Auckland for anyone interested in learning about marine life. The aquarium houses over 30 live animal exhibits, including Southern Ocean marine life such as sharks, rays and penguins. There is also an underwater viewing tunnel and a family-friendly exhibition that's great for rainy days.
We had an enjoyable time here.
It's a small aquarium built underground, below sea level. We spent about 40 minutes on the visit.
Next to the small aquariums there are drawing paper and crayons for the kids to draw on the fish they like. There is also a small playround area for children.
When you want to stop for a bit of rest or refreshments they have seats and a nice window view. This is a convenient place to visit, the entrance is on the right, the left is the exit. you can buy tickets on the website before arrival or buy on arrival. you will see the ticket counter on the inside side when going in. You should read about the history, the stories here you will find more interesting.
Enjoy the moment.
Chloe Dang — Google review
Fun place to take the kids. Make sure you book online a head of time, it will make life a lot easier for your group. It's a little in the pricier side of activity choices and only took us about an hour to go through, and that was taking our time. The penguins and the conveyer walk way in the aquarium were the high light. So many neat creatures to see, and not crowded at all.
Cassie Grange — Google review
This SEA LIFE aquarium was good. The day we went it was not so busy, so we took our time to see everything and didn’t have to rush through. It was cool to see the sharks and the giant manta ray swim over our heads! Even though we all were adults, we enjoyed, it would definitely be a fun filled experience for the kids. The penguins are cute. Felt bad for the small jelly fishes swimming around in circles in one place, but they have no brain, so hopefully they don’t feel anything. The ambience of the place was good. I have been to the S.E.A. Aquarium in Singapore, that’s massive, compared to that NZ one is smaller but still impressive. 100 percent recommended 😊
Niketa — Google review
This is indeed one of my favorite aquariums, where you can observe a variety of Antarctic penguins and the ecology near the Antarctic; the design of the aquarium makes people feel like they are in the ocean, and marine life will swim around you. They also look at you curiously. It is recommended to go on weekdays, when there are fewer crowds. So you can spend more time observing these sea creatures. We didn't plan well. So we paid the full admission fee. There are many ticket packages on the Internet that suggest buying them first is much cheaper.
J. Fang — Google review
Loved seeing all the animals here. The penguin enclosure looks big and well kept, bigger than other zoos I've been to.
There's a lot to see here. You can touch starfish, anemone, walk in the shark tunnel, see turtle rescue efforts and so many smaller animals such as clownfish, jellyfish, or seahorses. It's very interesting and educational, and very kid friendly with colouring and a small playground, bold and easy to read text and diagrams.
The giant squid was pretty cool too
megabus — Google review
One of the coolest experiences! Staff were friendly, everything was amazing! I loved all the sea creatures and doing the turtle activity to set them free, my one was Pounamu. Came home learning about dolphins and turtles gift shop was my favorite part they have loads of soft toys at affordable prices, kids had lots of fun!
Anahera Kingi — Google review
What an amazing experience! A first for our young family and we were awestruck by the marvel. An aquatic adventure like no other. It has to be lived to be believed. I was particularly amazed by the sheer size of the sharks and giant manta rays swimming over my head! We absolutely loved it specially with our 1 year old. Lots to do and see for the whole family. Kudos all around!
Avikil Nadan — Google review
This was our first visit of Sea Life visit at Auckland. We like to visit aquariums. We generally take our time and many photos. Our visit lasted 4 hours. It is pleasant and the children will appreciate it, with a diversity of animation for them.
My partner and I found the section with the penguins remarkable. This is the first time that we have been so close to penguins and have confortably observed them. We took best shots of penguins, even better than the one we took at Bird Park @ Singapore. Sea Life deserves a high score for this.
The other parts are worth seeing but average compared to other aquariums. The aquarium is small, quickly overloaded, noisy with the crowd. It may need some renovation. It needs better education materials, to help identify the species, to describe their ecosystem.
The photo taken at the entrance were not even given or e-mail to us as a souvenir for free. As any attraction park, all is made for paying additional services or else. You feel more being moren in an attraction park than a conservation « zoo / aquarium ».
Note: Our favorite aquariums remain that of La Rochelle for its diversity and quality (min 6-8 hours of visit) and that of Singapore which, although small, offers huge aquariums with a wide range of fish and crustaceans together (4 hours of visit).
STEPHANE ROMEI — Google review
This is an excellent aquarium. Small but has plenty to offer, with a large penguin exhibit. This is a great place to spend a few hours if you love marine life.
Harrison Jeffs — Google review
This aquarium is really beautiful and has a great variety of marine life and informative exhibits. There's a nice spot about midway through were you can rest and grab a snack. There are scheduled events throughout the day to watch and some interactive spots for the kids.
We took the bus and it dropped us off right out front but there was some parking available
Margo Prodan — Google review
We took our 15, 8 and 5 year old and they all loved it! Something for everyone. We were there for about 2.5hrs but could've stayed longer. So much to see and experience. A must do in Auckland if you can afford it!
Jenny Chapman — Google review
We had an impromptu visit and loved every minute. The displays are outstanding but the stand out for us were the staff. The shows/talks and feedings they put on are world class. I want to make a special mention of Jenna who went above and beyond answering my son’s hundreds of questions. Her knowledge is incredible! Thank you! We had the best time.
Aleysha Knowles — Google review
Good fun for the kids. Unfortunately we visited on what must've been the busiest day of the year - with poor weather and it being during the holidays. Definitely book in advance to secure a spot during the holidays.
Our daughter still had a blast and enjoyed the playground in the middle. We didn't end up having lunch here, the food looked pretty average and it was busy. The penguins were the highlight for us. I have lots of fond memories of visiting so I'm glad to see it has held up. Lots to educate the kids too if they have the patience
Clare Milford — Google review
Before arriving I messaged sea life via their Facebook page to ask if we could bring our own food, I didn't receive any response at all. There is no contact number for sea life on the website. I checked the website for more details and it said we could not bring our own food. Upon arrival we noticed many people had bought their own food. There were only 8 tables in the Cafe and 2 small tables for kids drawing. We visited during school holidays and found that there was no where near enough seating available, although there was room for more tables and chairs. We found the restrooms really unclean, it was quite a shock for the amount of people there during school holidays there was not more staff on to cater for these times. The actual aquarium itself was great! I would be good to see more resources going into the upkeep and maintenance of the rest room facilities and a revamp of the Cafe area. Hopefully one day they will revamp the parking so there is move available spaces. We purchased our tickets in advance but found we didn't get in any quicker as everyone was queuing in one line.
Charis Work — Google review
Visited with a 2 year old. Expensive for a days activity but a great activity for a special treat. You have to pre purchase tickets
Easy to get to from downtown on TMK bus, stopped right across road from entry and ran every 15 minutes (ditto for return trip)
Total time spent there, including sitting down to eat a packed lunch, was 3 1/2 hours and toddler was engaged and interested through majority.
Heads up that you reach the gift shop around a blind corner and are confronted by wall to wall, floor to ceiling soft toys which is every parent’s hell.
Travel through in a one way loop so no bag storage option, cafe is expensive with very limited options, and it’s chilly inside so we were glad we had extra layers with us.
Gabrielle Duggan — Google review
Took my little sister here and it was well worth it! A great variety of animals and lots of educational stuff posted around the aquarium. Would be great if they had more variety at the cafe and had more seating available, but apart from that the aquarium was amazing and I’d recommend it to anybody.
Kaiya Sothern — Google review
Lovely place with great staff. My one drawback is the floor of the tunnel. There are signs asking people in wheelchairs or anyone with a pram to stick to the left, but for me there was only just enough room and even then I kept slipping on to the moving walkway, especially when going around corners. We weren't able to focus on the views as much because we were so busy trying to make sure my wheels didn't slip off the side. We eventually tried just going on the moving part anyway since I kept slipping and it's actually wider, but again corners were an issue. Everything else was great.
Desmond Marcoschi — Google review
Great Aquarium, thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!
The tunnel was absolutely amazing. I've never seen anything like this before!
And never been able to view penguins that close! Fascinating!
Really friendly and well-educated staff (thank you for the well presented info about the fish and the environment in the tunnel!)
There's a little playground and eatery inside as well.
Takes about an hour to get through but can easily spend 2-3 hours there if you go through all the interesting (also historically) bits and pieces.
Definitely a recommendation from us!
Isabelle Auerbach — Google review
Had a blast at the aquarium! 🐠🦑 Colors everywhere, and the staff knew their stuff. The tanks were on point – got to see some cool sea creatures. Super chill and educational vibe. Perfect for a fun day out! 🌊😎
Akash Parmar — Google review
Absolutely loved our visit here.
Small enough to not feel overwhelmed but big enough to get the full experience. Extremely interactive and would be good for people of all ages due to how close you can get to each animal
Samantha Garland — Google review
It's the perfect gift you can give to your children. My 5-and-a-half-year-old enjoyed seeing the sharks and penguins. Although it's not very large and doesn't have a wide variety of sea fishes, it's well-built considering the limited space. My daughter especially enjoyed playing the role of a doctor and receiving a certificate for checking the teddy penguins' health, which is placed near the front after the penguin exhibit. They have plenty of penguins, and it's nice to see them swimming and resting in the artificial rock. It was her first encounter with penguins, and she enjoyed it a lot. I've been to Cape Town and had the opportunity to see them up close, witnessing how they care for the young and interact with each other.
Apart from the fish and other sea animals, there are lots of small activities for children. There's a small play area attached to a cafeteria where you can grab something to eat and drink. Next to the cafeteria, you'll find big and small fish, sharks, and stingrays. Children will love this part. There's a massive transparent glass aquarium filled with these big fishes, and the pathway is divided into two sections—one for walking and the other rotating on its own, allowing you to stand and enjoy the fishes.
The next area features starfish that you can touch, lobsters, colorful deep-sea fishes, and seahorses.
At the end, you can buy goodies from the shop, although they're a bit expensive.
Considering the price tag, it may not seem like a big aquarium, but we got a discount using our AA membership card, making it a decent deal for us.
Regardless of the price, it's a nice way to spend 2 hours and make your kids happy while enjoying the sea creatures. While you may not see all the sea creatures, they've managed to showcase a maximum with the minimal space available.
Renjith cc — Google review
This place offers a truly amazing experience for visitors of all ages, whether you're a marine life enthusiast or just seeking a fun outing. It's incredible to see how they transformed this space from a large sewage system into a captivating underwater world.
Upon entering, you are immediately immersed in a magical marine environment, teeming with a diverse array of sea creatures. The aquarium features unique walk-through tunnels where you can marvel at sharks, stingrays and other fascinating marine life up close. The well-maintained displays provide an intimate look at the animals, including penguins, creating an engaging and immersive experience. Standout creatures such as the giant lobster, penguins, and New Zealand freshwater eels add to the aquarium's uniqueness.
In addition to the impressive exhibits, SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium offers interactive experiences like penguin encounters and shark dives, perfect for those eager to interact closely with the animals. The aquarium also provides various engaging activities, such as the "scan the turtle card" game, which is especially enjoyable for kids. The dining area offers a pleasant ambiance with ocean views and indoor tanks showcasing rays and turtles. Visitors have the option to bring their own food if they prefer not to purchase meals on-site.
I highly recommend including SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium in your Auckland itinerary, especially if you have a couple of hours to spare to discover unique ocean creatures. It's a memorable experience that showcases marine life in a captivating and educational way.
LN — Google review
Lovely check in and knowledgeable staff at the 1 touch tank that was open. Plenty parking and a nice aquarium though it looked like there were less fish in the aquarium you walk through. The artsy part was new and cool. Penguins were the highlight and my daughter made the polar plunge.
Heather C — Google review
We get annual passes each year and it's well worth it. Great for all ages but especially kids.
Great place to go when it's too hot or wet outside but you want to get out of the house.
The animals are well looked after and the enclosures are awesome and well maintained. The staff are friendly and do great talks, animal encounters (penguin walk, shark cage, touch the starfish!) and they help rescue, rehabilitate and release wild animals.
No covered parking, but wheelchair and pram friendly. Good food and drink options. Parent room next to the playground.
A great Auckland staple worth seeing!
Sian — Google review
Had been a few years since my last visit, so it has changed a bit. Basically the same but much improved ( I was happy you now walk past the Penguins rather than ride past them ). We went with the Grandkids who loved it as did my eldest daughter ( her first visit ). Book on-line and skip the long lines.
Shaun Metcalfe — Google review
We visited last weekend with the kids. There's no allocated parking for Kelly T so better get there early or be prepared to walk. Upon entering it smelled like a urinal. I'm not sure if that's just what the penguins smell like, because they're the first attraction. The public toilets were dirty and smelly. They need to be cleaned more regularly. We paid $148 for a family of 4. It was OK, however, the kids loved it as they don't notice the detail . The shark tank was pretty and a cool experience for us all.
K VD — Google review
Haven’t been here since I was a kid. Visited today and wow what an amazing place. So kick has changed and all for the better.
Great cafe, playground for the kids, touch tanks, free talks, helpful staff, and some interesting pieces of NZ history. My kids were blown away and so were we.
Luke Willis — Google review
It was wonderful to be so close to the sea animals and wow the enclosures were very well maintained, I just with that there was more to see. The seahorse area had no seahorses, the section where you could touch the urchins and star fish was a tiny tank and the queue was very long. The lunch area was also very small but otherwise it was nice, but over way too quickly for being so costly
Lee-Ann Ede — Google review
Good experience for young children. Not much in terms of sea life. The best exhibit is the penguins. The aquarium lacks the different sea life, ie fish, when compared to sea life aquariums in Australia and Singapore. Does not have enough parking and had to park far away. Overall not satisfied. For the price of the tickets, it’s not worth it.
Meth Herath — Google review
4.3
(6794)
•
4.0
(3075)
23 Tamaki Drive, Orakei, Auckland 1071, New Zealand
The peaceful and green Cornwall Park is a popular spot for runners, bikers, and picnickers in central Auckland. The park has two entrances, with a cafe and creamery at the northern side, as well as neatly manicured gardens, while the southern side features a playground, Stardome Observatory, and plenty of open space. Sheep graze in the paddocks at the foot of the hill.
I call this the farm in the city. I love coming here to watch cows and sheep graze. They are released on pasture, fenced off. You don't have to worry about them passing their poop, or they blocking your passage. Sometimes I see some peacocks, chickens and even ducks come here. Halfway up the hill there is a cafe with a good view. There is a BBQ area, it's near the main parking lot of the park. Especially in winter there is a very beautiful magnolia garden and a cherry blossom path around October.
Chloe Dang — Google review
Love this place. So peaceful and calming. Always a lots of cars there but the park is so big you don't feel it is busy at all. The fact that you can walk amongst the cows and sheep puts a smile on my face every time. Love it
allie coyle — Google review
It’s a Beautiful park in Auckland, it’s huge and has plenty of space to have picnic with family.. there lots of old and huge trees it’s a very relaxing place. We use to come here and we usually bring our bikes and you can bike around the park. You can also climb up to One tree a hill area it is overlooking and has amazing ambiance. During Autumn this park doesn’t miss to surprise you.. and during spring there are groups of cherry blossoms.. there is also a nice coffee shop inside that offers lots of yummy food so if you have no time to prepare a food for lunch then don’t worry as they serve lunch as well.. 😊check this park and you will surely love it!!
The Steininger?s Adventure Story — Google review
A clean fresh and safe park for morning walk, amongst sheep and vows, but on city fringe. Access to One Tree Hill top opened for walkers. Cafe inside the park is super nice, bean bags are available for having breakfast on grass
Ventje Rahardjo — Google review
Great park with multiple possible walks.
We went all the way to the top in order to enjoy the view of the city.
Possible to have a barbecue no too far from the car park.
Toilets could be a bit cleaner.
Thibaut Balayet — Google review
"The Cornwall Natural Park is simply spectacular! This natural haven offers an oasis of tranquility and beauty. Ideal for walking and sports activities outdoors, you immerse yourself in an environment where nature comes alive. With peaceful grazing cows, playful sheep, and majestic pheasants, each step is a unique experience. The lush trees provide shade and a serene atmosphere, perfect for recharging your energy. I recommend this place 100% for those seeking to connect with nature and rejuvenate."
klaudia agudelo — Google review
A beautiful place to walk in the heart of Auckland. Full of history and nature. Great views of the whole city especially if you walk to the top of Maungakiekie - One Tree Hill. Plenty of places for a picnic and facilities for barbecue.
Sara Baldwin — Google review
Lovely place. Big and spaces lots of greenery areas for young and old to explore even for seeing the cows or even counting the sheep. Good place to have picnic and BBQ and relax. Love the place very much. Different season you see different scenery.
Jeannie Wang — Google review
Cornwall Park is a gigantic public park for everyone. It has a cafe and a dedicated exercise area with few equipment. Endless beautiful walk trails with both open and dense lush green spaces. Ample parking and clean toilets. The best part is no matter how busy it gets, you will still find a space for you to do something interesting.
Ashwin Masarkar — Google review
A very tranquil park that winds in amongst sheep and cattle paddocks, including the ability to enter the sheep paddock and get close to them. Very green. Paved sidewalks and road for easy walking access. Nice for an afternoon stroll.
Graham Tranter — Google review
An extremely elegent park where you can enjoy the spring under cherry blossom. You can find different species of trees over there. In fact, more than 100 years old trees.
This park is a peaceful vast area where you can enjoy, jogging 🏃♂️, spending time with your friends and family and even alone in the heart of the busy Auckland city.
Agnes Chackochan — Google review
Cornwall Park is one of our favourite parks in Auckland.
My husband and I went to Cornwall Park on 24/8/2023. We saw lots of sheep and cow there and took some photos there.
The park was very peaceful at that time so we could enjoy the peaceful and quiet atmosphere there.
We highly recommend you to go there if you live near the park or happen to drive past there.
Addie Lane — Google review
This is one of the best spots in Auckland!!! I’m a photographer, so every corner presents a new photo opportunity🙌 I love this spot for photo shoots, catching up with friends and dog friendly! So many flowering trees. The cafe is an absolute MUST as well! Family friendly and a cute kids playground too.
Salome Nourse — Google review
Love love love this gorgeous park! Very well kept with many walking trails and plenty of space for picnics or gatherings. Clean public restrooms. I especially love the many birds chirping throughout the park, and very much enjoyed seeing the beautiful cattle, sheep and roosters!
The hike up to One Tree Hill was beautiful as well!
