Our places to explore and enjoy

Hamilton Gardens Café

Complete your Hamilton Gardens experience with a delicious meal at the café. Offering great food and beverages from fresh salads and sandwiches to flavourful main courses and tempting treats, there’s a food option for everyone to relax, refuel, and recharge with views overlooking Turtle Lake. 

The Café caters to various dietary needs, offering vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free options. Quench your thirst with a selection of hot or cold beverages, including coffee, tea, smoothies and juices.

For a full menu and opening hours, visit Hamilton Gardens Café’s Facebook page.

Hamilton Gardens Shop

Take home a unique treasure as a memento of your Hamilton Gardens experience with a visit to our charming shop. 

Located conveniently within the Gallagher Visitor Centre, this delightful shop has friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find a treasure trove of unique keepsakes to commemorate your visit. Proceeds from the Shop contribute to the ongoing development and maintenance of Hamilton Gardens, so when you pick up a memento, you’re also helping to support the gardens.

A group of children and an adult enjoying a play house

Hamilton Gardens Playground

This modern playground offers fun and exploration for children of all ages. Designed to spark imagination, the Hamilton Gardens Playground features:

  • A storytelling stage for impromptu performances and imaginative play
  • A variety of exciting equipment for children to explore, climb, and create lasting memories
  • A whimsical treehouse, swing and play equipment
  • Located by the gate 2 carpark, the playground is close to amenities such as drinking fountains and toilet facilities.
A building with lots of bikes outside

River Riders

Cycle the Mighty Waikato Te Awa by hiring a bike from River Riders depot at Hamilton Gardens which you can access from the Camellia Carpark, Gate 2, Hamilton. Please note: The River Riders depot will be closed from Sunday June 17th until Tuesday 16th July. You can still book online via phone/online/email.

Uncover Hidden Gems at our Points of Interest

A sculpture made of stone that looks like a blanket draped over a series of pillars

Earth Blanket Sculpture

Standing tall at the entrance to Hamilton Gardens, Nga Uri o Hinetuparimaunga (meaning "the earth blanket of Hinetuparimaunga") is a powerful symbol of protection, respect, and connection to the land. The landmark sculpture was officially unveiled in 2005 and is a collaborative effort between sculptor, Chris Booth and weaver, Digger Te Kanawa. Five of the 21 towering columns of volcanic rock are adorned with Te Kahu o Papatuanuku, a woven cloak of 13,000 pebbles, symbolising the earth's precious resources.

A group of people walking in the sun on the Hillside Lawn

Hillside Lawn

Located beside the Gate 1 carpark is a beautiful slope for picnicking, recreational activities that erupts into a cascading blaze of golden daffodils each year. 

A popular spot for events such as Kite Day, this expansive lawn is the ideal location for a friend or family picnic, this lawn is a great spot for children to run off some energy and roll down the gentle slopes.

A wooden bell tower, constructed in a log cabin style

Russian Log Bell Tower

The Russian Log Bell Tower stands as a testament to cultural exchange and meticulous craftsmanship. It invites visitors to embark on a journey through time, offering a glimpse into a different era and architectural style.

Nestled amidst the picturesque Hamilton Gardens, a unique architectural gem awaits: the Russian Log Bell Tower. This meticulously crafted replica, perched atop a gentle slope, transports visitors to a bygone era can be accessed via Camellia Carpark through gate 2. 

A bronze sculpture of a bull, without legs

Little Bull

Pushing boundaries and challenging conventional art, ‘Little Bull’ reflects the public’s evolving perspectives on art and its appreciation for diversity in artistic style.

Standing proudly in the Victorian Flower Garden of Hamilton Gardens, "Little Bull" is more than just a sculpture; it's a testament to artistic expression and the evolution of public taste. Unveiled in 1968, this iconic bronze piece holds a unique place in the city's history.

A family sitting beside a pond, underneath a blue pavillion

Women's Suffrage Pavilion

Nestled amidst the verdant embrace of the Valley Walk in Hamilton Gardens, the Suffrage Pavilion stands as a symbol of women's suffrage and a tranquil space for reflecting on women's empowerment, cultural heritage, and the enduring pursuit of equality.

Commissioned in 1993, the pavilion commemorated the 100th anniversary of New Zealand becoming the first country to grant women the right to vote.

A wooden mural carving showing a variety of stylized local flora and fauna

Wood Carving Mural Wall

Enter the Pavilion to view a wonderful mural carved in wood that celebrates the magic of Hamilton Gardens. Sculptors Derek Kerwood and Megan Godfrey were so enchanted by their visits to Hamilton Gardens that inspiration struck.

They envisioned a masterpiece, not just for their eyes, but for everyone to enjoy and the result was a breath-taking mural, carved from a very special tree, which adorns the main foyer in the Pavilion.

Hispanic Steps

Located on the edge of Turtle Lake, accessed from Rhododendron Lawn the Hispanic Steps feature a copy of a famous Roberto Burl Marx sculpture and a landing with names of all the Hispanic Countries.

This area commemorates the South American countries. By the lake edge the circular paved mosaic area is the Landing of the Ambassadors. The paving takes its inspiration from an ancient Aztec calendar stone but was simplified in order to be constructed with tiles.