1 / 3Gisborne Botanical Gardens
π Gisborne, Gisborne
Best for a shady stroll with a playground at the end of it. Gisborne's botanical gardens run along the Taruheru River off Aberdeen Road, with a modern playground and side-by-side flying fox, a free-flight aviary, duck ponds and old trees. Free.
I just cant get enough of this place. Can you believe I get up at 5:30 now and do my walking while it is still cool? Today I walked laps around the gardens as the sun came up. Really nice and I think this will be mosty what i do from now on for ny daily walk.
π Family Action Verdict
The easiest free stop in Gisborne with a toddler or pre-schooler: flat paths for the scooter, ducks to watch, and a playground good enough to hold them for an hour. Temper expectations for the aviary, which reviews say has seen better days, and keep small children back from the river edge and the boardwalk, which has no handrails.
βΉοΈ What to Know Before You Go
π¬ What Families Are Saying
View all reviews β330 Google reviews
Pete Cowley
βI just cant get enough of this place. Can you believe I get up at 5:30 now and do my walking while it is still cool? Today I walked laps around the gardens as the sun came up. Really nice and I think this will be mosty what i do from now on for ny daily walk.β
Roxanne Peneha
βSo refreshing & a calming walk through the garden under the trees n following the path ways seeing the birds n ducks along your stroll or jog or maybe even run β¨οΈ πβ
Chloe Dang
βIt's a nice park. You can stroll along the romantic riverbank. There is also a playground area for kids.β
Benne Millrs
βGood sized botanic park. Some of the trees could do with a bit of pruning as they obstruct the path but nothing major. I like the bird cage in the middle and the playground for the kids.β
Reviews from Google
Overview
Gisborne Botanical Gardens date from 1874 and cover five hectares between Aberdeen Road and the Taruheru River, ten minutes' walk from the town centre. Tree-lined paths loop past rose and cactus collections, ponds with ducks and a walk-through aviary built in 1972, and a riverbank path runs the length of the gardens. The modern playground, with a side-by-side flying fox, is the family draw. Entry is free and the paths are flat and paved, so prams and scooters are easy.