Margaret Au — Google review
I'm always amazed at the beauty of nature in all seasons. Great for walking, running, biking, playing, picnic, bbq, coffee,or just chilling out. Never get bored. A perfect park for all generations :)
KK — Google review
Cornwall Park in Auckland is a serene oasis amidst the city bustle. Its lush greenery, stunning views, and peaceful atmosphere make it an ideal escape. With walking trails, playgrounds, and a charming café, the park offers a delightful experience for nature lovers and those seeking tranquility in Auckland. A must-visit gem for relaxation and a breath of fresh air.
Haneet bhardwaj — Google review
An absolutely stunning park that possesses rugged hillside, tranquil orchids, active farmland, manicured gardens and a wonderful 360 degree view of the city. Lovely to visit all year round but particularly during spring and autumn.
Needs multiple visits to be properly explored in full!
A great place to go with the dog, but just be aware that some areas are off limits to dogs during certain times of years.
Harry Fraser — Google review
Cornwall park is just next to your door as urban oasis, you will find people in many nationalities, nature, farm-life and places to explore, best for the second time around 🥰.
Joss Bsons — Google review
One of the best maintained parks with great views and lovely place for walking, cycling, jogging and spending time with loved ones. Great place for Instagram pictures fir memories. Great event space available for weddings, meetings , birthday parties "Sorrento events Venue
Ganesh Susarla — Google review
Really lovely park with a decent walk from the beginning by his statue. Cafe has expectable but not awful prices. Great view.
Euan Andrews — Google review
It was a very nice place to visit in Auckland, make you cool cam and relax. Great place to sit, relax, and walk through the paddocks filled with sheep, cows, and lambs.
Robin Kurien — Google review
This park has it ALL: beautiful flora, magnificent views, hidden spots to relax, undisturbed wildlife, peacefulness, picnic areas, cafés to enjoy meals/drinks, plenty of parking, flat or hilly walking terrains.
A good place to unwind, stay active and healthy.
Gilliane Jean Marie — Google review
Sir John Logan Campbell gifted the Cornwall Park to NZ in 1901.Today it is managed by a Trust Board honouring his wish to operate it free for all.
It is more than just a Park...
Sprawling over 425 acres its a living history, heritage, ecology & native Mauri community. Its a great experience to enjoy nature for free💚👍
Dr Rajan Ekatpure — Google review
What a beautiful place! Livestock, an amazing park, a nice visitors center and all the amazing trees you can take in. Don't skimp on the walk up to the monument, the view is incredible, but make sure to hold on to your hats and glasses, it gets powerfully windy up there!
Sam — Google review
4.8
(9360)
•
4.5
(1374)
Green Lane West, Epsom, Auckland 1051, New Zealand
The Auckland Botanic Gardens offer a beautiful and diverse array of plants and flowers, as well as event venues and a cafe. The gardens are considered a garden of national significance, and are a must-see for anyone visiting the City of Sails.
Many routes to take while enjoying the peaceful serene scenery of nature at it's finest. Real fruit ice cream on tap at the entrance, sweet cafe to buy all your goodies from. Coffee, hot food, snacks available to buy. Love the variety of gardens. Flowers. Plants. Fruits and even vegetable gardens.
Ap Terekia — Google review
Absolutely gorgeous!!!
Lots of parking and free to enter.
Lots of smaller themed garden areas with lovely and interesting walks throughout. Love that there are seats everywhere which encourage you to stop and enjoy, and the wide meandering paths allow for a relaxed time of enjoyment.
Spent a few moments of enjoyment watching both fantails and tui playing.
Thoroughly enjoyed our hours spent here!!
Sharon W — Google review
Thou art in for a verdant treat shouldst thou choose to wander through the majestic Auckland Botanical Gardens. The flora doth flourish in a choreographed symphony, as if Puck himself hath cast a spell upon the grounds. Amidst the blooms and blossoms, one doth feel transported to a realm of pure serenity. The winding pathways do invite thee to lose thyself in contemplation and marvel at nature's bounty. From the noble oaks to the delicate roses, each specimen doth declare its own poetic tale. Verily, a sojourn to these enchanted grounds is a feast for the senses and a balm for the weary soul.
Bluelisted — Google review
Such an amazing, wonderful, beautiful, and inspiring place.
Come along by yourself, with a friend, or with your family; they have something for everyone here.
Enter and just leave all your stress and worries behind as you explore many different themes and styles.
Getting there is easy, with the motorway/freeway close by and a bus stop very close.
They are open every day except Christmas Day.
Mark Brown — Google review
Nice and relaxing. Well spread out in huge area, very well maintained. Clean and tidy. Good for walks and a family day out. Lush green grounds and water reserves make it more beautiful.
Emm Dee — Google review
What a lovely park and gardens! We walked into the many different areas and small gardens within the park. It's impressive to see all the different plants and varieties of flowers at the moment. We especially loved the rose garden, well worth the walk to the other end of the park. Even when it started to rain we stayed and got to enjoy the park for ourselves as everyone else left. The atmosphere transforms and you get to see it into a totally different way. O would totally recommend to you pay that park a visit while in Auckland.
Mikael Besse — Google review
Great place, lovely atmosphere, we can here while it was cloudy but not raining, and it was the perfect temperature to walk around. We did wish we had come earlier in the year when more of the plants were flowering but there were still lots of lovely things to look at. I highly recommend going to see it. We also went to the cafe, coffee was good, and so were the cakes, everything fresh and the coffee at a perfect temperature.
Finn Theodore — Google review
Auckland botanic gardens is fantastic park where you can spend hours. It has many gardens and a kid friendly area. There is also a special place for dogs to be off leash. There is also a nice cafe.
Mahdi AK — Google review
Beautiful space. Great variety of plants. The kids' garden is very interactive. We spent 2 hours to see it all.
Betty Damianidis — Google review
I definitely recommend a visit to the botanical gardens, there is something for the entire family.
The information centre at the entrance provides you with all the information you need about the gardens and has some interesting exhibits.
There are a number of interesting sculptures throughout the year and the gardens host a sculpture event once a year that is always worth a visit.
The children's garden is amazing and always well loved by the kids. There is a myriad of paths and trails that allows you to wander around and enjoy the collection of plants, flowers and trees.
The forest trail of native bush on the northern side of the gardens gives you a good sense of New Zealand's forest.
At the end of your walk around the gardens you can take time out and enjoy a coffee at the cafe overlooking the gardens.
During spring the cherry blossoms are amazing and brings out so many visitors. The highlight of the year at the gardens.
The gardens are a definitely good way to spend an afternoon.
Bruser NZ — Google review
Beautiful park! So well planned and organized. Signs and tips are so helpful. It takes more than 4 hours to walk through all sections. Enjoyed the benches sitting down and observing the nature. Definitely must see in Auckland!
The access is free of charge.
Maya Yaneva — Google review
Absolutely stunning place! Parks are big enough to take the portable bbq and have a family day out and have your own spot. Cafe is on site and the entire park is wheelchair friendly. Free admission. Though the map and track or not the easiest to follow when you are distracted away by plants of the course.
Courtenay Bernard — Google review
Great place for a walk, with or without kids.
Lots of beautiful plants and flowers, some art works dotted around. A pond or two is also on site including a kids area.
Simone Rinke — Google review
Love taking a walk at the botanical gardens with my kid. Such a great variety of different plants and flowers to see and learn about. I like the footpaths along the gardens: they have a smooth and straight pavement. It is easy for my toddler to ride on on the mini bike without getting bumpy.
Maybe one downside: the Cafe at the site gets very busy with a long queue. Advisable to bring your own drink and snacks if don't have patience for the queues.
Olga Zavartseva — Google review
This charming locale is an ideal spot for a leisurely stroll, boasting an array of captivating sights. The centerpiece of the experience is the exquisite botanical gardens, featuring a stunning variety of meticulously maintained plant species. Don't miss the opportunity to relax at the delightful cafe within the gardens; it comes highly recommended for a well-rounded visit.
Duncan Andrews — Google review
Best Botanic Garden in Auckland! Spacious and great green herbs and plants for families! We always enjoy a good picnic here with families or friends. Both elders and kids could enjoy a stroll here with easy flat trails. It got all variety of beauty all seasons! October is Sakura ( Cherry blossom) season and we always get the best shots here!
Cuiran Yang — Google review
A calm place with beautiful scenery and a natural environment well maintained. Nice niche gardens, loved the rock garden by the lake. Highly recommended to anyone who visits Auckland and closer.
Harsha Thilakarathna — Google review
Absolutely fantastic. It almost beggars belief how the infamous Hood that is South Auckland can coexist so closely with such a tranquil landmark. A vast array of gardens, all with their own feel and character. Several large open spaces and spots for event hire. Thick and lush native bush, plants and trees from all over the world, and every other nook and cranny to explore. It also boasts an impressive display of public art, especially at the biannual Sculpture in the Gardens event, which is in no way something to be missed. If you want to forget that you live in Auckland, or forget that you have a life to come home to at all, go here. And don’t even worry about coming back. You would have to try really, really hard to feel genuinely sad in this place.
10/10 Would live here if I could.
Liam Young — Google review
This botanical garden is a gem. 🤩
I thought I'd spend 1 hour there but I ended up spending 3 hours because there are so many things to see. There's something for everyone: rainforests, gardens with endemic plants, a rose garden and magnolias.
Everything is well signposted, with maps at various points along the way.
Maud Cappelle — Google review
A tremendously beautiful and peaceful park that offers a variety of trails and experiences. If you are looking for a nice beautiful place for a picnic they have tons of lush green space for that or if you want to go on a more city adjacent nature hike there are plenty of micro trails to roam.
This botanical garden is massive and a place you could easily spend hours roaming around taking in the sights.
When we went we saw a wide range of people enjoying it for its meditative vibe (reading a book or soaking up the sun) and family’s having picnics or exercising with their kids. A side note for dog owners, it has a massive off leash area that is perfect for fur friends to run and romp.
All the adventure possibilities and the best part is it’s free! Was surprised to find a park so beautifully maintained with tons of plant and history of New Zealand Information that didn’t require you to wait in a long line and to pay for it.
Will comment that the parking is fine but not amazing in this location, we luckily found parking at a busy time of day but if it’s popular it could force you to park outside and walking in.
Carl Thomas — Google review
Excellent experience. Beautiful gardens so much to look at and explore. You can bring a picnic and sit under a tree. You can walk your dog, on lead (and off lead in the marked section of the map). There is a cafe on site, we didnt go the cafe today, but did buy drinks from the food cart on site. I would advise getting there early on a Sunday to buy tickets for the train ride. There is a great commentary all about the gardens. Ride lasts for 20 mins. First train ride was at 11am (only on Sundays).
Claire K — Google review
Lovely spot to wander around. Lots of green spaces to relax. There could be more directional signage on the walking trails . Beautiful trees.
Lots of people enjoying the open spaces which is good to see.
Jo Adams — Google review
Very peaceful grounds to walk around, caters to all sorts with accessible paths, educational opportunities, spaces for families of all sizes and types.
This is definitely a place that we will be returning to a lot more, so much more to explore and enjoy!
David Quinn — Google review
Entry is free here, The garden is a charming and serene oasis, perfect for indulging in picnics with loved ones, hosting family events, or simply taking leisurely walks amidst the tranquil beauty of nature.
Anu Preet — Google review
4.6
(8589)
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4.5
(385)
102 Hill Road, The Gardens, Auckland 2105, New Zealand
Rapaura Watergardens is a stunning lodge surrounded by breathtaking views and meticulously maintained water gardens. The sprawling grounds offer a serene and peaceful environment, perfect for families to explore and enjoy. Visitors can feed the ducks, take leisurely walks through regenerating bush, or simply relax in the well-appointed accommodation. The host Sacha provides excellent recommendations and ensures guests feel at home. This hidden gem is definitely worth a scenic drive off the main road for a memorable stay or visit.
Visited on a Saturday morning in late April with my elderly (84 & 88 years) parents and had the place completely to ourselves.
Lovely setting and the entire area was meticulously maintained.
Loop walk was was interesting and very do'able for people of quite limited mobility and with seating for rest/viewing.
Did the waterfall cascade walk by myself - straightforward well-maintained track (15 minutes return) through regenerating bush with a couple of short stepped sections.
Overall, the gardens more than exceeded our expectations.
Warwick Foran — Google review
Our family spent 3 nights in this beautiful lodge, waking up to breathtaking views of the grounds every morning. The sprawling lodge is itself is an experience. Enjoyed exploring the surrounding water garden and the kids loved feeding the ducks. Our host, Sacha, was a real gem - answering our many questions patiently and giving us fab recommendations on what to visit and eat. A must stay if you are in the area - it is well worth scenic drive. Thank you for making us feel so at home Sacha!
Sharmila Sripathy — Google review
Fabulous,,, absolutely stunning gardens. These gardens clearly scream love, pride, and great attention to detail finished of with great Cafe/restaurant with calming energy and great coffee 😁
Dennis Cloke — Google review
An incredible find as we journeyed around the north island. Such wonderful, expansive gardens that we all enjoyed exploring. The gardens are immaculate and worth a visit themselves. The house is amazing and we loved our stay. We only found a nearby town - Thames - the day we left, otherwise it looked like a great place to have a meal, with many options. Would highly recommend Rapaura Watergardens!
brent fuller — Google review
A lovely walk. Well worth the 10 minute drive off the main road to get there. Beautiful water fall where you can let the kids swim. Take some food as there aren't any shops close by.
Phillip Powell — Google review
Beautiful location. Owner is a very sweet man. A really nice retreat for the couple weeks I was there - I will absolutely be returning.
Thomas Endicott — Google review
A fantastic place to visit, the gardens are well looked after and very serene and peacefully, definitely worth the drive off the main road to visit.
pounsfos pounsfos — Google review
Beautiful and well-maintained gardens, the falls are very beautiful as well. But quite expensive though, to my mind 15$ dollars is a bit much for a 40 minute walk. It could be interesting to have a winter rate because not so much flowers in the garden at this time.
Lucas Gaudin — Google review
We visited the garden and so enjoyed the walk. The first part was a lovely sculptured area with lily ponds. The second part was native forest with a fabulous waterfall. Such a peaceful and beautiful walk. We stopped in the cafe for a cuppa afterwards - the owner was really friendly and made the best banana muffins. Highly recommend.
A Brown — Google review
Truly delightful and extensive gardens, clearly posted walkways, easily to negotiate, extremely picturesque sights at every turn, especially the multiple waterfalls. Allow a good hour at least to appreciate the natural beauty.
Megan Scoullar — Google review
Came for the walk of the gardens and the waterfall. Such a peaceful and well maintained track. The hosts were so kind, welcoming and courteous that we wished we had time to stay the night in paradise. Definitely worth a stop!
Evan Bell — Google review
Stunning and serene environment, both indoors and out! We had the pleasure of a 3-night stay at The Lodge. The accommodation was beautiful with every comfort provided, including breakfast. Super comfy beds, couches and armchairs, well-appointed kitchens and large bathroom, pleasant surprises everywhere from the music station to the aromatherapy to the cats-eye Chinese solitaire table. The wrap-around balcony areas and multiple indoor seating areas were all delightful, surrounded by stunning artwork inside and nature's artwork outside. The watergardens themselves were simply beautiful and perfectly maintained, with a flock of friendly ducks to greet us! The walk up to the waterfalls is gorgeous and a very pretty fall at the top. One of the most peaceful and pleasant gardens we've visited. We even rearranged our plans so we could spend a full uninterrupted day at the Lodge and gardens. It truly is a place to 'be', not just to visit or sleep. Hosts Sarah and Sasha were charming and went out of their way to make us feel welcome and comfortable. Thank you both for sharing your precious part of the world with us!
Kelly Windle — Google review
A fabulous garden in a unique location that transports you to another world. Definitely worth a visit it is out of this world.
Diane Kinnear — Google review
This cute accommodation is in the middle of nowhere with no signal, no TV, weakest WiFi etc. It takes you offline the entire time. But it's so cute with its old time charm and the cottage is really spacious. The owners provided breakfast with us able to do the eggs our own way. It's so nice and secluded. My partner loved it for that very reason. Its just so cosy and being so close to nature is lovely. There was also a mother goose and her goslings on arrival.
The only thing is the location and how to get there is a bit of a scary drive in terms of the very narrow and windy road so drive slowly.
Ema Wihapi-Solia — Google review
Absolutely amazing place - such a hidden gem. Sasha is a wonderful host who goes out of his way to make the stay comfortable and enjoyable. We loved chatting to him in the morning! The house has such a lovely feel to it and you won’t want to leave! Fantastic walk around the grounds - bring your togs!
Alice B — Google review
Absolutely magical, the walk through the gardens was truly beautiful. There were two paths one which was a quick 15/20 minute walk around some ponds and the second a longer walk to a beautfiul waterfall. The worker was extremely hospitable and was more than welcoming when we asked if we could pray in the cafe building. A must visit.
yahya salam — Google review
Wow! Just wow! This is a must see location on the Coromandel Peninsula. Absolutely gorgeous gardens. I’m so glad we stopped. The leisurely walk through the gardens took us about an hour. So peaceful. The owner was super nice, full of information, friendly and pleasant. We did not stay at the lodging so I couldn’t comment on that.
Ellen M — Google review
Might not be for the younger people, so if you can, leave them at home. I loved it, and I'm not really a garden person, but it was very relaxing and lovely even in the light rain. I think the cover charge was very reasonable for the amount of work that's obviously put into the place. So if you appreciate a lovely garden and a very interesting waterfall its worth an hour & a half casual stroll.
R Daysh — Google review
There isba reason why this is No. 1 on trip advisor for the Thames area.
Absolutely stunning, the waterfall is beautiful. Garden are immaculate and the man who was in the cafe/shop was a real pleasure to meet and just the person for that sort of job. Genuine, helpful and just a nice guy.
We will be back.
Grant Woodman — Google review
Just spent a night in the cottage at Raupara Water gardens. What a lovely experience. No TV or cell phone-coverage
Everything you could need including breakfast. Such an oasis in this busy world Sasha is a charming host and we wish him well in continued support for this lovely place .
Sandra Flint — Google review
The Rapaura Watergardens is beautiful hidden gem tucked in the back of the Coroglen road just 5 kilometres from the Tapu pub. The water gardens are magnificent beautifully kept the walk to the water falls is stunning the host was amazing and serve fabulous coffee. I definitely recommend going here and exploring and experiencing the beauty that the water gardens has to offer.
One of the oldest natural spa in Auckland, the administration is really cheap plus no time limit.
They also have locker for your important items.
The most important part this play is they have very good fish and chips. I think the combo is $16 if I am right. It’s really yum yum yum.
