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The reality is as much of a contrast as the title. On one end of town, a serene, internationally acclaimed, well-manicured series of themed gardens each telling a story of a different civilization. To be honest, the Hamilton Gardens caught me by surprise, far exceeding my expectations. In sharp contrast stands the Riff-Raff statue where Hubby and I did the Time Warp again. Both are amongst the free things to do in Hamilton New Zealand.

Hamilton Gardens

It didn’t take long to understand why the 54-hectare Hamilton Gardens won the prestigious ‘International Garden Tourism Award’ in 2014. We focused our time on the enclosed gardens. Here, we strolled through one themed garden after the next, as we were taken on a journey through time. With attention paid to every detail, we know we overlooked as much as we saw. I am already thinking about my next visit when I am sure to take a guided tour.

⇒ Click here for pricing on a 75-minute guided tour of the gardens or Check Availability

Photo Tour of the Enclosed Gardens

In the order we walked:

Japanese Garden of Contemplation, Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton New Zealand
Japanese Garden of Contemplation
Chinese Scholars Garden, Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton New Zealand
Chinese Scholars’ Garden
Modernist Garden, Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton New Zealand
Modernist Garden
Italian Renaissance Garden, Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton New Zealand
Italian Renaissance Garden
Romulus and Remus Statue in the Italian Renaissance Garden, Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton New Zealand
Remember the story of Romulus and Remus? (Also in the Italian Renaissance Garden.)
Te Parapara Garden, Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton New Zealand
Te Parapara Garden. The second image is just after the kumara (Māori sweet potato) harvest.
Tudor Garden, Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton New Zealand
Tudor Garden
Self opening doors inside Tudor Garden leading to Time Court, Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton New Zealand
Self-opening doors inside Tudor Garden, leading to the Time Court.
Concept Garden, Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton New Zealand
Concept Garden
Steampunk Huddleston Airship, Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton New Zealand
Steampunk Huddleston Airship, which was designed to deliver plants around the gardens overnight and reduce the workload of the gardening team.
Kitchen Garden, in the Hamilton Botanical Gardens, Hamilton New Zealand
Kitchen Garden
Tropical Garden, Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton New Zealand
Tropical Garden

Practical information on visiting the Hamilton Gardens

  • Hamilton is 125 km southwest of Auckland (New Zealand’s largest city), 103 km northwest of Rotorua (New Zealand’s geothermal region), and 500 km north of Wellington (New Zealand’s capital city).
  • Currently, a visit to the gardens is one of the free things to do in Hamilton, although this may change soon, as it is being discussed by city council.
  • Located on Hungerford Crescent, Hamilton Gardens has plenty of free parking.
  • If you don’t have your own transportation, you can visit the Hamilton Gardens as part of a day trip from Auckland. 
  • Open daily, the Hamilton Gardens hours are:
    • Information Centre and Shop is open from 9 am to 5 pm.
    • Enclosed Gardens open at 7 am, closing at 7.30 pm in summer and 6 pm in winter.
    • Victorian Garden Display House open at 10 am, closing at 5 pm in summer and 4 pm in winter.
  • Allow enough time for a meal, or at least a coffee at the Hamilton Gardens Cafe. We enjoyed the outdoor seating overlooking Turtle Lake.
  • We picked up a Hamilton Gardens map at the Information Centre for a small fee, or you can click here to download a map.
  • A Hamilton Gardens wedding or other special events can be booked at the Hamilton Gardens Pavilion.

Rocky Horror Picture Show Fans, Don’t Miss the Riff Raff Statue and more . . .

There are moments when the age generation gap is glaringly apparent on the faces of our young adult children, and for us, Riff Raff Square was one of those moments.

Rocky Horror Picture Show fans may or may not already know that its creator was a Hamilton resident. In the centre of town on Victoria Street, the statue of Riff Raff stands proudly in the Square named for him.

Who is Riff Raff? He is the movie’s butler played by creator Richard O’Brien. For young people, it’s a mystery. For millennials, it’s a chance to giggle at their parents. I know my girls did when Jeff and I excitedly did the Time Warp. ‘It’s just a jump to the left and a step to the right.’ I am pretty sure it was the pelvic thrust that had them rolling their eyes.

