Auckland Botanic gardens

There's so much to see at the Gardens!

Due to Covid restrictions our guided tours and Wiri Rambler service (pictured below) are on hold.

But you can still discover the Gardens at your own pace, pick up a brochure for one of our self-guided trails from Huakaiwaka visitor centre. 

Self-guided tours

Create your own route as you explore the Gardens at your leisure, or pick up a trail brochure from the Huakaiwaka visitor centre. Download and print our kids activity sheets for some family fun.

Permanent Sculpture Trail

Nestled in garden collections, along walkways and at Huakaiwaka visitor centre (itself a work of art), you will encounter our permanent collection of artworks and sculpture.

This trail takes you through our growing collection, a legacy of past sculpture exhibitions, of generous benefactors and the vision of garden creators who have incorporated art work into their horticultural work.

Puhinui Stream Forest Trail

The Puhinui Stream Forest Trail links the native forest walking tracks between Totara Park and the Auckland Botanic Gardens. The full loop trail is approximately four kilometres and will take around two hours at a leisurely pace. (uneven ground and steps make this inaccessible for those in wheelchairs or scooters or pushing prams).

Sustainable Water Trail

Our lakes were once affected by contaminated stormwater. We decided to fix that by introducing a number of water sensitive design devices at the Gardens.

Follow this trail for a tour of the solutions that are improving our stormwater runoff and the health of our gardens.

Guided tours

Wednesday Walks

***All guided walks postponed in order to help protect our communities from the spread of coronavirus. We will update this website when the services resume.***

We take a free guided walk every Wednesday at 10.30am. See what is blooming and discover interesting stories behind the plants and collections on this hour-long walk. No bookings are required.

This walk leaves from our Visitor Centre - please let the team at the Visitor Centre know if you would like to join them on the walk. 

Free of charge.

*As of 1 July 2018, the guided walk time is now 10.30am every Wednesday.

Group Guided Walk

Groups can book a staff guided walk and enjoy an hour long tour of the seasonal highlights of the Gardens. Please note that group walks are available on weekdays only and bookings are essential.

$50 per community group. Please enquire with the visitor centre staff on prices for commercial groups.

Wiri Rambler 'Train' - operating at Alert Level 1 only.

Sit back and relax as the Wiri Rambler shows you the sights. The Wiri Rambler is a small tractor train, towing carriages with up to 16 passengers. Tours run on Sundays, weather permitting, and only at Alert Level 1. Tours also run on some Saturdays, please ring the visitor centre to find out if it is operating, ph (09) 267 1457.

 

The tours last 20 minutes and start outside the Huakaiwaka visitor centre, from approximately midday until 3pm (weather dependant).

• $2 per adult
• $1 per child (3yrs to 13yrs, accompanied by an adult)
• Free for under 3 yrs
• Private group bookings available, ph Kate Moodie on (09) 2977234 (please note the cost is dependent on the number of people in the group).
  
  

Community Bus Tour

If bringing a tour bus to the Gardens, contact a staff member in advance to discuss guided tour options as our normal service will be disrupted during the car park redevelopment.

Weekdays only, bookings essential.

$50 per bus (Please enquire with the Huakaiwaka visitor centre staff on prices for commercial groups).

Further information

For further information or questions about our tours, or to make a booking, contact our Huakaiwaka visitor centre staff.