Not a fancy place but its wonderful place for the family trip.
紐西蘭吃喝玩樂 Vincent in New Zealand — Google review
So disappointed the pools have not been opened for over 2 years now and don't blame it on covid either because the other pool next door at the holiday park have been opened the whole time.!! 🤬
When are you going to open again.. these pools were great for family's to enjoy.
Adrienne Campbell — Google review
Absolutely disgusting this great place use to be a great place to visit. This is what happens when we let a place like this get so run down, like many other great hot pools in the North Island. It is ashame that the people that are meant to be renovating it are in no hurry to bring these pools back to life so many people can enjoy them again
george peart — Google review
2+ years this place has been "under renovation". Come on guys, get fire wise and get it done. Too much red tape, too much coin, none wanna foot the bill.
Bureaucracy...ruining it for us all AGAIN!!
Will Dickens — Google review
We enjoyed this very tidy Caravan destination so close to Auckland.
Beautiful scenery on route home.
Tere Davies — Google review
Man it’s been so long open up, I don’t know if they’re open yet, wanted to plan a big group to go there to hang in the pools for a while, have a bbq and have a great time relaxing. It’s still “temporary closed” please open up the people want it. One of the few places I love going to.
Sasha Haznyuk — Google review
MISLEADING ADVERT..JULY 2023.. attached is a very confusing advert from Miranda's website regarding renovations at Miranda hot pools.
Are they open during renovations or CLOSED??
[ Renovations of Miranda Hot Springs are still underway. Due to the ongoing building material shortages, our renovations are progressing slowly... Come and relax with us at Miranda Hot Springs in our thermally heated fresh mineral water. Centrally located, we have three pools to suit all swimmers.]
When you phone to inquire there is no response to either numbers.
Perhaps it would be nice/appreciated for the new owners to let us all know via a DATED update on their website and/or phone message to save people travelling all the way there only to find they are still closed.
It would be great to see these iconic pools once again in operation.
Dennis Walsh — Google review
The staff were very friendly. I thought the drive was out the way and the prices a bit on the steep side. The facilities are adequate with a grass patch, some BBQs, tables and chairs, change rooms toilets and a single shower. Everything looks like it could do with a bit of a spruce up. I would have appreciated a bit of shade covering over the pool. The cafe had good food and wonderful service.
Glen Schafer — Google review
Lovely place💙 I've been going to this pool since I was a baby. Good times and great memories. Fun for the whole family. Really yummy food and kind staff members.
brooke dalton — Google review
Came for the pukorokoro bird centre, lovely clean units, large kitchen and dining areas. Bbq and pizza ovens in a well tended area. Plenty of activities to do around the camp. Friendly helpful staff
Jan stobie — Google review
This beautiful Hot springs is definately the place to be to unwind, entertain and family friendly. Thermal pool with lots of play space for families and kiddies. Its a fair drive but it is soooo worth the gas. The prices are meh ok It is pretty expensive for private pools however, if you enjoy just relaxing and mingling with ethnic families you will love being there
Dee Puru — Google review
A favourite place to visit since childhood. Food at cafe was good and reasonably priced. Entry prices are as is on website. Place was clean and tidy. Good for families.
Emma M — Google review
No shelter over main pool is a bummer, and no cold water pool at all. But still loved it, spent an entire day there and went home feeling relaxed.
Star Kiro — Google review
4.1
(1219)
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4.0
(182)
Front Miranda Rd, RD 6, Thames, Pūkorokoro / Miranda 3576, New Zealand
Katikati Bird Gardens is a privately owned park located on the edge of Tauranga Harbour. It boasts delightful gardens, lily ponds, and secret paths, providing a serene environment to enjoy native and colorful birds. Visitors can grab refreshments at the cafe before exploring the gardens and interacting with the fearless ducks, chickens, and various bird species. The shady tree areas offer respite from the sun while observing baby peacocks, ducklings, and chickens.
Lovely walk about! Mum and I headed to the bird gardens on Sunday, it was a nice quiet day. The ducks and chickens roaming were all very brave and super interested in having the bird feed! The cockatoo can say "ello" if you talk to it long enough.
The Cafe is small but the iced chocolate was tasty. I had the waffles with chocolate sauce and ice cream. Om nom nom
Vanessa H — Google review
Visiting the Bird Gardens was a great way to spend a few hours on a fine Spring day. Bought a coffee and toasted sandwich at the cafe first, and sat in pleasant surroundings to enjoy them both. A lot of photo opportunities, especially from the Peacock which put on an amazing display. Was wonderful walking around and having the birds interact with us. Very grateful to have such beautiful gardens close to Tauranga. Well worth the journey.
Faye Ager — Google review
Great 1-2 hour diversion with kids. Shady paths are nice on a hot sunny day. The birds certainly enjoy your company when you have a bag of bird food with you.
Colin Bowern — Google review
Beautiful gardens with lovely paths to follow around the grounds. Many bird aviaries over the property, yet a lot of the birds are free and follow you around - especially if you have some bird food with you! Very awesome experience, will come back again in spring to see it in another season
Leanne Flanders — Google review
Just amazing! Unique and beautiful birds everywhere. A must go for any bird or animal lover. Friendly birds, nice cafe and food, cool gift shop, very well maintained grounds and garden. We will be back soon 😊
Rabb-IT PC NZ — Google review
Pretty underwhelming. It's more of a big Victorian(is) garden with a few birdcages I'd say.
It could use some gardening as of today, 25 Feb 2024, and the majority of the birdcages don't even have signs in them to tell what kind of bird is in there.
TheRedGuard — Google review
Great place to visit. Nice and cool in the summer, and lovely place to walk and sit in the shade. Feeding the birds is fun too!
Ryan Mahmoud — Google review
A very sweet young boy served me and was very helpful. The gardens are also very pretty although I feel bad for the birds in cages as they seem quite depressed and are exploited.
I saw some kids throwing rocks at the chickens. Maybe look towards hiring more staff to patrol the gardens so that customers don't abuse your animals.
The food wasn't great and infact was very overpriced for what it was.
Kiera Moser — Google review
Lovely gardens to walk around. No steep paths. Birds are quiet and interact looking for a feed
Jenny Little — Google review
Garden area is an easy stroll, paved path in most sections. The birds are friendly and you can feed them. There is a cafe with WiFi available on-site. Lots of flowers and scenic shots. Cost is $11 for an adult.
Ben Drury — Google review
Cool place for a nice walk through some nice gardens with lots of free roaming birds to feed and interact with. Cafe and chairs with plenty of open parking.
Pierre Jongenelen — Google review
Kati Kati bird gardens is one of a kind. You'll see a variety of different birds and very friendly too. Feeding the birds is an experience in itself, so don't skip on this!
Micah Garcia — Google review
A wonderful time was experienced by my wife and myself. Such a beautiful setting in tranquil surroundings
Les Baddiley — Google review
Awesome atmosphere here. Good for a morning walk. Birds will follow you though.
Pleiades Nebula — Google review
This was actually better than we expected. Very relaxed environment with calm birds to feed. Quite reasonably priced considering prices of other attractions these days. Being summer the shady tree areas made you linger longer in the cool and the water lilies and tadpoles were abundant. Baby peacocks, ducklings and chickens plus a small playground made our little one happy
D&C Lambert — Google review
What an absolute hidden gem of a place, we went on a pretty cold and miserable day, so it was very muddy but still had an absolute awesome experience. the owner was very friendly and made sure we knew where abouts everything was, we also had a pram and made it around no problem. Highly suggest buying some bird food as well as around the start of the track there is some doves that love to be fed and they will land on your arms when held out, which makes an awesome experience, highly recommend this place and would love yo come back in the future
Located in Waikato, Hamilton Zoo is one of the most popular tourist destinations in New Zealand. The zoo features 600 animals from all over the world, including a walk-through aviary and cafe/picnic areas.
Had a great time with the kids. Not too crowded. The animals were surprisingly interactive, especially the monkeys. I put my hand up to the glass and a baby monkey climbed all the way up and put his little hand on mine. The outdoor aviary is a great way to learn about indigenous plant species and spot NZ birds. I've been to a few zoos and this was the most seamless trip I've had. Make sure to bring a water bottle, hat and sunscreen. Snacks if you don't want to buy. It was a great day:)
Krystal Black — Google review
This is a great little zoo to visit with young kids. It looks small on a map but be warned that there is a lot of undulation so it actually is a decent walk.
It had a surprisingly diverse range of animals, which the kids loved, and our favourite part were the little entertainment areas for the kids along the walking route - this place was definitely built with kids in mind.
The cafe is also definitely worth visiting and very opposite to the usual food you'd expect at a tourist attraction. I'd recommend booking in advance if you plan on coming on a weekend as you can visit the zoo, have lunch, then re enter the zoo and continue your day.
Shane de Mello — Google review
We enjoyed our visit to the Hamilton Zoo! We took our grandchildren for a birthday. They had a great time. All of the animals were out so they were able to see so many. The only thing that would make it better is if everything connected in a circle instead of having to go one way and return to get to another animal. The playground area was great! The food was good but way to expensive.
Elaine Middleton — Google review
Had a great time here. Its a great idea to bring your kids here as there are a lot of play areas where they can have fun. This area is also stroller ready for young babies. There are picnic spots across the facility for families who want to have there home cooked meals here.
There are also cafes at enterence and an icecream shop near the savanna area.
They have a route for bird viewing in the natural enclosed area which was fantastic.
All in all a great place to spend some time with kids
Shreejesh Nair — Google review
Zoo full of animals with a good variety. Very interesting pathways with lots of board walks! Some areas felt somewhat unfinished however it is off season at the moment. To see all the animals the path you ave to take does involve a bit of walking back on self and to areas twice. Very inquisitive and friendly meerkats. Savannah enclosure was nice to see with all the different animals interacting together.
James Thompson — Google review
This zoo is really nice and big. You can see that animals are well taken care of. They have big space for them selves where they can live and move freely. Highly maintained zoo. I feel safe while visiting the zoo. There are toilets and water station from time to time.
Lenva Tyson — Google review
I went on a school trip with my grandson. It has been about 10 years since I've last been, and there have been some awesome renovations done. The entrance has a new cafe which is very modern and they make a great mocca. The carpark is a lot bigger but is very tight to maneuver around. The playground at the entrance has been renovated, and there are much more covered picnic tables to eat at and also more toilets. The toilet facilities around the zoo have also been updated and expanded. As a whole, the new renovations make the zoo a more family-friendly place to visit.
Tangi Marshall — Google review
Fantastic, likely the best zoo experience I have had. Such beautiful scenery, lots of animals and clean amenities. I got a burger and fresh pineapple juice from the cafe afterwards - amazing food, and the juice was actually fresh from a juicer! Highly recommended place to visit with the family.
Brendon Tyree — Google review
We loved this zoo. It is very big so be prepared to make a whole day of it. The animals have large enclosures and are well cared for as an animal lover myself this is very important. So many photos and so many different animals. Highly recommended to visit and support this zoo. We loved it & will visit it again when visiting NZ
Dr GT — Google review
It is one of the best places for the kids in Waikato. Easy to get tickets online. This place closes at 1630 and food won't be available from around 1600. It is best to visit this zoo excluding winter.
Kids absolutely loved it. Very spacious and plenty of parking as well.
Akhila Rangana — Google review
Fabulous day out! Upgrades to facilities are great. So much to see and do for families and very reasonable cost for entry.
Plenty of areas to get out of hot sun and sit to rest.
Highly recommend to all.
Rachel Costar — Google review
Love this Zoo,wide paving is good for mobility people or a little unco like my Mum who is unsteady. All the staff smile easily at the public.Easy to navigate & the carpark is lovely & thought out. Good playground to entertain your own chimps while u eat. Look forward to our next visit.
Neville Thomson — Google review
Fabulous afternoon spent with the children wandering around looking at all the wonderful animals. Love all the tables and chairs dotted all around the zoo as well as multiple activity areas to keep the little ones entertained. End the day at the cafe with a ice-cream, cold drink or a delicious coffee while the children have one last burst of energy in the play ground.
jill lagas — Google review
A much smaller zoo than Auckland zoo but they are very well maintained and the animals are very healthy looking. Most animals are very chubby and fluffy. A sign that they are well taken care of. There are a few play area for the kids in the zoo. Plenty of parking. New amenities. Cafe was amazing too. They had the best fried chicken waffle there. Chicken was cooked to perfection and not dry/overcook. Overall it's worth a weekend drive over to visit Hamilton Zoo.
Vanessa Fork — Google review
Always a great experience at Hamilton zoo!
Friendly and amazing staff and hosts are available to chat with and ask questions.
Easy to find parking, quality prices to visit at your own pace.
Would highly recommend people with mobility difficulties prepare ahead of time as the terrain isn't flat. Would suit individuals with electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters etc.
Great place to book ahead with individual 'encounters' with different animals.
Cameron Christiansen — Google review
Great zoo, the tiger cubs and chimpanzee area were absolute highlights! Worth checking out if you're in Hamilton. It's also a good size to wander through a few times, and try to get to exhibits when they are feeding the animals.
Connor Saunders — Google review
Nice spacious zoo. Give yourselves at least 3 hours for a good sight-seeing walk. We were fortunate the weather is good, so we ended up seeing almost all animals, some sheltering under a shade.
I just wished they made the fences better. Most of the poles and fences are blocking the view, but we like how you can be really close to some animals, so I guess that's alright.
Zoo is clean, you can see the staff are passionate about what they are doing.
Overall, we enjoyed our visit and definitely recommend visiting.
Michael Singh — Google review
Excellent visit to our local zoo with our 3y old. Highlights were no doubt the tiger pups, the aviary and the various playgrounds.
In general the whole park looks great, is well maintained, and it's just the right size for a half day visit.
Felix Hoornaert — Google review
Took my grandkids for the day. It was awesome even had the keepers answer some questions by a 7 yr old who had loads of questions about how different animals needed different care. Very impressive zoo will be going back as the 7yr old has asked that for his birthday he has an animal encounter at feeding time so will be booking that in for August
michele wood — Google review
We (couple) enjoyed our trip to the Zoo and stayed a good four hours looking around and reading all the info. (It’s not just for kids, Adults need to keep learning too!) It’s great you can bring your own food and have a picnic. We also loved having the ice cream truck halfway through our wonder, prices and portion size was value for money (Boxing Day was hot). All facilities are clean and every path, garden and enclosure if well maintained and cared for (thanks to the staff) Note: There are quite a few steep paths to walk however there are quite a few seats along the way for those who will need to have a little break. Great day!
Jazisam 11 — Google review
The Hamilton Zoo provided my family with an exceptionally enjoyable experience. The zoo was meticulously maintained, and the staff demonstrated utmost professionalism and friendliness. The diverse range of animals on display was truly impressive, catering to visitors of all ages and interests. Furthermore, the zoo's accessibility features, such as wheelchair ramps and wide pathways, made it an inclusive environment for individuals with disabilities and families with young children. I highly recommend the Hamilton Zoo to anyone seeking an enriching and educational day out.
Joshua — Google review
Hands down, the most amazing zoo ive been to.
Made the trip from Auckland and didnt want to leave. Feels more like a nature walk with "exotic" animals dotted along the way. Beautifully spread out and feels like its designed to blend in with nature. Plenty of shade all throughout and plenty of mini playgrounds, rest stops for snacks. Hydration stations available throughout the zoo with FREE water.
The staff are cheerfully welcoming and the prices are totally family friendly.
Our kids had a great time and made some Wonderful memories
Lawren Matrix — Google review
Great zoo, picturesque with lots to see. Prices of slices at Cafe were exorbitant! And very small portions. Went for hot chips which were very good and reasonably priced.
carolyn marshall — Google review
A great zoo with such friendly keepers. Talks are available and face to face encounters. Enclosures are big enough that it feels like the animals are free to act natural. Recommend allowing 2-3 hours to see it all. More if you want rest and lunch at the cafe.
Luke Willis — Google review
A modern well.laidnoutvzoo for families and all. Plenty to do. Great enclosures and wide variety of animals. Plenty of walking but pathways make it easy. Worth a visit.
Jacqui Alexander — Google review
4.5
(3821)
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4.5
(858)
183 Brymer Road, Rotokauri, Baverstock 3289, New Zealand
Hamilton Lake Domain, located in the heart of Hamilton City, offers a picturesque 3.8 km hiking trail around Lake Rotorua. The trail is popular among walkers, runners, and hikers and features lush vegetation alongside the lake, picnic areas, a playground, cafe, and a boardwalk section. Visitors can enjoy various water-based activities such as yachting, windsurfing, kayaking, and paddle boating. The domain also hosts organized events like fairs and family days.
Wonderful and safe place to hang out during r have a picnic. We loved the sunset colours. Plenty of parking available but can get full during summer. You can feed the ducks and even walk around the lake which can take less than an hour. Becareful of duck poo on the ground.
Ravi Lal — Google review
Plenty of parking away from the playground but not much activities around the lake except to walk. Nicer views as you head up the hill towards the Domain but it’s pretty hidden. Pity it’s not concreted in between the pillars.
Pauline O'Keeffe — Google review
Had a great time here. A good place to bring your kids and have a nice family time. There are a lot of activities for kids to engage in. The most mesmerizing moments are the sunrise and sunset here.
Shreejesh Nair — Google review
Lovely easy walk, great wide paths, fantastic play ground for kids. Cafe made a good iced coffee. Plenty of birds to feed so take plenty of frozen peas & corn, bird seed.
Trudy Wadams — Google review
A great playground! Suit all ages. Beautiful design and new equipment. we could spend the whole afternoon at here, a café just beside the playground, so kids can recharge their energy and have a little rest.
Yuki D — Google review
One of the things I appreciated most about Hamilton Lake Domain was how easy it was to access. The park is located just a few minutes' drive from Hamilton's city center, making it a convenient spot to visit if you're staying in the area.
In addition to the walking and cycling tracks, the park also features a stunning rose garden, which is especially beautiful during the spring and summer months.
If you're looking for something a little more adventurous, there are plenty of options to choose from. There's also a large adventure playground for kids, with slides, swings, and climbing frames.
Overall, I would highly recommend Hamilton Lake Domain to anyone visiting the Hamilton area. The park is a wonderful place to spend a few hours, whether you're looking to get some exercise, relax and soak up the scenery, or enjoy some quality time with family and friends.
Vishnu Balakrishnan — Google review
Lake Rotoroa situated in the heart of Hamilton. A good place to admire the beauty of nature. Plenty of parking away from the playground. The playground is one of the best I've ever seen & the walk around the lake is a lovely experience with various things to see along the way. overall great place to spend time with family and friends...
