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Auckland Botanic Gardens

πŸ“ The Gardens, Auckland

β˜…4.7(9,805 Google reviews)πŸ’°FreeπŸ‘ΆAll ages

Free Auckland Council botanic gardens at Manurewa with 25+ themed collections, the Potter Children's Garden, native forest walks, school-holiday kids activities and Cafe Miko. Free parking, pram and wheelchair accessible, open daily.

βœ“ Free entryβœ“ Walkable pathsβœ“ Kids' garden tunnelβœ“ Native birds and plantsβœ“ Peaceful escape
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β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…Featured review by Heather Boswick

How is this beautiful Botanic gardens free?? But it is! The Auckland Botanic Gardens was a perfect spot after a long flight as it’s close to the airport (about 10 mins!) We started at the Beautiful visitor center complete with clean bathrooms, a cafe & small gift shop! The gardens feels massive & you really can just explore whatever section you want. Loved the palm section which boasted some of New Zealand’s stunning natural faunas. Lots of birds in the trees- including some adorable tuis flying around! Tip for summer visit- bring sunscreen, hat & sun protection ! There is many wide open paths with no shade! 😎 Seriously, a beautiful peaceful nature escape for the bustling area of Auckland!

πŸ† Family Action Verdict

Free entry, free parking and 64 hectares of gardens to roam β€” the Potter Children's Garden has a story-book reading tunnel that kids love, and most paths take prams and wheelchairs. Easy half-day or full-day trip from Auckland CBD, around 25 minutes south on the motorway.

ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go

πŸ’‘Free entry and free parking β€” open every day
⏰Mobility scooters and manual wheelchairs loanable free from the visitor centre (bond required)
🎟️Family room with changing table at the Huakaiwaka visitor centre
πŸš—Most paths suitable for prams; non-accessible sections are signposted

πŸ’¬ What Families Are Saying

View all reviews β†’
4.7
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9,805 Google reviews

Free entry and free parking80%
Well-maintained, easy walking paths70%
Engaging children's garden50%
Native birds and plants throughout50%
H

Heather Boswick

a month ago

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β€œHow is this beautiful Botanic gardens free?? But it is! The Auckland Botanic Gardens was a perfect spot after a long flight as it’s close to the airport (about 10 mins!) We started at the Beautiful visitor center complete with clean bathrooms, a cafe & small gift shop! The gardens feels massive & you really can just explore whatever section you want. Loved the palm section which boasted some of New Zealand’s stunning natural faunas. Lots of birds in the trees- including some adorable tuis flying around! Tip for summer visit- bring sunscreen, hat & sun protection ! There is many wide open paths with no shade! 😎 Seriously, a beautiful peaceful nature escape for the bustling area of Auckland!”

M

Muneeb Khan

a month ago

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β€œGorgeous place. Sprawling gardens covered with all sorts of greenery. Local and exotic fauna with informative placards, easily walkable paths, and so many birds, bees, and butterflies! Lots to see here and some areas dedicated for children's learning too. Also an area for dogs to run around off leash. More towards the back of the gardens is a connection to a larger park with forested walking trails and some small streams. I really enjoyed my time here and would highly recommend. Best of all, it's free!”

G

Gray John5791

a month ago

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β€œA truly beautiful and expansive place, with free admission. It is filled with flowers and trees emblematic of New Zealand, where I spotted the manuka tree in bloom. The natural forest area offers an authentic primeval woodland experience. The paths are well-maintained and easy to walk, though the grounds are so vast that one day is scarcely enough to explore them all. I highly recommend this botanical garden! It is absolutely worth a visit.”

E

Edith Wong

2 months ago

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β€œReally love this place. It is very informative and interactive. Learnt so many new things and enjoyed the walk. The children area was also very unique and fun. Love how they incorporate the story into a readable book and made a real tunnel to try out as well. Enjoyed the place totally πŸ€—πŸ˜ŠπŸ™πŸ’ͺ”

Reviews from Google

Overview

Auckland Botanic Gardens in Manurewa spans 25+ themed collections including the Potter Children's Garden, Native Forest, Rose Garden, Edible Garden, Palm Garden and African Plants Garden. Most paths take prams, wheelchairs and mobility scooters β€” wheelchairs and scooters loanable free from the visitor centre with a bond. Cafe Miko is on-site, with accessible bathrooms and a family changing room. School-holiday activities and Kids Corner trails year-round. Free entry, free parking, open daily.

πŸ• Opening Hours

Monday08:00 – 16:30
Tuesday08:00 – 16:30
Wednesday08:00 – 16:30
Thursday08:00 – 16:30
Friday08:00 – 16:30
Saturday08:00 – 16:30
Sunday08:00 – 16:30

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