Navtesh — Google review
It's a lovely area that you can enjoy with the whole family, including your dog (on a leash). There are bbq facilities close to the yacht club, an outdoor gym area, a walking trail around the lake, a kids play area, coffee shop, rose garden and some additional facilities. The Saturday morning parkruns here are also great. It is also kept clean and tidy.
Hayley Dill — Google review
We all had a lovely time here. Lots of activities for kids.great picnic place. I also managed to have a good walk.
Vindya Naidu — Google review
A small oasis in the heart of Hamilton. The lake has a great walking or running track and bikes and scooters are allowed along most of it. There’s an outdoor gym area in Innes Common and on the city side is an amazing kids playground, Veranda cafe (always crazy busy on weekends) and a small ice cream shop.
Awesome sunsets can be enjoyed from the northeast shore of the lake.
Scott Robinson — Google review
Hamilton Lake is a beautiful and relaxing place to visit in the heart of the city. I always come here for a quick walk or run around the lake, which is about 3.5km long. The scenery is stunning, with water, trees, birds, and flowers. There is also a boardwalk section, playgrounds, and grassed parklands where you can have a picnic or play games. There is a cafe available near the lake where you can enjoy a coffee or a snack with a view of the water. The lake is also used for water sports such as sailing, canoeing, and dragon boating. Hamilton Lake Domain is one of Hamilton’s premiere parks and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a peaceful and enjoyable outing. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
MaxDeGiraffe — Google review
Hamilton Lake is our go to. We go there for a walk, to relax, watch the dogs pass by, the ducks and geese. Nice place for a picnic. Playground for kids. The rose garden. Cafes and ice-cream. Beautiful lake. even when you are in the middle of the city, you feel close to nature.
La Vida — Google review
Hamilton Lake in New Zealand is a picturesque destination offering serene surroundings and recreational activities. The scenic beauty of the lake, complemented by walking trails, gardens, and birdlife, provides a tranquil escape. Visitors can enjoy boat rides, picnics, and a playground for families. The lake's well-maintained environment and diverse features make it a delightful spot for both locals and tourists seeking a peaceful retreat.
Thusitha Ratnasekara — Google review
Lake view is a amazing, you can walk in very near the lake, and you get free car parking, there are lots of car parking is available, you can see wonderful sunset, is a quite place there seater in the near water you can sit and feel good, you can spend your time at alone nice place, when ever your guys visit hamilton never ever miss this place
siva vineeth — Google review
Beautiful and quiet place for walking and jogging. A lot of goose and geese. Interesting thing I saw- a group of white gooses lying down and chilling at the lawn near the houses/road in the late evening.
ALEX CHEW — Google review
Ultimate place to go for a stroll in a natural environment surrounded by a busy bustling city. The café is a must visit. With modern architecture and lots of space it's the perfect place to catch up with friends and family over a lovely cuppa and muffin. The ice-cream shop has been the number one spot for the yummiest huge (or small) ice-cream cones ever since I can remember.
The lake boasts the best place for the children to explore and have fun. The play facilities here are safe and very user friendly. Mind you, the kids need to be watched for safety sake. Best of all, it's free. Picnic time in summer at the lake is just great.
We used to take KFC and every takeaway imaginable to dine with. Our families and extended family would regularly visit here in summer.
So. What's keeping you? Let's go to the Hamilton Lake for play, fun and good cheer. If you don't want to drive there, the Comet and Orbiter buses stop right there. When in season the Roses are absolutely stunning.
Karl Gilgen — Google review
Had an awesome walk around Hamilton Lake Domain this morning. Some many people use this asset in the middle of Hamilton City. It’s so nice that most people will call out good morning as they walk past. The domain is great for all ages. There are cafes and plenty of toilets and facilities.
Great place to visit if you need a break while in the city.
Albert Jans — Google review
If you just bought a roasted pork, or pizza, or even kebab, then just somehow you don't want to eat it at the restaurant or home, I recommend you this place could become your place to eat peacefully (:
There're some bench with table at the deeper area of the park, but make sure it close to the tree because at summer it will be very hot
John Andreas Smith (Herr JohnSmith) — Google review
Lovely place to enjoy the Majestic view of the Hamilton lake and enjoy the walk around the circumference.
Free parking at the site. A decent Cafe with lovely options.
Walk around the place is amazing.
Vinay Karanam — Google review
Nice place to visit and hang out at the Cafe. The food at the Cafe is alright. Nice children playground 👏
Joanne Auga — Google review
4.6
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4.5
(571)
Ruakiwi Road, Hamilton Lake, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand
Hamilton Gardens is a large and elaborate botanical garden that features themed gardens from different parts of the world, as well as an impressive sculpture garden. The gardens are spread over 50 hectares southeast of the city centre and include a large park, cafe, restaurant, and extravagant themed enclosed gardens.
Lovely gardens. Well kept and lots of variety. Takes about 2hrs for a good wander around. All the various gardens are surprisingly large. A few grassy bits amongst the enclosed gardens good for a picnic. Entry is Free! You can pick up a map brochure for a couple of dollars.
James Thompson — Google review
One of if not the best garden i have visited worldwide, and I've easily been to over 50 through about 20 countries! Give a whole day to this trip as there us so much to explore and enjoy here. Beautiful differing gardens in a wide variety of themes with excellent info provided on all content.
John Phelan — Google review
A must visit spot for nature lovers. The sections are beautifully designed, and represent different cultures. There are signs posted with description, and i believe there are audio tours as well. Can take up to a good 3-4 hours to cover. Would highly recommend.
Akriti Sakhuja — Google review
A great place to visit mainly in spring and summer with flowers all around. Still good in winter to explore the enclosed gardens and spend quality time appreciating them. A great place to spend on a bright day for a picnic. Kids friendly area. Lot of parking in different parts of the garden. Best part it's free, but you can pay $2 to get a map which goes into the upkeep of the place.
Ankit Bhatnagar — Google review
We thoroughly enjoyed exploring these beautiful and unique gardens. I recommend researching and picking out the top five gardens you want to see. Get started as soon as they open and go to those gardens first. You will have many of them all to yourself, which is well worth it. Our favorites were the Italian, Japanese, Indian, Chinese, and Egyptian gardens. If you are limited on time, you should at least check those out. If you like taking photos, look for opportunities, and there are many, to use the doorways and other architecture to frame your subject. Have fun!
Christopher Walker — Google review
An awesome garden that is well laid out and maintained. So much to enjoy that you will hardly notice when couple of hours has passed. And you will need a minimum of 2 hours if you want to visit all sections in the garden. You can easily spend at least half a day here.
I didn’t take enough pictures and my pictures do not adequately capture the beauty of this garden.
This is must visit destination if you enjoy parks and gardens. Parking is free. There is no entrance fee. Please visit the gift shop to buy something in way of contribution.
Winnie ThePooh — Google review
Absolutely stunning! Exceeded all my expectations! Within Hamilton Gardens, there are several smaller gardens, each with a different theme. Every one of them were unique, beautiful and well maintained. My favourites were the Indian, Italian Renaissance and the Surrealist themed ones. One of my highlights here was seeing a really pregnant fish. I highly recommend giving this place a visit!
Mandie L. — Google review
If I was able to, I would give this place 20 stars.
There are separate gardens reflecting different parts of the world. It is really cool and so tastefully done. I can't imagine yhe amount of effort that goes into this place. Very well setup, presented and maintained.
Place is absolutely lovely, parking a breeze and well worth the hours you can spend here. You should go! ...... multiple times.
Jason Oneal — Google review
The attention to detail and the level of upkeep here at the gardens just blew me away. Another must see thing to do in the Tron (along with the classics musiem). Look forward to bringing my Mum for a look and the new exhibits will be awesome I'm sure.
Donate and get a map (there are some fixed ones around the place) so you can look at it when needed, you don't want to miss anything!
Aaron Povey (Azzman) — Google review
It's a beautiful place to go to with your friends, family or partner. Considered as the top most attraction of hamilton. It's definitely worth watching all the gardens inside. Thanks to the council, how good they have maintained it and have kept the entry free of charge. Could spend a couple of hours in there. One can lose its track of place as it's a huge garden. It's recommended to have a map with you when you visit.
Karan Joshi — Google review
A must visit in Hamilton. You could easily spend a few hours exploring the gardens.
We only had enough time for some of the enclosed gardens. They were outstanding. Kudos to the designers of these. Each different garden felt so unique and fitting their respective styles. Japanese garden was definitely my favorite. It was so peaceful. Right up until a couple of loads of families with kids showed up!
Jon Adams — Google review
My friend and I went to The Hamilton Garden's on an overcast day, it was the middle of winter and spent an hour looking around the gardens on show ...
..the theme gardens we viewed namely England, Italy, China, Japan, India were damper than usual but still looked picturesque in it's own way depending on the cultural heritage of the different countries, it was interesting to note the shrubbery and plant's on display from different regions...
We didn't have time to finish All the sights but have the intention of coming back to spend longer looking around another day, you really need to have time to spare to browse the different countries and gardens on show!
I would definitely recommend the visit if you want to spend a relaxed day out with a friend or family!
FOOKES RANGITEWIWINI — Google review
Quite a bunch of flowers despite it being the dead of winter!! It was fun walking into the different kinds of gardens 🥰 they were very true to form and theme! Will definitely come back and hopefully by then, all the maintenance and construction will be done :)
Mariel Tanchuling — Google review
Just such a stunning day, love a wee afternoon stroll here, always something new to see. Entry was free on this day, excluding guided tours. Great interactive listening posts, see the visitor center for this service. Excellent upkeep of the gardens, great place for families visitors and locals alike. Great parking at multiple entry points, Cafe, ice cream and coffee, playground.
Marie Swanson — Google review
Impressive variety of themed gardens. Not all in the absolute best shape, but clearly thought has been put into them and the themes are pretty fun, from cultural/historical to "style" to practicality (kitchen and herb gardens).
Was under construction when I went so I missed out on the visitor centre and probably a few other amenities but still a nice place, and if you're on the fence about it but still enjoy a nice stroll in some fun gardens I would recommend it. Check out my pictures for a taste.
Travis Ng — Google review
Such a lovely place to admire beautiful flowers! With ample free parking and a spacious picnic area, it's perfect for families or friends to gather. Unfortunately, we couldn't explore the entire garden due to time constraints. However, revisiting still allowed us to appreciate the garden's hidden beauty. Overall, a delightful experience worth returning for!
Evy Lee — Google review
Visiting Hamilton Gardens in New Zealand is like stepping into a living, breathing storybook of natural wonder and cultural tapestry. As you wander through the meticulously crafted enclosures, you're transported across time and space. The Japanese Garden of Contemplation offers a serene pause, with its minimalist beauty and tranquil water features whispering ancient Eastern philosophies. In contrast, the Italian Renaissance Garden is a bold celebration of symmetry and splendor, its fountains and statues a testament to human creativity.
Each garden is a universe unto itself, a delicate harmony of flora, architecture, and history. The Maori garden educates and inspires with its indigenous plants and art, connecting visitors to the land's original guardians. The Tudor Garden, with its knot garden and heraldic beasts, feels like a scene from a Shakespearean play.
Beyond the gardens, the staff are custodians of magic, their passion and knowledge as enriching as the gardens they tend. Even the humblest flower bed is cared for with a reverence that speaks volumes of their dedication.
Hamilton Gardens isn't just a place to visit; it's an experience to be absorbed, a journey through the very soul of beauty, culture, and nature. Five stars are inadequate for this Eden-like oasis in New Zealand. It's a place where every visit feels like the first, where each turn reveals a new secret, and where the world's beauty is celebrated in every leaf and petal.
Gary Mitchell — Google review
The Hamilton Gardens really are a beautiful and pleasant experience. They offer many different kinds of garden styles and the overall area is huge. Even if it was 5 NZD I’d easily pay the admission - but it actually is free!
Nathan — Google review
Was incredible to visit these gardens! Was surprised that it was free to enter. Car park was so full, but not too many people throughout considering, due to the size! Highly recommend for all ages! Just beautiful!
Karen D — Google review
What a beautiful place. I love it how there are different ares with different themes. Even the way you transition from 1 area to another is honestly something else. The place is huge so you do get a decent walk around while enjoying the landscape. Definitely worth the visit.
Andrew Tai — Google review
Completely unexpected. What a surreal experience.
A series of gardens, inspired from interesting time periods, and cleverly interconnected in such a way that they're hidden until you walk in.
Every new garden is a new WOW, all over again.
It feels criminal not paying an entry fee.
Andres Sepulveda — Google review
Great place, excellent gardens. Took my mum to test out a walker and it was great. The only issue was in the Chinese garden - not suitable for wheeled items past the bridge, as there's uneven cobbles and then stairs up to and back from the pagoda up the hill. Otherwise, fantastic, and we all enjoyed it.
Haldoor Honey — Google review
What an amazing place. Must go back again, hopefully in the Spring so I can see the rhododendrons and other spring flowers. So much to see. Love the separate "rooms" of different types of gardens. Well worth the drive.
Nigel Walmsley — Google review
Beautiful gardens and such a great place to take the family out. Highly recommended.
Saw quite a few families holding their little ones as it was a pretty long walk if your going to all the different sections. Recommend you take a pram or carrier. We had our 1 year old with us and thank goodness we thought to take the pram because it takes over an hour walk to go through all the different gardens.
Family enjoyed it. We were looking forward for the giant door but it was closed. Enjoyed all the other gardens though and kid’s favourite was the Ancient Egyptian Garden.
Nita. — Google review
One of the most beautiful gardens I've been too. Absolutely stunning. Each area is themed perfectly. Couldn't fault it. We spent 2 hours wandering around, could have easily spent more!!!
Roxanne Milne — Google review
With only limited time we decided to concentrate on the Enclosed Gardens. With the help of a mostly accurate $2 map and visitor guide we saw all 18 gardens.
They are in three groups of gardens, paradise, fantasy and productive with the Tropical Garden, in untropical Hamilton, in a group of its own.
My favourites are the Egyptian, Italian and Indian gardens.
The gardens and parking are free, if I were a local I would be visiting regularly to see the various gardens in each of the four seasons.
p b — Google review
Beautiful gardens to look at even if your not 💯 into gardens it's free and something to plod around and look at with friends or family, I went with my family and all the kids really enjoyed it. Free to enter, free parking and takes 1-2hours to look at longer if you really want to spend some time taking it in. You can get food and drinks in the cafe and there are things available to donate if you wish.
D Bakes — Google review
Absolutely beautiful. If you enjoy a thoughtfully curated selection of plants and greenery, this is definitely worth a visit. Each area of the garden is unique, calming, and pleasant. I particularly enjoyed the bamboo walkway.
Melvin Chien — Google review
The enclosed gardens are stunning. Definitely worth a few hours of your time, even if plants are not quite your thing. They close at a set time, so be sure to get there early enough. I would recommend 2+ hours, as there is so much to see. It is free to get in, but a $2 map sold at the information center is handy to have.
Lucia Stewart — Google review
More than just gardens, the enclosed gardens are curated scenes of each theme. Incredibly thought out and interesting. Lots of information provided too. Highly recommend
Eleanor Morris — Google review
These gardens are a worthwhile stop as they’re like no other.
Luckily the weather was excellent on the day we went and this helps.
It’s a good walking workout because there’s a lot to see and the whole place is very photogenic.
The cafe at the front is pretty good too.
Blossom Circle — Google review
Beautiful gardens, we loved the new Egyptian gardens exhibit. I would definitely recommend a spring visit, a lot of the flowers were dead as we visited in Autumn but that's only to be expected. Most of the gardens are perennial and absolutely stunning and well maintained.
Ji-Hyun A — Google review
One of my favourite places in the world! Always inspirational. The current construction work makes it less appealing at the moment but I’m sure it will be better than ever when it’s finished. The cafe is great too, good selection, quality food and reasonably priced
karen titulaer — Google review
Brilliant! Popped by with Mum to pass some time before our hotel check in and didn't know what to expect and we both had a great time!
Easy, flat walking, which mum really appreciated... I've never seen her take more photos. World def love to come back in the future when more of the gardens open.
Bridal Veil Falls, located in the Wairēinga Scenic Reserve near Raglan in the Waikato region of New Zealand, is a magnificent 55-meter plunge waterfall. It is the only one of its kind in the North Island and offers four lookout platforms for visitors to enjoy stunning views. The easily accessible track to the bottom of the falls takes about 15 minutes and is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
Worth it ! It’s about 8mins to the top of the falls from the car park, two other lookout points before hitting the bottom. Another 10min down the stairs to the bottom. Would recommend going down first, then slowly make your way back up on the stairs to the other lookout points as a breather. Tracks are well paved and maintained.
Dana Young — Google review
Stunning place. Well worth the drive and the walk. The initial walk to the top of the falls is around 10 minutes. If you want to get to the bottom (where the best views are), you have to desend around 250 steps. Keep in mind you have to get back up the stairs too. But for my family with mild fitness we managed fine. Great day trip, including a visit to Raglan.
Gemma Scott — Google review
Great large spaces to capture the view. Wear non slip shoes on rainy days. The wood and clay get slippery. 20 min round walk. Easy to navigate with good walkways. Stunning views. Such a nice bush walk as well. Plenty of signs.
Joy Jackson — Google review
For years I would visit Bridal Veil Falls in Yosemite, but this is the first time I visited Bridal Veil Falls in New Zealand. It is absolutely spectacular! What I love the most was the four viewing locations along the short but steep trail. These viewing points allows many angles to be captured by my camera and my mind. Highly recommend this stop on your journey.
Cree Putney — Google review
Visiting these falls is a trip definitely worth taking. Parking is free and there is good route access. It was without a doubt the finest. Secure for children, with great viewing platforms at the top, middle, and bottom. Stunning waterfalls that exceeded my wildest dreams. Observe rainbows at their most spectacular in the late afternoon. Going down is a breeze, but coming back is a bit of a challenge. There are, however, benches where you can sit down and relax if you're getting weary.
gaurav parekh — Google review
Simple car park about a ten minute walk to the falls then 5 mins down the steps to the bottom. Quite a pretty and grand falls with the little creek rolling off the cliff. A fair amount of signage talking about the history and the conservation of the area. Which can be seen as just outside the boundary it is straight back to farm land.
James Thompson — Google review
Absolutely stunning and well worth the drive and short walk to the lookouts. Multiple look outs so if you can't make it all the way down to view the waterfall you can view it from a few vantage points up top. Spectacular scenery all around!
Darren Masters — Google review
Easy walk to the top of the falls.
Lovely stone path running beside a stream & meandering through bush.
If you choose to continue to the bottom, it starts as a gentle slope before you get to the 261 stairs - there'd been rain the previous day & was large puddles on most steps needing to be avoided, be careful the wooden step surround is very slippery and the bush side muddy!
The view improved at every viewing platform and made us continue downward to the best view at the bottom. Unfortunately each seat was wet due to lack of sunlight on them & I felt the return trip up the stairs for 3-4 days afterwards!
Note: I'm not very fit - obviously.!!
Fiona — Google review
There are approximately 10 parking spots here, which tend to be mostly occupied. The entrance is easy to find. As you walk in from the entrance, you'll encounter shade from trees, pathways, and a river, but there's no need to worry; everything is straightforward. After a 5-minute walk, you'll reach a sign indicating the way to the viewing platforms. There are four viewing platforms, ascending from the highest to the lowest, and the round trip takes only 20 minutes. Each platform offers a different perspective of the waterfall, showcasing unique beauty. The shaded pathways and stairs make for a comfortable walk, and the air is refreshing. Sitting on the chairs and listening to the sound of the waterfall is incredibly relaxing; you might find it hard to leave. It's truly a great place for a leisurely walk during your vacation – the journey is easy, yet incredibly soothing!
Tiffany Wu — Google review
The 10 min to the falls across the rainforest is amazing 🤩
The fall itself is stunning: there's 260 steps down to the bottom of the fall but it is pretty easy.
This place is pretty popular, so don't expect to be all by yourself
Maud Cappelle — Google review
Love this place. Lovely walk by the stream through native bush to the top of the falls, then 261? Steps to the bottom. We'll worth the effort.
Sylvia McKenzie — Google review
This is free of cost. Majestic view of a wonderful waterfall. Small walking track leading to this view. No steps to climb or get down to view the waterfalls.
If you like to view it from the bottom, you need to climb down the stairs which is about 350.
Plenty of parking on the road.
Vinay Karanam — Google review
It’s a beautiful place to go. Very quiet, clean and scenic. The trek is not very difficult. There was no ticket required to enter this place.
radhika Khandelwal — Google review
What a little gem! A very unassuming roadside sign leads to this beautiful scene. Just a short walk to the top and a not-that-hard jaunt to the bottom for spectacular views that test the limits of your limited iPhone photography skills (see attached)
Geoff Burnhill — Google review
Nice 35 mins drive from Hamilton, and beautiful little forest walk..
hard to believe that the tiny little stream that you see when you start your walk, turns into such a majestic waterfall.. easy access, but the stairs might get slippery when wet..
Rajiv Rajusha — Google review
Absolutely gorgeous place to visit. Need to make sure you wear appropriate footwear. About 270 steps from top to bottom. Need to be relatively fit
Steven Newport — Google review
Beautiful! An easy walk upto the top view point. Around 300 odd steps down with mid and lower level to rest up if needed. The waterfall is beautiful. Great stop when in Raglan.
Smridhi Marwah — Google review
Nice place for walk and exploring bushes and tree areas. It's cold soothing environment. Fall is so nice . The view of nature is spectacular
Bhumi patel — Google review
Beautiful place to go for bush walk and enjoy the peace and quiet in the 🌳 🌲 🌴. There are 4 different levels to view the falls. There are well-built steps from top to the very bottom of the falls. Different stunning views at leavels, and it is really worth to go to the very bottom. Highly recommended 👌
Lily Liu — Google review
Beautifulllllll. Can be quite busy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get beautiful photos!
You can’t swim as it’s disrespectful to the Maori culture. Just a place to feel serene.
Four viewpoints: one right next to and above the fall, one above but a bit further, one midway down and the final at the bottom. It’s doable for the steepness, just a lot of stairs :)
Definitely a spot to experience if you love waterfalls!
Kayla Ortiz — Google review
Beautiful waterfalls, the walk is nice, many steps going back up, but manageable. My 7 and 9 years old walked back up without needing to stop 😅 Would love to visit again at different time of the day. It will surely give you all beautiful colors ❤️
Vivian Huang — Google review
Great location, lovely walk & impressive falls. Lots of steps to climb down to mid & bottom viewpoint, then of course up - only average fitness required. No steps to walk to 2 upper viewpoints. Only 1 negative - very busy with loud groups on a public holiday.
Marg Baird — Google review
Visiting the colossal waterfall was a sensory journey that unfolded in three breathtaking perspectives. From the top, the panorama was awe-inspiring as the cascading water seamlessly merged with the lush landscape, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.
The mid-view offered a unique vantage point, allowing me to witness the sheer force of the waterfall and appreciate the intricate details of its descent. The deafening roar and the mist that enveloped the surroundings added a thrilling dimension to the experience.
Finally, the bottom view provided an up-close encounter with the raw power of nature as torrents of water thundered down, creating a symphony of sound and a refreshing mist that invigorated the senses. Each viewpoint unveiled a different facet of the waterfall’s grandeur, making it an unforgettable journey through nature’s majestic wonders.
Sreeram Nattath — Google review
We arrived late in the day so there was essentially no one else around. The viewing platforms are well placed to give a good look of the falls even if you choose not to walk all the way down the steps.
Cool i-site. Wrote some postcards here and you can post them in little house mailbox inside
Christine Johnson — Google review
Such wonderful and welcoming ladies to greet you before your hobbiton adventure. Would come back just for them and the amazing cupcakes
Chris Baxter — Google review
Great place to visit you will need at least 4hr to view all the gardens , which are all very well kept. The surreal garden is magic
Chris Mcnally — Google review
The Matamata i-SITE Visitor Centre is part of New Zealand's official nationwide Visitor Information Network.
During my trip to Matamata, I was curious about the places of interest in Matamata. The staff members were helpful and were ready to offer advice when I enquired them about them, especially the Hobbiton Village.
Denis Toh — Google review
We skipped Hobbiton, but enjoyed the visitor's center and shoppe in Matamata.
Woosi Wildwood — Google review
Good I site with a nice souvenir shop. You can purchase Hobbiton tour ticket here as well
Leon Su LS — Google review
Stunning, magical and beautiful 😍 get a job here and be a hobbit 😀
Madan Mohan — Google review
Just had to stop and capture this moment. Now and again Matamata offers these moment's to put a smile on my face. My easiest " Training " day ever 😉
Mike Brechelt — Google review
The ladies at Mata Mata i-site have been absolutely incredible during my stay in town! Super nice and helpful, you made all the difference making my life a lot easier. A special thank you to Gay ❤️
Giulia Vendra — Google review
It was nice taking photoshoots around this place. The shop also had lots of interesting items, we spent a bit of time here even though the place wasn’t very big.
Missie Vina — Google review
We came into the centre with our family and friend to sort a visit to the South Island. Gay was so helpful and knowledgeable! We came away with flights, car hire and a hotel booked for our first night. We really can’t thank her enough she was fantastic. A absolute true credit to the team. Thank you Gay!
Sue Rose — Google review
Nice house, informativ. Things to buy. Lovely place
Maria Almquist — Google review
If you don't go to Hobbitton, this is the closest you can get to the filmset.
Frank Andersen — Google review
People was polite, nice, gentle and really helpful. We were a lot of people but they took care of each one of us, answering questions, ( we didn't even have to wait for or passes or anything). The experience was just amazing. If you like the Lord of the Rings saga this is a MuST DO.
-The tour guide was from London it self so it added a lot to the experience - Just perfect. Definitely I'll do it again.
Fiorella Antonietti — Google review
Really nice that the visitors center also looks like a hobbit house, not hard to be haha. Lot's of amazing trinkets and souvenirs that you can buy but also just admire. Nice beginning and/or end of the tour. You can get a nice cup of coffee on the other site of the visitor center. There is also an interesting welcome sign close to the visitors center.
Elsa R van der Sluis — Google review
One of the best, or if not the best looking i-site building in New Zealand. Uniquely built with a touch of Hobbiton architecture. One who has not been to Hobbiton yet can see a bit of a preview already. Close to restaurants and souvenir shops, it's strategically located.
Ecl Z — Google review
The staff was amazing!!!!!!! Thanks for all your help. You guys really care about your visitors, and that make their experience more enjoyable and unique. Idk the name of the front young lady on Nov 17 in the morning (sorry I didn't get your name), but THANK YOU, you definitely make all my go-to The Shire efforts completely worth it!!!!
Blue Spring (Te Waihou Walkway), Whites Road entrance offers a mesmerizing experience with its stunning blue and green water, surrounded by hillsides and regenerating bush. The well-maintained track provides photo opportunities and a chance to spot trout in the clear spring water. The walk, approximately 9km round trip, takes about 4 hours including stops. While some parts can be narrow and there are steps, it's an easy walk overall.
We were able to experience the beautiful trail the day before it closed for the next year! It was so peaceful and incredible hike! It took us over 2 hours to walk to the end and back!
Would definitely visit and recommend to anyone in the area!
KaIndy Global — Google review
Has a very big car park area has toilet and tables, the walk along the river is on a well maintained track goes in and out of cover, the water is beautiful crystal clear spring water and very cold, there is a shallow area of water to swim in after your walk near the bridge. There is a toilet 1km into the walk, there are also 2 sets of steps very easy though. There is another toilet not long before you get to the other end of the walk (Blue Springs Parking area)
Leon Khan — Google review
Great walk, about 4.5 kms one way. Following along the Blue Springs water flow. Stunning colours in the water especially with the water being crystal clear and very cold. Some beautiful native bush and bird life. Well worth the walk. Toilets area posted along the walk
Barry Hudson — Google review
This is a wonderful, easy walk, ideal for families. The walk along the stream especially on a fine day is as refreshing to the soul as the water is pure. A short but beautiful stroll through nature that shows just how pretty NZ is.
Noel Munford — Google review
Awesome place, if you go in the good weather, very nice view while walking along the river: cows, pukeko birds. There are Big parking lot, toilets and picnic tables.
Olya Smirnova — Google review
This place is wonderful. Entry is free. If you want to go around it takes 4km (1hour) there and 4km (1hour) back. Next week they will close it for a year. We were lucky that we could see this beauty 🧡
Bernadett Kurcz — Google review
Beautiful spot we went to the walkway end which is off the main road. Plenty of parking and the walkway to spring is 800 metres. But. A couple kilometres from the other end. Would class the walk as easy.
Rebecca KEENAN — Google review
It's a long but not so challenging walk with beautiful blue water views at the end. Just be careful not to go on a rainy day because the track gets really muddy and slippery. We saw a lot of people slipping.
Faiza Abrar — Google review
A lovely ~9km walk (there and back), took us about 4 hours including stopping for a short picnic lunch. Clear track and easy track, some parts can be a bit narrower and there are some steps so not very pram/wheelchair friendly. Be sure to bring enough drinking water for the entire walk.
Gillian Chong — Google review
Really nice walk along the river. Beautiful scenery and nice glimpses of the crystal clear water. An easy hike - but several muddy spots and exposed roots.
Emily Guile — Google review
This is a Hidden Gem around Putaruru and really a Wonderful Walk.Gets super busy and at the moment,They are upgrading one of the carpark areas.You have to do the full loop and park on only one side at the moment but really nice place to see 😍
Stu 11 (Stusta) — Google review
Most beautiful walk I’ve done in Aotearoa!
It was an easy walk throughout with a few steep parts but it was easily manageable.
I would recommend wearing shoes that can get dirty since the trail was muddy after a couple of rainy days. Definitely would go on a sunny day so the water is more shiny and the colors are more vibrant.
evelyn ¿ — Google review
Beautiful place. Walk about 5 km one way, took around 3-4 hours. The water is crystal clear. Weekends are very busy.
Akash Parmar — Google review
Very stunning nature!! Make a stop here at your next visit to Hamilton. We also encountered cows on our walk which was lovely. The water wasn’t very turquoise but it still looked very beautiful. It’s such a peaceful easy walk. It’s also not crowded when we came.
Nadej T-Y — Google review
Beautiful walking track along the river. The area is quite flat with a. Couple of small hills and stairs. This track is suitable for kids and adults. The river is very clear and you can bring your own inflatable water float! There are plenty of parking and public toilets available.
Conservation area with 3 enclosures containing wetlands, old-growth forests & native birdlife.
Such an amazing place, it’s an easy walk for families, although didn’t spot all the native birds listed, it feels magical walking in the bush listening to their singing knowing that they are out there. I didn’t know it’s such fun trying to locate the birds with their voices and sometimes they fly right next to you which is a welcomed surprise. Strongly recommend this place, the staff are friendly and I reckon the work they do here is awesome
Eric NZ — Google review
Really impressive walk through the bush. Liz, our volunteer tour guide was very knowledgeable.
It was a bit like jurassic park with the fence around the perimeter. The Flora and Fauna was just amazing. To sit and listen to all the, strange to me bird song was amazing. Highly recommend taking the accompanied tour. An excellent experience.
Eddie Barclay — Google review
This is a really well-done project, doing so much for NZ's birdlife. What an amazing accomplishment to produce such a long predator-free fence! We did not leave enough time to warrant the entrance fee, but will certainly back to hear more amazing birdsong!
Mark Windsor — Google review
We spent close to a day walking around. Heard lots of birds snd saw z few too. The north island robin was a delight, always along the path, seeing if we would kick up anything interesting to eat. Wonderful watching kaka at feeding stations. Saw gecko and weta, Bellbirds, tomtits and fantails. Heard wood pigeons. A lovely day out if you enjoy walking and looking in the nz bush.
Jaqui Smith — Google review
We arrived at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari in the afternoon. We could see predator deterrent fences along the bushline when parking in the car park. First impressions were "Wow, look at the massive nature reserve". The lady on duty this afternoon was awesume and very informative.
We watched the video on how to use the double doors etc and loved the Huia in the foyer. We took our swipe cards and set off to enter the Southern End Enclosure. We went thru the shoe cleaning apparatus and quietly entered. We were in Sanctuary Mountain from just after 3pm til dusk just after 6pm. We managed to do the Rata, Rimu, Nika and Ponga Tracks, but not the Wairere Track. We heard lots of bird song but not alot of birds. We saw fantail/piwakawaka, the saddle back/tieke, a few weta's in the veiwing boxes attached to some trees, also some koura in the creek.
We would loved to have had a visit from a Kākā up the Tower that gives you a birds eye perspective, but as you are not allowed to feed the Kākā's we had nothing to entice a photo opportunity. So we didn't see any of these beautiful parrots.
Annie Hackett — Google review
What a place of paradise, no joggers, no gym workouts or crowds. We were greeted by staff who wanted us to be there. This is a heavenly place set apart for the welfare of our native flying friends. At times the birds come to you so you can take photos, there are plenty of loop tracks and attractions such as a tower to climb and averies.
I will definetely be going again to do the mountain trek.
Jared Pickles — Google review
A really great sanctuary, with some incredible birdlife. If you’re slow and quiet enough you may get a little show from the Piwakawaka.
Jack Howe — Google review
You think you are wandering over a huge area and then you look at the map and learn that the kilometers you walked are a tiny fraction of the sanctuary. Amazing. Watch out for the kakas. As usual they are not joking around and will walk right up to you for a handout. Don't be tempted by their friendly ways!
Karen Toast Conger — Google review
Fantastic and helpful staff.
It was raining when I went ..so truly a rainforest experience! $27 for an adult. Lots of birdsong and amazing native forest!
Jo Dancing — Google review
Go on, drive out there and have a wander around. It's a nice walk through the bush and you are doing something for conservation
Philip Smith — Google review
Beautiful place, so peaceful and with various paths depending on your fitness level and motivation. I did Te Tonga to Pukeatua Saddle, then back via the Wairere traverse - a bit of clambering, but totally worth it for the company of birds and trees.
Phoebe Grigor — Google review
Excellent experience. One of the world's largest pest free enclosures with 47km of maintained pest proof fencing. The walks are amazing - listen to the bird life as it was 100 years ago, amongst beautiful established native bush. There's a walk for everyone regardless of fitness level. You may even get a glimpse of the snowy mountains in the distance, from the car park. Bring warm clothing if visiting in winter!
Royce Pedersen — Google review
Inspirational experience of the magical ancient untouched natural world inside the world’s largest secure inland predator free sanctuary. 100% Pure Kiwi Magic
Don Scarlet — Google review
Wow wow wow ... I am ashamed to say this was my first visit here. Our company held a 'Bush Boardroom' Strategic Planning day with Nature and Nosh's lovely Kylie hosting us.
The walk in transcended any expectation I may have held. The forestry was close to prehistoric and is completely untouched. The birdlife was a delightful window into rare species not usually seen or heard. Our day was serenaded by the Saddlebacks laughing like kookaburras and the delightful North Island Robins bouncing around our feet. The observation tower that took us into the tree canopy was magic. You truly have to be here to appreciate the 'feel' and it is on Hamiltons doorstep!.
Nature and Nosh was sincerely a 'completely exceeding any expectation' experience - Kylie's setup, catering and hosting was second to none. Every one of our group enjoyed every minute of this day and she was so right! - the bush invigorates and refreshes - what a wonderful equation to make such an important day the absolute best it could be!
Nikki Close — Google review
Great walks and reserve in what is now pristine North Island forest. Jake's 90- minute guided tour of the Southern Enclosure was fantastic. A must for every tourist and NZ folk to see Kaka and Tieke in the wild.
Peter Symington — Google review
Really well laid out trails with good info on the flora. We were lucky enough to see quite a few of the native birds and even get some pictures.
Lisa Harris — Google review
Very friendly guides, full of knowledge and passionate about what they do. We were lucky enough to see different types of native birds, including a very inquisitive Kaka (but they are wild, so keep that in mind when you visit. The guides can't make them appear on demand!)
The Otorohanga Kiwi House is a wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand that offers visitors the chance to see the country's national bird, the kiwi, along with other native wildlife such as weka and kea. The sanctuary also houses the tuatara, an ancient reptile species. Visitors can observe active kiwi birds throughout the day and view rare species in nocturnal settings. The environment allows for up-close encounters with the birds during feeding time.
Excellent bird park, friendly staff. Unfortunately Kiwis are wild animals and spotting one can be tough. We did see a kiwi, luckily. You need to see yhe duck called "thunder"
Matthew Ratcliffe — Google review
It was nice to be able to see all of the local birds in New Zealand. Getting to see the kiwi in their dark room felt a little bit like playing Where's Waldo. They made us wait a bit, but they were worth the anticipation. The guide at the front was ridiculously funny and super friendly. Only downside is that multiple areas of the park were closed for construction, which limited us to far fewer exhibits
Christine Becker (Chris) — Google review
A lovely home to many of NZ's native animals - birds and reptiles. There are 2 kiwi enclosures; it is dark inside so allow your eyes to adjust to darkness before attempting to spot them - they might be hiding in their nesting boxes (there's a screen which shows live footage so you can still see them!)
Ps. There is a also a mini foodtruck cafe before entry with coffee and homemade savouries and sweets!
Daisy Lin — Google review
I'm usually skeptical of private zoos, but these folks are engaged in substantial conservation and education work! The staff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable, and they take amazing care of the animals in their care. Very much worth a visit!
Mara Page — Google review
It’s a small but really really nice place. You will feel animals are happy to live here, we saw some staffs feed eels and birds, they will call some birds name which is so cute. I feel they run this small business like a home. And also, we were very lucky that we saw two kiwis!!! Just stood right there and walked careful and slowly to find something to eat!
If you want to enjoy a relaxing and peaceful day I will recommend here definitely 👍
Karen Gu — Google review
Really lovely staff, very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the animals. We met some beautiful birds with great personalities. It is a very sweet small community and we were so happy to support their efforts with our visit.
Ashleigh Johnston — Google review
Best Kiwi bird viewing to date, and I've seen a dozen or so enclosures to date. The park is cool, get right up to the animals....fun for the kids too as the some of the birds are well adjusted to human presence.
Park is currently under minor renovation, but still quite good.
Andrew Malkhasian — Google review
It's a bit of fun. Walked around the bird park where the birds liked to play hide a seek LOL. Saw some eels but were not lucky enough to spy a Tuatara.
We didn't see the Kiwis except on the monitor. We stayed for the guides talk about Kiwis and found it very informative and quite amusing at times.
Kwi house offered a return visit on our ticket, so we came back at the advised time the next morning and were lucky enough to see a Kiwi foraging... was an amazing experience and would highly recommend.
Shane Jackson — Google review
Very neat place to see kiwis and learn more about the birds of New Zealand! One of the keepers gave us an impromptu lesson as we arrived since he happened to be at the desk, then an excellent staff member inside chased us down to let us know the kiwis had come closer to the glass. The eels were shockingly fun to see too, the biggest one still has me wide eyed!
Sara Pianavilla — Google review
I did not see any kiwis sadly but I learned a lot about them. And it really feels like this place and the staff cares a lot. Doesn't feel like a tourist attraction.
This place has a lot of birds, gecko and other animals to watch and to learn about.
At 2:30pm, we watched the eels getting fed which was interesting.
I bought a few things from the gift shop because at least, I know the profits will serve a great cause!
The staff is pretty great and fun. Keep up the work!
Cy — Google review
This is the place to visit if you’d like to see the kiwi in real life! They are surprisingly fast and bigger than I imagined, and it was really cool to see them in person after watching documentaries about them. They also have a lots of other native birds, including the fantail, which was interesting to see. Would definitely recommend.
Thor — Google review
A beautiful sanctuary filled with rescued birds. The staff re very friends and the birds, reptiles and insect seem very happy and content. It is a rare sight to see many of these species up close and it was a great way to spend a a day.
Millennial Makes — Google review
Great experience. Ticket guarantees repeat entry to allow you to see the kiwi if you miss first day. You can also come and go on the day. Easy walk around. Plenty for kids to look, search and find. Lovely friendly staff. Park opposite for lunch time break.
Lianne Milne — Google review
The staff were incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. The kiwi keeper talk was very informative and amusing. We felt very lucky to spot 3 kiwi on our visit - with a lot of staring in the dark, checking the live-cam monitors, and LOTS of patience.
Kiwi are only awake 4-6 hours a day so it's a bit of luck whether you see them. Watch the camera monitors and as soon as you see them leaving the burrow, run into the nocturnal house to spot them coming out! Check the logs too because apparently kiwi like sleeping in there. The keepers are really helpful, and if you ask, they'll point out the location of the burrows and help you try to spot them. The live-cams are great - even if you don't see the kiwi in person, they might be digging and hopping around inside the burrows. I believe the ticket allows entry the next day as well so you could try again if you don't initially see one.
We enjoyed exploring the rest of the park in between stints of kiwi-searching. Some parts were closed for construction when we went, but there was still lots to see. What really stood out to me about this experience (aside from how incredibly cute the kiwi are) was how amazing the keepers are. You can tell they really care about the animals there and want to share that with visitors :)
Michelle Feng — Google review
Cool place, but only 5 kiwis on display in the whole park, so if they are sleeping, you can't actually see any Kiwi. Kiwi are only active around 4-6 hours/day. The lady working told us they are most active around 1-2pm there. I was told they have about 20 more in the breeding house, but you can't see them. They do have an open aviary you can see some birds up close and several geckos. They are doing construction so several areas were closed.
Tara Johnson — Google review
The member of staff who did a 3:30pm talk on the Kiwi's really made it for us, nice to see someone so passionate about conservation and sustainability! He showed us the Kiwi having a meal and it was perfectly right next to us through the glass, he also gave us lots of fun facts about Kiwis and the personalities of Kiwis they have on the conservation.
All this with the added bonus that they release the Kiwis back into the wild to help with repopulation!
Brady — Google review
This place was one of our highlights during our visit in New Zealand. We learned a lot about kiwi's and other animals. We actually saw a kiwi bird in its natural habitat. They are extremely rare and really beautiful. I uploaded many pictures of this fabulous sanctuary!
Cree Putney — Google review
What. A. Place.
Just go.
The staff are enthusiastic and so happy to share their knowledge. The park itself is a gold mine of beautiful animals and trees to keep you shaded. The ticket (on this occasion) could get us in two days in a row, and we took total advantage of that and saw others do the same.
The souvenirs are priced lower than in other attractions so stock up and support this amazing little place.
The car park has picnic benches if you bring your lunch as there is no cafe, although ice creams are available.
The kiwis, being nocturnal, are kept in moonlight enclosures so it can take a bit of patience to see them... But totally worth it and so much better than parading them out in the day.
Just the best!
Jessica Eyre — Google review
An amazing place where you find live kiwis, a lot of information about them and also some stuffed kiwis to imagine their actual size. And they are much bigger than I had imagined them to be.
Live kiwis are hard to spot, because the animals are active during dusk and their living environment is darker. So don't be disappointed when you don't see them in the bright daylight.
What I found especially nice about this place is an option to touch real feathers of 3 different types of kiwi. The feathers are available as samples glued to paper and the staff working at the place will show them to you after you ask.
Besides kiwis, the place has a small zoo with other native birds and lizards of New Zealand.
Jana Krištanová — Google review
Kiwi house is great to see the birds being active, a few other native birds throughout the aviaries too. Lovely staff. Attendance time 1-2 hours
Sionainne Costello — Google review
Great place to visit if you are interested about the New Zealand Kiwi bird, other bird species and lizards.
It’s quite large space would take about 1 and half hours to do. They have Kiwi talks which will teach you about the Kiwi life.
Kiwis live in the dark rooms so if you failed to spot one, the staff will help you to see one.
Also, you can buy some cool souvenirs from the ticketing office.
Eranga Dissanayaka — Google review
Finally managed to see a Kiwi with me own eyes. If you can't spot one in the nocturnal area you can ask the staff and they'll help you. Unfortunately one outside area was under construction/ re-modeling.
If you enjoy watching all kind of different birds, this is a good place for you.
Daniel Schmerbach — Google review
Didn’t manage to see the kiwi’s but the benefit provided by the attraction is that you can go in twice with each ticket purchased
Ashwin Karthigayan — Google review
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4.0
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20 Alex Telfer Drive, Otorohanga 3900, New Zealand
The Ruakuri Cave is a subterranean wonder that offers guided tours through an impressive underground cave system filled with mesmerizing rock formations, waterfalls, and glowworms. Legend has it that the cave got its name from a Maori boy who was attacked by wild dogs near its entrance. The cave's engineering and natural structure make it accessible to visitors in wheelchairs.
90 minutes guided tour, fascinating and beautiful every step. Guides extremely experienced and knowledgeable, as well as entertaining. Lovely place to experience nature.
Melinda Mitchell — Google review
This 90-minute guided tour was at a reasonable price and was extraordinary to see all the different types of cave formations. I also saw a few gloworms, which was interesting. Our guide was funny and gave us some info about this place. I'd prefer this more than the Gloworm caves tour
Daniel P — Google review
Just want to say thank you to Joel our tour guide who was knowledgeable in every part of the ruakuri cave today, top guy also to the rest of the tour guides and the great work you do. I'll be back for the black water rafting next time, and the other cave in the boat.
Dion Anderson — Google review
This is a really great cave tour. Would recommend to anyone.
Lee Churchman — Google review
What an unforgettable experience at this spectacular and deep cave!
Ruakuri cave tour is a must and recommended to see the stalactites and stalagmites that were formed millions of years ago. Never expect the tour to be so interesting and informative. Thanks to our fantastic and friendly tour guide for such a good explanation about every part of the cave!
The starting point of the visit was trilling! We had walked through a 15m descend spiral staircase to the cave which was so well built and designed! The cave entrance was used by Māori as a burial ground. The interior of the cave is beautifully lit up with different colors and glowworms can be spotted in this cave!
At some point in the cave, we came across a few people who participate in the black water rafting. I guess it is a scary excursion in such a dark area and wet area.
Don’t miss the opportunity to visit this cave in NZ!
Ting Ting — Google review
We drove from Taupo to Waitomo via mangakino, stunning scenery!
The Ruakura guided walking tour is a must!
Mitch our guide was knowledgeable, easy to communicate with and comedic too. All in all a great guy who is passionate about what he does.
The caves, wow. Prepare yourself for a cathedral like experience with breathtaking formations, underground rivers and streams.
The walking is easy due to the excellent safe walkways that are wheelchair friendly.
The Glow worms were the icing on the cake.
We did the loop track via Kuratau/Turangi and again wow, the scenery didn't disappoint.
We have the day out a solid 10/10
Stu Hastings — Google review
Absolutely amazing experience and very different from the Waitomo cave. It’s a walking tour with a very knowledgeable guide and talks not only about the glow worms but the rock formations in the cave. It’s also a very intimate experience where you get to look at the glow worm up close and personally, learning about their life cycle and take ample pictures.
Jonsson Liu — Google review
Cave, stalactites, stalagmites, glow-worms, greenery, waterfall, rivers, bridges, it has all of them. Worth a visit. Need sturdy shoes, might also need mud/waterproof shoes.
Ava Fu — Google review
I came for the glow worms but had no idea I'd be learning so much! Our guide Max was exceptionally friendly, knowledgeable, and an all around charming guy leading us along the way. We had a large group but he made sure to engage with everyone individually which was nice. Stunning cave formations, magical views of the glow worms, and lots of rich history about the Maori people.
Absolutely phenomenal -- add this to your travel itinerary!
Also, be sure to take the 30 minute stroll on the Ruakuri Bushwalk just across the street.
W — Google review
Absolutely amazing and worth every cent.One of the longest caves in the area and
Known as Den of Dogs first discovered guarding the caves 500 years ago.
Spiral staircase on entry leads you to the many levels in the cave.There are no stairs and the safe walkways are suitable for wheelchairs.
The guide is very knowledgeable and comical as he guides you through the outstanding and very fragile formations.
Underground streams and waterfalls lead you to up close encounters with glow worms but make sure you cover your mouth to protect these fragile creatures.
Photos are allowed in this cave.
Highly recommend.
C J — Google review
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Waitomo Caves 3988, New Zealand
I'll never travel to Wellington without this trip planner again
The Glowworm Cave is a natural tourist attraction in New Zealand that houses a colony of magical creatures, known as glow worms. At the cave's guided tour, visitors experience impressive stalactites and stalagmites before descending into a large cavern known as the Cathedral. The highlight of the tour comes at the end when guests board a boat and swing off onto the river accompanied by glowing worms.
It was a wonderful experience especially for kids. Well guided tour with a sense of humour which is a bonus.
It well be better if you gonna book at the center instead of calling them on their customer hotline number.
Recommendable for family with kids. You can clearly see the glow worms inside the cave while riding the boat. Quite fascinating.
No videos or camera allowed inside the cave.
Jeddah B — Google review
Wonderful experience, Guides to tell about the cave and give instructions. Good service. Restaurant available with in the permises.Boat ride was exciting with pitch black surrounding😬 and glow worms😍. Shops inside with collections. But too costly.
Vinesh Kondoor — Google review
An excellent place to visit and admire nature and what all it can do. The cave formations are incredible to look at. The guides are exceedingly knowledgeable about the glow worms themselves as well as the caves. The history of the discovery and control of the caves was also interesting to learn about.
Mark Johnson — Google review
Great experience! These folks are excellent when it comes to meeting the needs of their patrons. We accidentally purchased tickets on the wrong day, so we tried our luck and drove to the ticket office and they were able to transfer our 3 tickets on the spot and the tour started in just a few minutes after that. While we truly appreciated that, the amazing experience didn’t stop there- our guide, Charlie, was knowledgeable and have an interesting tour of the caves. She sang a Māori waiata for us in the cathedral area of the caves and it gave me goosebumps! Thanks Charlie!
Silvana Oderisi — Google review
I hadn't seen glowworms in over 50 years since I did a class field trip from Orewa up to a private farm near Puhoi, so this was a special blast from the past for me. More fantastic for my companion as he had never seen glowworms. I especially like the pupae cave where the larvae had their food catchers dangling. Shame that pictures cant be taken, but I totally understand how that would be a massive problem. Well worth doing to see something you may have never seen before. Our guide also sang to us in the echo cave and she was very good.
Graham Tranter — Google review
Visited Waitomo caves as a group of 8 today (Sunday)- 1pm tour. Our guide Justin was fantastic!! Very knowledgeable, fun, interesting and had the most amazing voice!! Beautiful local song sung by Justin at the cathedral part of the cave, we thoroughly enjoyed it the sound effects.
He was also very kind and attentive to our elderly mum who had difficulty walking esp in the dark parts of the cave.
Beautiful cave system and fascinating glow worms.
Highly recommend visiting these caves if in the area.
Carol Pereira — Google review
Unforgettable place. Amazing tour of cave and glowworms. Booked online but found not so busy. Fortunately toured with a samll group and a nice guide. Easy to find and plenty of parking...
Leon Lu — Google review
Fun-filled filled experience! Family and friends had a very enjoyable time here. Very informative - the tour guide was well rounded and knew his job so well. Safety is always a priority. He even rendered a song for us - cool dude. Initially my grandchildren were hesitant and scared due to darkness however they totally forgot about it and enjoyed the adventure
Arlene Barraca — Google review
Beautiful park and tour. The guide was very knowledgeable and had a beautiful singing voice. We took the short tour, which was great, but now I wish we'd taken the longer one
heath bates — Google review
The caves themselves are not overly impressive if you visited some before. What makes it different it’s glowworms- luminescent insects living there. Tiny lights covering the ceiling of the caves make it really magic, especially during the boat trip. The overall tour is around 40 minutes and boat trip roughly 5-10 minutes. It’s pity that you cannot take pictures inside
darius savolskis — Google review
Loved every moment. It was great to learn the history and how the caves were used in the past by Māori but also how it was cared for. Loved the scientific history as well and how the caves were formed but more so looking at the beautiful glow worms, it was truly an experience. Last but not least our tour guide Christian was awesome! The kids loved everything about our trip to the caves.
Rachel Schmidt — Google review
Arrived at 1pm with no booking during school holidays-we were hoping to get to all 3 caves but they managed to fit us into 2. All the staff were super friendly-cafe food was yummy and quick, considering there was a large group ahead of us.
There was a minor mix up with our first cave booking but they fit us onto the next tour and we still made our second tour with plenty of time. Brooke and Blake in particular were lovely.
And let me tell you, I’ve been to many caves in the US, France, and Australia and these are AMAZING. Definitely coming back for the 3rd cave next time we are in NZ :)
Yes it’s a bit pricy but I hope the employees are paid well; it’s well organised and clean and they explain their measures to maintain the caves responsibly.
Diane Damaskin — Google review
The caves are just majestic and the local Maori guides do provide lots of information about the caves and their traditional values! Really worth a visit. Feels like staring at a night sky full of stars.
Malav Patel — Google review
We had an excellent guide T a young male (hiatus name Chris). Our group that we were with however weren’t so good, with the disturbances and doing the opposite to what they were told. Would definitely go back however would be looking at a more private tour.
Damian Lai — Google review
A unique experience. Our guide was wonderful. My highlight was our guides singing and the glow worms, of course.
Betty Damianidis — Google review
One of the most famous caves in nz and normally will pop up if you search for glowworms caves . It was a great experience and i will recommend to most of the people but few things before you get there .
1- The ticket price is 75 dollars and the tour supposed to be for an hour but we were done in 30 mins . This included a boat ride which will be the best part for most but it’s only like 5 mins .
2- They are very strict with the photos and videos so you can’t click anything . Only towards the end you will be allowed at the exit .
3) the cafe is nice and if you doing other caves , get your food here because others don’t have much option.
4) I found the gift shop ridiculously expensive but they do have lots of things in there .
5) Now most important part specifically for tourist and people visiting from far . I would highly recommend to take the combo package with ruakuri caves because the other tour is 90 minutes and has way more value for money . You are also allowed to use your camera there. Combo price (158 dollars )
From Auckland it will take you 2-230 hours to reach and the drive is split between highway and scenic route between little farms .
Devesh sharma — Google review
The Waitomo Caves attraction is interesting and well worth a visit. While the caves are beautiful, the star attraction is the glowworms, you will learn about the history of the caves and about the geology of the region as well. Be prepared for low light and some steps as you wind your way through the caverns. The boat ride itself is about 20 minutes, but Glow worms can be seen throughout the cave.
There is also a cafe and gift shop.
Ann Baity — Google review
The caves were amazing, not what you would expect at all! They were huge, with massive caverns that have ceilings that glow like the stars! The grand finally- hop on a small boat INSIDE the caves, and traverse on the underground river through a "portal" back to the land of light!
Ron Hoseman — Google review
It was a very good experience. There is a tour guide to explain everything before stepping onto the boat. The cave is very dark and quiet, where you can feel the peace.
I visited during winter, and it was cold. You'll see all these glowing worms forming some sort of starry sky in the "ceiling" of the cave.
Please note that if you have booked a specific time slot, ensure you arrive here punctually.
Coby Khor — Google review
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39 Waitomo Village Road, Waitomo Caves 3977, New Zealand
Great Museum and well worth the visit - will be going back again as there was so much to see and take in. Really liked the way it was laid out, lots going on in each of the exhibits. Could explore the history of the Army and how it was formed, some great exhibits too.
Cafe and Gift shop are worth it, good prices and plenty to choose from. Food and drink nice too.
Jonathan Bones — Google review
Haven't been inside recently but a couple of time when I was young, it's a must if not been before. Great place for a break on your road trip. The tanks are fun for the kids to play on outside they there are picnic tables for lunch or a tasty hot beverage.
Vaun Harper — Google review
What a great place. It's hard to imagine how much inventory they have regarding military items. The history that is shared in their displays is wonderful. Would highly recommend a visit.
Ronald Deraas — Google review
Absolutely amazing and well laid out👏 Explains all wars in detail and picture's. Entry price really good and well worth it...a must must see and a great place to take the kids and learn the history 👍
Gigi — Google review
It is really worth to stop here on your way heading south. Admin fee charged if you go inside the display area. The outside tanks and the sculptures are free to visit and take photos. There is plenty of parking in front or at the back. Toilets inside the building are well maintained.
Lily Liu — Google review
Very educational, displays put together very well, great array of products in the gift shop. Disappointed that there was no mention of the 21st Battalion, as my father served with it, but guess that is because of the display at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
susan Hopkinson — Google review
This was a great place to visit. It had a bit of something for all the family. The kids enjoyed the activities that were available and particularly enjoyed dressing up in the Kids HQ. We even saw some adult having a got too. It bought to life all that our Soliders and service animals past and present do. This place has a strong Mana about it. We highly recommend stopping at The Mess cafe on your way out with good food and friendly staff.
Rosie White — Google review
Must a visit, very educational. The museum is very well organised, super clean, and big. We went there as it is my son's birthday wish to see the National Army Museum. He really enjoyed his time there. ♥️
E A Jose — Google review
Small museum but worth an hour. NZ has a proud military history that's well represented here. Nice cafe and gift shop. Very well maintained, some of the exhibits have been here since I was a kid 45 years ago, and they are still in good condition.
R Daysh — Google review
Long way to travel for is, and we expected about an hour or so in the museum. We actually spent 4 hours in the museum and paid the extra $4 / person for a guide who took us round. Whilst there isn't loads of big kit, there's some Bofors, three or 4 tanks, and my favourites, a universal carrier and 6lb anti-tank gun, and a 25lb artillery and quad from WWII. A relatively small bit well thought out and presented museum with a decent cafe too.
Jason Keen — Google review
A definite must visit museum this part of New Zealand.
Give yourself at least 2 hours to enjoy the exhibition and to take in what these brave, ordinary men who did extraordinary things did for you and me.
Very well thought of and executed display with the timeline as it should be.
Definitely worth a return visit.
Chris Kreuz — Google review
Worth visit with kids. So much to learn about past. Reasonable pricing and have a cafe and souvenir store in side the building.
Madawa Atthudawe — Google review
Well spent money. Really nicely made museum with interesting facts. The kids playing area was a bonus and we had so much fun there.
Family pass cost $35 which we feel was pretty cheap compared to other museums.
You can't sit or jump in any placed vehicles but it was cool to watch. We will definitely come again.
Barbora Hammer (Barb) — Google review
Beautifully commemorated NZ army involvement in WWI, WWII, Vietnam and Iraq. Lots of exhibits to see. Good place to show the young generation.
Michael Antonios — Google review
4.6
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4.5
(235)
State Highway One &, Hassett Drive, Waiouru 4861, New Zealand
A hitherto unknown gem in Whanganui, this is the only public elevator built inside a hill in the world. 24 or so stories down to the bottom. Then there's the 200m+ long tunnel that leads to the rivers edge. Opened for the first time in 1919, both the elevator and tunnel are beautifully preserved and maintained.
It's well worth a look!
Gary Pearce — Google review
Nice little experience. At the top you can climb up the tower and get some great views of Whanganui. Kids enjoyed venturing through the tunnel and pressing the bell.
Amy Handley — Google review
Sadly out of action for repairs when we visited but the view from the top of the building is spectacular . The spiral staircase is a little unnerving but well worth the trip to the top.
Robert Side — Google review
Loved the experience. It lovely to think we still have history like this. What amazing engineering. Will definitely recommend to friends and family
Nick Dixon — Google review
Wonderful experience. It is 2 dollars each way for adults, you can pay by cash or EFTPOS. 4 people at a time, or 5 for slims 😂
There are many parking on top of the hill or plenty on-road parking next to the War Memorial Tower. Or you can park at the bottom of the hill, climb the very steep stairs to the top and take the elevator down. The parking at the bottom has 60mins and 120mins time limits. The tunnel at the bottom is really good, the Neon lights changing colours.
Highly recommend it.
Lily Liu — Google review
What a fantastic place to take in a beautiful view over Whanganui.
Sean Cuttriss — Google review
Clean, small tower for anyone who doesn't want to climb the big one haha.
Great view of the city :)
Stick — Google review
Loved this place! Only 2 such lights in the whole wide world. One in Portugal and another one is this one!
Walk through the tunnel, it is painted white, well lit and best of all echoes loudly. Me and my child enjoyed making different sounds while walking through the tunnel.
The lift is at the end of the tunnel. Ring the bell, a friendly lift man will bring the lift to bottom of the hill.
During Jan 2023, they were running half price on the fares. It was just a dollar for an adult and 50c for kids. How amazing!
I suppose many school kids still use this lift especially to carry their bicycles.
Beautiful views at the top of the hill. Anzac tower 🗼 which 300 m tall. We were almost 1000m above sea level at the top of the tower. Stunning views and beautiful experience!
Kudos the team who are running this. This is a must visit!
D B — Google review
What a wonderful piece of history and a great feat of engineering. Emma was the guide for the elevator and she was knowledgable and friendly. Great views from the top. If you have the energy to ascend 175 steep steps then you will get to the top of the tower and I imagine the views will be spectacular. They were pretty good from the smaller platform above the elevator.
Durie Hill is a lovely suburb.
Recommended
Sigrid Jenkins — Google review
A short fun ride albeit a bit rattley.... Plus a good long walk through the tunnel. A good place to take visitors!
Rob Forrest — Google review
Must do when you are in Wanganui. The tunnel ->elevator-> tower is such a fun outing to do with kids (or any age). Great view from the top looking over Wanganui and on good days can even spot Mt Taranaki..
Andrew Mackay — Google review
Worth the visit and worth the consideration.
Bit windy when I was here but it is an easy drive with some good sights to be seen overlooking the city.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me
Gerard McCall — Google review
Awesome unique experience. Great value.
Leon Salter — Google review
Very nicely maintained historical information. Fun to climb up and get view for sightseeing.
aashni prasad — Google review
An informative elevator operator gave us a ride up the tower. We then climbed the spiral staircase to be greeted with a great view over the city - although very windy.
Sarah Bell — Google review
4.6
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4.5
(404)
42 Anzac Parade, 3 Blyth Street, Whanganui 4501, New Zealand
Large park with rose gardens, BBQs, aviaries & a paddling pool, plus a cafe & miniature railway.
I love the esplanade.
It’s the best to run the kids out of energy, grab a little ice cream, let them splash in the paddling pool, and check out some gorgeous roses too. We often walk the tracks, and find or drop some “palmy rocks”
The little train is a family favourite for the kids. My only gripe is toilets are pretty far spread out for the littles, but there is still plenty sprinkled around.
Alida — Google review
There is a children's park combined to. And ppl visit there for expressing, relax. Calm and soothing place to spend some free time under shades of city middle of nature. Public toilets available.
nirosh gamage — Google review
Very attractive place for both children and adults. Variety of things like garden, pool, train ride, small zoo, etc.
The train ride was cheap and enjoyed very well.
Good place for relaxing and entertainment.
Denn P — Google review
Our family day out was incredible. My grandchildren woke up and asked me if we can do it . Thank you for the train rides.The park was enjoyable.There is so much to explore.If you want a family day out please go and check out Victoria Esplanade in Palmerston North.
Babysons71 — Google review
The kids loved loved and loved it. Me on the other hand was struggling to keep up. I only gave 4 star because it was difficult to find seating areas with decent shade where I can work while the kids played
Victoria B3G — Google review
Came here for my first date with my partner so we come here anytime we're in Palmy now 💅 gorgeous place, especially when all the flowers and birds are out. Nice walk around, alone, for couples, familes and all;P
Kahurangi Rose — Google review
Came here a lot as a child. A Lived overseas for 45 years but always enjoy visiting when I'm back in Palmy. It's a beautiful spot for walking, picnicking and watching the wee ones splishing in the children's pool. Aviary section is a bit sad now but hopefully the birds who were there are living in a better space.
Denise Woodley — Google review
So much to do. The train ride around the park was so much fun and definitely a highlight. Train staff are ao friendly, great experience.
Kerry Coetzee — Google review
Great spot for walks. Peaceful in the morning before everyone else is up. Great tree life. Recommend popping into the conservatory there too - a banana tree in PN 😮 fabulous orchids and carnivorous plants.
Carina Daly — Google review
Omg a beautiful place to feel like yr in a secret garden beautiful Rose's little train is a hoot love love 😍
🦋 I'm an Out of towner :) :) the parakeet birds were amazing too 🐦 🦋 💐 🐦 free bbq avaliable next ⌚ 👍🏼 beautiful hothouse with amazing plants and lovely water fall plants glore ✅ ‼️ dugard Mackenzie park 🌻 🎑 ☀ 🌟 🌍 ✌️ 🚉 🧙♂️ 🎄 🚶 🌇
Chez Adele — Google review
Amazing train ride, just over 2km long. You can catch the train to the playground and mini putt etc. Then hop on the later train back. Miss 9 loved it and to be fair so did we.
Tara Stewart — Google review
Heaps to explore and a good variety of playground equipment for different ages. Love the setting, lots of bush and flowers around. The train rides are great fun too, girls had a blast.
Picnic tables, free BBQ and mini golf there as well.
Kristy H — Google review
Cherry blossoms, with their delicate white petals, create a stunning visual spectacle in early spring. The garden is awash in a sea of these blossoms, offering a breathtaking display of nature's beauty.
Seema Thomas — Google review
My Palmerston fav especially the bird sanctuary, aviaries Greenhouse, cafe and surrounding walks and gardens. So much to do and see. The sanctuary has amazing staff that teach you all about Thier residents and patients. Really love that centre with Thier knowledge and with what they do
Rachael Garrett — Google review
What a great park for the local area! My girlfriend and I first visited the river, which was spectacular, we then walked through the native bush walk until we popped put near the bird sanctuary. We were amazed by the greenhouse and then walked through the bird sanctuary. We made our way back out of the park through the enormous kids' playground. Better yet, the whole experience is free of charge, and the park is meticulously maintained.
Benjamin Mador — Google review
Great park for pretty much everything.
River walks,bush walks, playground suitable for all ages with the toddler one away from the bigger kids.
Plenty of toilets available with baby changing areas.
Lots of parking but when big events are on they fill up quickly.
The Esplanade cafe is good also.
The bush walks are easy for all ages.
Great ride on train service too!
Bridie Allen-Smith — Google review
Best place for relax with children and spend time
Play area with adventure events,
Rose garden,
River 🚶 pathway,
Mini railway,
Free Parking.
Better to take foods from outside
sameera damith — Google review
Was the perfect place to spend a cold and rainy day. So beautiful and easy to walk around. Then popped across the road for a good coffee in a historic building.
R A — Google review
Explore on a nice day, rose gardens are amazing when in bloom, aviary, cafe, mini train, duck pond, paddling pond, and plenty of places to walk and relax.
Noel J — Google review
4.7
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4.5
(502)
1 Palm Drive, West End, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand
Can’t miss this classic brewery if you’re in the area! The food is great and the brewery tour is everything you want it to be. Nice garden to walk around with games to play and fun decor in general. If you have the kids with you maybe skip the tour but lots of space for them to run around outside while you’re having a pint.
The store is pretty pricey but has some unique stuff.
Greg Beldock — Google review
Exceptionally dog unfriendly place. Very disappointed to be here. Couldn't enjoy my drink and stay here. If you have a dog you have to stay on the parking lot. Tables looked disgusting, like never been wiped, the floor is also dirty, so you don't want to stay outside and for sure you don't want to leave your dog there alone.
Alena Avery — Google review
Top spot that is nestled away between Woodville and Pahiatua. We've driven past this spot so many times and finally decided to stop in, a great Eggs Benedict with a morning beer... We will definitely be back and spend more time exploring the grounds and walking through the museum.
Dar Kin — Google review
Tl;dr: buy the Brewery Tour just for the added benefits, but skip the actual tour itself, that's not worth your time.
Full review:
Since they do not tell you upfront, I'll do: be warned the brewery itself is actually closed down. The Brewery Tour is a sad display of faded glory. Not a single drop of beer is still being brewed here these days. Not in the beautiful (but run down and sadly decaying) classic TUI tower (- fair enough, that was to be expected), but also not in the massive hall that was built next to it, no not even in the little micro brewery attached to it. "Closed during COVID" and not reopened since. Whatever the reason, it makes the whole tour just a boring recollection of "Back in days..."- and "Here used to be..."-stories. Inside the micro brewery they'll have you take a look at some dust covered kettles and tanks, while the guide points at a poster that explains how beer is brewed. Wikipedia does a better job. This is not why you go on brewery tour. It lacks the distinctive smell, the rumbling and buzzing of machines and brewers, and actually seeing with your own eyes what magic it takes to turn just a bunch of plants, water and yeast into the golden foamy goodness we all so yearn for. Save your time and money for a brewery that's still actually up and running and brewing.
HOWEVER: for the $25 that the so-called tour sets you back, you do get a bunch of extras which in the end luckily made us feel like we weren't ripped off. First you get a big glass of beer in their onsite pub, plus another free beer in one of their partner pubs dotted across the country (just don't lose the voucher). That alone probably breaks you even. But then you'll also get a free beer glass, and 10% discount on buying beer and/or a shirt/sweater from the store. If you're not planning on redeeming any of these, don't do the tour. If you are, buy the ticket and skip the tour, or go and be prepared to be disappointed, or hope they've improved it.
Victor Luijk — Google review
Whilst the brewery tour is a bit short, it's an incredibly interesting and well set out place to visit and learn the history of.
The bar is a great place to spend the afternoon and enjoy a great range of different beers on tap, with freakin' delicious and freshly cooked lunch served directly to your table.
For the international traveller, I highly recommend giving the brewery a visit, even if it's just to add something fresh and enjoyable to your list of activities.
Christopher Kinsey-Manning (Dax.) — Google review
Great restaurant food, loved my Eggs Benedict & bacon.
I thought brewery tour was a little overpriced considering we can't climb the tower. Suggest $20-$22 rather than $25. Glad it included an excellent cider and Tui beer glass.... awesome for summer smoothies !.
Great customer service and friendly staff. Recommended :D
Belinda Bufe — Google review
A totally unexpected and unplanned lunch… but so glad that we did! We really liked this place and think it is well worth a visit. It’s a great atmosphere and the staff are welcoming and friendly. The beer tasting is an absolute MUST! 🍻
Rhys White — Google review
State highway 2! A must stop here at the tui brewery, amazing tour, food and of course the beer, well maintained grounds, great to walk around, make a tui sign with the magnetic letters available at the billboard, gewat photo opportunity, an awesome merchandise shop.. a definite stop by all...
Shaun Harris — Google review
We went in for a lunch and the food was disappointing. Our fries was half cooked ($10), the pulled pork pizza ($25) was probably worse than a supermarket frozen pizza. Hardly any toppings with a flat base and swimming in bbq sauce. One of the worst pizza I ever had. The only good thing was the beer we tried that's why I give three stars. Without the beer is only one star.
The Southward Car Museum is home to a vast collection of vintage cars and motorcycles, including Bugattis, Bentleys, and other notable vehicles. Due to the pandemic, there were fewer visitors when I went, which allowed me to explore at my leisure. The museum staff were friendly and helpful. While the selection of food at the cafe was limited due to low foot traffic, there are still plenty of treasures to be discovered in the basement and throughout the three-hour visit recommended for a comprehensive experience.
Pretty much had the place to myself thanks mostly to the pandemic. Massive selection of vintage cars and bikes displayed. Recommend allowing a go couple of hours as so much to take in. Was disappointed with selection of food on offer at the café but probably due to lack of foot traffic. Staff were very friendly and helpful ✅ also don’t forget to check out the vehicles down in the basement…
Tony Kelly — Google review
Amazing selection of cars on multiple floors from vintage cars to modern cars. Race cars to Len Southwards classic race boats. Friendly staff. Plenty of parking even for a bus. Allow a minimum of 1 hour to visit.
Steve Symon — Google review
A visit Not to be missed. Allow at least 3 hours to give it a fair go.
Some absolute gems to be seen. Amazing collection. There are cars in here that most people NEVER see in their entire lifetime. To be fair, I've only posted general photos of the collection. These classic cars need to be seen in person.
Les — Google review
Huge collection of cars from all around the world and across time. From Japanese legends of the 90s to the futuristic vision of the Swinging 20s. Also includes a collection of motorcycles and bikes. Each display has an accompanying plaque that gives info on the history and facts of the car model, and/or the history of the particular one on display. Could spend all day reading if I wanted to! Entry $21 for an adult.
Timothy L — Google review
Superb collection of cars. Great little stroll around some historic old classics. Some great NZ motoring history in here as well.
Skip Parker (Urbankiwi) — Google review
What a lovely place to spend an hr or 3 depending of your love of cars. So much kiwi history and stories tied up with some of these beautiful cars. Would love to come back for a concert. Lots of parking and a,wee coffee gift shop. Lovely staff too
Sharyn — Google review
Whether you're a car lover or not, this is an absolutely impressive car museum to visit. There was so much to see and so many memories of vehicles our family had owned in our lifetime. So cool for a personal collection!
Totally recommend a visit here.
Haley — Google review
Absolute gem of a place even if not a car enthusiast. Everyone loves it. From Marlene Dietrich Daimler to The Delorean from Back to The Future. Stunning collection and very informative... Take the family
Maria Shadbolt — Google review
Best museum of vintage cars, motorcycles, boats, and Aircrafts. We enjoyed the place very well. We went through the history of vehicles. Every item is described very well on their description boards. If there are minors, it will be a good experience for them. And there is a waiting lounge, toilet, and cafes with snacks and coffee. And wide parking space. And there is an entry fee. For the family, they charged 47$. Recommended place.
Phinni Kurian (PK) — Google review
An incredible collection of cars and motorcycles, showing a history of automobiles in new Zealand and around the world
ankur mishra — Google review
Went to the Coffee and Cars meet up. Some nice rides there. Been going to the museum since I was little, have always enjoyed waking around and admiring the collection.
Emma May — Google review
Kind of disappointed. I remember a lot more muscle cars, but seems to focus on much older vintage cars with many very similar models. It was interesting to go down stairs and see all the boring cars from my youth! Great parking though. Fairly expensive admission.
Mike H — Google review
Loved our time here! It was such a treat to come up on as we weren't planning on coming here however it just happened to be on a sign and we'd thought we would check it out. Not disappointed at all! You've got the basement and main floor with the cars and up the stairs with all the bikes. An awesome variety of vehicles. Plus huge amount of parking and no need to book admission in advance! Would recommend to check it out 😊
Elizabeth E — Google review
Amazing place, so much history. Family loved it, we'll be back
Nick Perkins — Google review
This is an amazing display of vintage cars, motorbikes, and other memorabilia. I have been to the Mercedes and Porsche car museums in Stuttgart, and this is equally as good as those. You will easily spend a couple of hours meandering through the perfectly presented displays admiring the cars of your youth. If you're old enough, you may even spot your first few cars. I can't wait to go again, three floors are too much to cover properly in one visit. It's just simply a fantastic venue, a must to go and see. You might be surprised by what else they do to.
Paul Costelloe — Google review
We love going to Southwards car Museum. Especially coffee and cars. The museum itself is also very cool .
Angela Walker — Google review
Attended the Bruce Springsteen Tribute evening. Absolutely Amazing. The band had incredible energy and such fun! Glad I had the opportunity to be there.
Heather Rayner — Google review
Be prepared... This amazing space is going to take your breath away.
History on show, written storylines and explanations with every display.
Too few auto enthusiasts have ever assembled such a display to capture your attention and then to hold it with display after display.
Please don’t assume that you can appreciate it all in one day, but you will leave with a true appreciation for 1 man's dream coming to life.
Ian Darby — Google review
Really cool to see all the old and interesting vehicles of the past... highly recommended to view
Sharon LAMMAS — Google review
A world class gem in Wellington, such an amazing and diverse collection of NZ and world automotive history... and they keep adding to it
Peter Torr Smith — Google review
4.7
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4.5
(439)
Otaihanga Road, Otaihanga, Paraparaumu 5036, New Zealand
The lady giving the tour was incredibly knowledgeable and always answered any questions asked in a way everyone could understand.
The alpacas are fun and were very easy for my 11 year old daughter to walk round with.
Would recommend it to anyone, a must do.
Martyn Bryant — Google review
If you like animals "the alpaca place" is a must. The animal are nice funny and realy soft. The tour take 1h30 m. You can feed alpaca, wolk whit them and discover interesting stories about them. We are realy enjoy the alpaca !
A. C. — Google review
Be sure to book online in advance before visting this great tour of an Alpaca farm.
Liz and Cheryl are very kind and knowledgeable regard the history of the Alpacas.
We got to meet both the male/female Alpacas and their young which are super cute.
The best part was feeding time!
If you like Alpacas in anyway defiantly do this tour😃
Adam — Google review
My husband and I had a wonderful time on this tour! The alpacas are adorable and the tour was extremely informative - we both felt like this was time and money well spent.
Melissa Leckie — Google review
Liz gave a very informative and interactive tour for us. It was a great experience as we've never been to an alpaca farm before. We got to feed and pet the alpacas while understanding quite an extensive history on the cute animal, normally confused with its relative, llama. It's a recommended place to go.
Muhammad Azhari Azmi — Google review
The Alpaca Place is great. Deserves so much more than the 3 google stars. See Trip advisor for a good idea of the sort of experience you will have. Its a fantastic tour. We have gone on to do business with the wonderful women from The Alpaca Place and now own our own Alpaca. We've been very impressed with the service from being straight out tourists, through to potential buyers, and onto a full delivery service of our purchased alpaca which took a full day of their time at a very reasonable price.
Jane Toy — Google review
Thanks for the great tour Liz and Sheryl, thoroughly enjoyed it, Ella loved your 'awesome alpacas', so disappointed I didn't buy her one. Highly recommend, especially for kids, my ten year old adored it. So much knowledge about alpacas, their history and industry.
Lisa Polaschek — Google review
This was so much fun and informative. We got to walk alpacas and hug them and learn all about them, a really cool day out
Mike Turk — Google review
4.4
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4.5
(261)
365 Bluff Rangitumau Road, Masterton 5871, New Zealand
Staglands Wildlife Reserve & Café is an open-air animal farm and petting zoo that offers visitors the opportunity to interact with wildlife in a natural environment. The reserve features tractor rides, feeding areas, and a rustic log cafe for refreshments. It's an ideal outing for adults and children alike. While exploring the park, guests can choose to stay on the walking path or venture down by the stream where they can cross over a wooden log or suspension bridge.
This place is an absolute sanctuary! We went as a group of young adults and had a magical experience. The animals are very friendly and you can pat A LOT of them! They all seemed happy and healthy. Would recommend buying the animal feed for the most animal interaction. We went early on a Saturday before it got busy which was nice as we didn’t have to wait for anything. A really lovely escape from the city.
Alice Nixon — Google review
Such a great outing for both adults and kids. I’d recommend buying a bag of animal food, we didn’t and regretted it.
The park is nicely sized, not too small but also not too big. You can stay on the walking path or you can walk down by the beautiful stream and cross it over a wooden log. Above it is a pretty cool suspension bridge.
The cafe was fine, not the best food or coffee but it did the trick. Service was kind and relatively quick even though it was a busy day, and employees were very kind.
Kevin Nass — Google review
Absolutely brilliant family experience. So beautifully set out, so much for the kids to see and do plus animals and birds to interact with. Added bonus, as a coeliac, was delighted to find such a great range of safe, gluten free food. I am used to making do with a coffee while watching everyone else eat at these kinds of places so am really impressed and would highly recommend.
Stephanie, Ross McKellar — Google review
Staglands is a place to visit if you have toddlers who are really into animals, as they can feed the animals there with the feeds you buy at the ticket office. It was an intimate experience with the animals as you can feed and pat most of them up close!
Unfortunately we didn't get to ride the tractor ride and eat the marshmallows as it wasn't available when we were there. But we had a good picnic outside their cafe and our toddlers enjoyed it thoroughly! They knocked out in the car on the way down the windy road.
Pete Ong — Google review
Staglands is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Greater Wellington Region. It is a quaint farm themed Wildlife Reserve located in Upper Hutt’s Akatarawa Valley. It is a very exciting environment sure to be loved by the young children. The animals are quite friendly, some can be too friendly and over excited about the food you can give to the animals. The animal food and trout food costs extra. I’ve been going there a very long time, and have never been disappointed. I do think however that there should be more staff around to keep an eye on some of the guests who get too excited around animals, or have little knowledge on how to behave around animals, especially families with little children. The cafe is excellent and the food is very yummy, it can take a while for the food to come out however. As long as you behave around the animals and don’t lose your head around them, your more than welcome, and are sure to have a great time!
DOTT The Movie — Google review
What an amazing place even in the pouring rain! The animal,fish and bird life are a delight. So well thought out and beautifully set out around numerous ponds, waterfalls and the river running through the property.
Sue Nielsen — Google review
Awesome place to visit with kids and family.
Import notes:
- drive to and from can be quite tight.
- can be a wait for the cafe for food
- wear comfortable shoes as there is loose gravel and inclines
- tractor runs 11am-2pm in 15 minutes intervals,
- Buy feeding food.
Free roaming miniature pigs running around the front, Awesome for kids to touch and feed
Malcolm C — Google review
We had such a lovely time there! Our 3 year old son absolutely loved feeding and interacting with the animals and learning about new animals that he hasn't seen before. The food at the cafe was delicious and staff were super friendly and helpful! Happy 50th anniversary Staglands! Keep up the amazing work!
Tania Du Toit — Google review
Very pleasant path through the park. Kids loved feeding and interacting with the animals. The cafe was honestly delicious and wasn’t crazy expensive. I’d come back just for lunch. We’ve been to a number of wildlife parks around the world and the deer area here with dozens of peacocks up and down the hill was completely unique.
Tim Krug — Google review
Beautiful animal park in a lovely bush setting. Lots of birds with free roaming peacocks, pheasants and chickens, often with babies. Lots of enclosures and aviaries you can go into to get up close and personal with the wildlife. The cockatoo is very friendly and will say hello, the kea are also friendly but more so on days where it's not so busy. The birds especially seem very well cared for. There are also kunekune and other pigs. They had tiny piglets when we were there, who weren't afraid to be stroked if you were slow and quiet with them. The Guinea pigs were naturally skittish, but cute. There is space to sit in their enclosure, if you're quiet and have food, they'll come to you after a while.
I was a little concerned for the cattle and horses - the young Galloway and two Highlands had rather small enclosures, along with the Clydesdale and small pony. Great for the public to access them but not healthy for such large animals who should have been in paddocks.
There is a Cafe there which we didn't visit. You can by small bags of food pellets for the animals, but we took a large bag of carrots for the big animals and some peanuts in shells for the birds, and the animals loved them. We probably spent about the same amount as we would have on their bagged pellets, but got far better value buying the fresh food. The animals aren't interested in you if you don't have food.
Its a great place for families, but there are quite a few hazards with the river and ponds (never mind the animals!) so children need to be well supervised.
Leah Cameron — Google review
Exceptional! This place is incredible! Great drive out through dense bush and running streams. The picturesque idealic setting was mesmerizing. The park is well kept and immaculately presented. Cafe was great and served up good coffee and beef stew. Our two young kids had a ball of a time, so much to see and explore. The tractor ride was a nice and fun addition. We picked the perfect day to visit, bluebird day with little to no wind. If anything they could do with some outdoor gas heaters around the outside Cafe which would top it off as the place got cold when the sun went over the hills in the afternoon. The cafe spacing does overflow to the outside arrangment when busy which did make it a cold wait for our meal outside. Otherwise an awesome place which I totally recommend.
Paul Glucina — Google review
Great place to get in touch with animals, we had a great time here, and we were lucky to be here in Spring with all the Baby goats and lamb!
The only downside was the wifi login page was difficult to use due to its colouring and the receptionist was a bit grumpy 🤣
Cabnolen Moon — Google review
What an awesome beautiful place to have in Wellington to take kids, it was really nice to walk around and see all different farm animals they have and all the birds as well. The trout was cool to see so up close swimming around, they also have a awesome horse here. The Tractor ride was great ride it added some fun for the kids. also think the price of getting in is very fair, I know some people think it’s bit high but think how much it must cost look after all the animals here, the cafe here has very friendly staff that gives very good service, food is good and they sell beer and wine.
Kyriakos George — Google review
Fabulous, took our grandsons and they loved it. Animals in excellent conditions all well looked after, loved every part of it. The old town was great. The food was very good and well priced. Really felt we got great value for money. Doesn't have a shop, which is a good thing.
Mark Hay — Google review
A fun time for the little ones. It's well maintained, and generally clean. A pretty place for a stroll, and the tracker rides are a bonus. However some of the animals look like they could use some extra love. It's also very expensive for entry, and on a busy day you're limited to one food bag (which can be a pickle with multiple young kids).
Mixed bag, but we tend to go once or twice a year.
Kent & Kristy Harris — Google review
Not only is Staglands a gorgeous wildlife park, they also do weddings! Staglands was our wedding venue last month and they did not disappoint. The photos and memories we captured here will last a lifetime. The staff, especially Gemma and Sarah, go above and beyond to make your day special. Thank you all so very much!
Nicole Paul — Google review
The best-kept secret in Wellington! Perfect for all ages. We were the last people to enter there on a beautiful sunny afternoon. There was no one but us and the mesmerizing peacocks 🦚 and other animals. A day well spent and something to be treasured! The road to Staglands is winding. Drive with caution and at a safe speed.
Roman Mortuza — Google review
A great place in the middle of nowhere. You wouldn’t find even a small shop anywhere near the place.
It’s a good place especially for the kids to come and watch the birds and animals in the wild life reserve.
The best thing is that we can go touch and feed the animals like deer, sheep, peacock and other birds.
A great place to pack food and snacks and have a small picnic with friends and family.
Sreeram Nattath — Google review
My daughter had a lovely birthday party at Staglands over the weekend- super easy with the party food, loot bags, entry, and animal food all included in the package (plus the guests all got free admission passes to visit again). The kids loved the animals, especially Jock the horse, the friendly little calf, and the extra cuddly sheep in the deer enclosure. It was raining, but there was still plenty of fun to be had! The tractor ride was a highlight. The staff were great, and all the party guests had a wonderful time. Such a beautiful reserve. Highly recommend for kids parties.
Char Blake — Google review
4.7
(1906)
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4.5
(659)
2362 Akatarawa Road, Akatarawa Valley, Upper Hutt 5372, New Zealand
My husband and I took a drive to Martinborough for the weekend. It was beautiful to get away from the hustle and bustle of Wellington.
We decided to go to poppies because it had a beautiful autumn glow.
We loved having a drink and their famous shared platter. Totally wowed by the food, the drinks, and the atmosphere. My husband also enjoyed the wine tasting 😊
Miliana Raruve — Google review
This place was great and very helpful servers. They welcomed a bigger group for a tasting and we didn't feel like we had to have food which is fantastic. Cannot comment on menu as didn't eat. The room here everyone was gathered was super cute and has a nice rustic vibe. Top marks.
alice02 — Google review
I visited Poppies Winery on a quiet winter's Tuesday with a friend and her family. We initially planned to visit another place, wanting something more than a platter. However, Poppies was the only winery open. While they mainly serve platters, we found them to be more substantial than expected. The service was decent, and their rosé caught our attention. A good stop if you're in the area.
Pops — Google review
Good for wine tasting. Did not have much of a selection of food though. However the slection of wines were impressive. $10 per taster for up to 5 wines and if you buy a bottle, that $10 tasting fee is waived off. Did buy a pinot gris as it was quite unique. Sophie the demonstrator was very knowledgeable and friendly.
Nilanke Perera — Google review
The most beautiful vineyard I have ever been to. The building is rustic and gives a warm happy atmosphere when trying the 5 carefully selected wines. Our somalier (young and french) was awesome and even encouraged us to try and additional wine based on our tastes in the backroom and she was so right! We ended up purchasing that wine because of how great it was. The mushroom pate (vegan!) Was showstopping and genuinely thought of returning the next day to have it again! Over all this is the best wine tasting I attended in Martinborough and the wine is amazing!
Laura Bornemann — Google review
Really don't think this place needs another review since it is wildly popular. Gorgeous view dining by the vineyards. Delicious platter. The only thing I felt was not great was the Potato Gratin in the platter. This was like chewing on cardboard. All of us had a bite and didn't finish that. But everything else was delicious.
Eileen Lui — Google review
Excellent place for a wine and the platter. The platter is excellent with a range of tasty treats. The desert or sweet is equally wonderful.
Joe Ninety — Google review
Amazing service from the moment we walked in, super friendly and accomodating.
We were served our wine tasting by the owner who had fantastic wine knowledge and passion. 5/5 for their Riesling, we even took a bottle away.
Fantastic food platter which we all enjoyed.
Highly recommend for anyone visiting the Martinborough region.
J Thomson — Google review
Beautiful winery, lunch option is a platter with lots of yummy bits and pieces to share for two people. More than enough food, especially if you add on the bread. Must book as it gets busy. Wine tasting is also great, $10 a person and redeemable if you buy a bottle of wine - which you will want to do! P
Kalliana Kong — Google review
If you are in Martinborough, Poppies is a must visit. I have visited quite a few times and I love it every time. The platter is always delicious. Such a great variety of tastes and compliments the wines very well. The wine tasting is also a good option so you can taste their different wines and then get a bottle to have with your platter.
The seating area is perfect - you have indoor seating if the weather isn’t so good and then a nice outdoor area with umbrellas on a sunny day. Also they are dog friendly!
Definitely one of my favourite wineries in Martinborough!
Amanda Chan — Google review
A perrenial favourite, the wine of course, the food platter are devine, the service and atmosphere of sitting and eating over looking the vineyards is a lovely way to spend Sunday. Well done Poppy and Shayne, you’ve built an amazing business.
Michael Cooke — Google review
On Wellington Anniversary day. A beautiful Vineyard, the platter for 3 adults was yummy with a bottle of chardonnay. Took a walk in the vineyard and took some pictured. We highly recommend Poppies and we'll definitely be back again.
Patricia Stewart — Google review
Poppies winery in Martinborough, New Zealand, is an absolute gem and a must-visit destination for wine enthusiasts. If you only have time for one winery in the region, this is the one to choose without a doubt.
From the moment you arrive, the staff at Poppies exude warmth and hospitality, making you feel like a valued guest. Their passion for wine and dedication to providing exceptional experiences shines through in every interaction.
The setting at Poppies is simply stunning, with picturesque vineyards surrounding the winery, creating a serene and inviting atmosphere. Whether you choose to sit indoors or out on the terrace, you'll be treated to breathtaking views and a sense of tranquility.
One of the highlights of visiting Poppies is indulging in their exquisite platters. Each platter is a work of art, featuring locally sourced ingredients expertly paired with their delicious wines. The attention to detail and quality of the offerings truly elevate the tasting experience to new heights.
And speaking of wines, the Gewürztraminer at Poppies is nothing short of spectacular. Bursting with aromatic flavors and perfectly balanced, it's a true standout and easily the best Gewürztraminer we've ever had the pleasure of tasting.
In summary, Poppies winery offers an unforgettable experience from start to finish. With amazing staff, a lovely atmosphere, stunning views, delectable platters, and exceptional wines like their Gewürztraminer, it's the epitome of excellence in Martinborough's wine scene.
Katie Goldberg — Google review
If you haven't been to Poppies, you need to go!! It is beautiful, the wines (especially the pinot gris and late harvest) are so delicious and the tastings are always very professional. The platters ($60) are gourmet and compliment the wine well. Wine tasting - $10 and redeemable on wine purchases.
Tayla Hearn — Google review
We visited this very beautiful winery during a wine tasting tour. Our host was extremely knowledgeable about the wines. All of the wines we tasted were amazing. The venue was gorgeous. Shame we didn't have time for lunch. Highly recommend!!
Major Tom — Google review
4.8
(394)
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4.5
(557)
91 Puruatanga Road, Martinborough 5711, New Zealand