Riff Raff Square from Rocky Horror Picture Show in Hamilton New Zealand
Riff Raff Square dedicated to former Hamilton resident Richard O’Brien who wrote the screenplay The Rocky Horror Picture Show and played Riff Raff (the alien from the planet Transsexual). Standing tall in the square is a life-sized statue of Riff Raff, instructions for the Time Warp, and ‘Frank N Furter’s Lab’ encasing the public toilets.

Other Free Things to Do in Hamilton

  • Riverside Walkway: Stroll or cycle on the 11 km Riverside Walkway as it winds alongside the Waikato River through native bush and a few residential areas.
  • Waikato Museum: It’s a small museum with a collection of Māori artifacts, artwork, and a superbly carved waka (war canoe). Special exhibits may have an entry fee.
  • Taitua Arboretum: Gifted to the city of Hamilton in 1997, it is a lovely spot for a stroll or picnic under mature trees, or alongside the small lake.

Not So Free Hamilton Activities

  • Hamilton Zoo: Home to New Zealand’s only tapirs and fishing cats, a visit to the zoo is one of the best things to do with kids in Hamilton. In total, there are over 600 native and exotic species at the zoo.
  • Classics Museum: Over 100 classic cars are on display.
  • Cruise on the Waikato River: Daily 90-minute cruises are available, including a Saturday wine tasting cruise.
  • Zealong Tea Estate: Sip a cup of organic pure oolong tea at the tea house or tour New Zealand’s only tea plantation.

Where to Stay in Hamilton

Hamilton Gardens, one of the Hamilton Attractions in New Zealand
Hamilton Gardens

As one would expect in New Zealand’s fourth largest city, the range of Hamilton accommodation options spans from backpacker to luxury. Whichever you choose, we find the best prices by comparing at HotelsCombined and usually reserving through booking.com.

⇒ Check Hamilton accommodation availability at booking.com  Check Pricing

Read next: Enjoy an Auckland to Wellington Drive with These Stops

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Award-winning themed Hamilton Gardens are one of the key things to see in Hamilton New Zealand Visiting Riff Raff Square (Rocky Horror Picture Show) is one of the key things to do in Hamilton New Zealand

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Comments

  10. The gardens are absolutely amazing…so unique! I really loved that yellow door! 🙂 Anyway, how interesting that the creator of Rocky Horror was from Hamilton also. Wow…that is enduring the test of time, too!

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  11. Hamilton Gardens look like a beautiful place to spend some time with nature. I really loved that yellow door and would love to get myself captured there!

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  14. What gorgeous gardens – i was unaware of those sort of gardens in NZ (normally thinking natural beauty and adventure when I think of NZ tourism…). They’re fabulous! Great post! (Aren’t we all a bit off Riff Raff cos Richard O’Brien said something bogas about gay people or transpeople or am I inventing that? Can’t quite remember now…)

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  15. What fabulous gardens so clever and artistic I liked them all but particularly the Tudor Garden, I went to see The Rocky Horror Show at a theatre down the Kings Road here years ago I thoroughly enjoyed it and the film was also good 🙂

    Have an artistictastic week Rhonda and thanks for the tour 🙂

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  19. I loved the Hamilton Gardens and like you was pleasantly surprised! The Japanese one was definitely my favourite…. Despite the fact we own a house in Hamilton I had no idea about the Riff Raff statue or that the rocky horror originated there! Have pinned this so we can go check it out when we are back in NZ. Thanks for sharing! #TheWeeklyPostcard

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  21. New Zealand is one of the destinations we must visit soon so I’m glad I read this post. I was wondering what we could do while in Hamilton and these gardens look like a peaceful option! We always like a zoo or gardens to be able relax without needing to hit the beach.

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  23. Yay! My home town <3 If you in NZ in February, head to the Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival. All those enclosed gardens get set up like stages with plays, concerts and comedy. Its' been a few years since I was there last, but there's usually a big band over at Turtle lake.

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  24. I’ve never heard of Riff Raff, but I really love manicured gardens like the Hamilton Gardens. We have something very similar here, in Pasadena. They are called the Huntington Gardens. Maybe next time you come to California we can take you there.

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    • I am guessing you never saw the Rocky Horror Picture show. It’s an odd film that was a bit of a cult classic in my university days. And as for the Huntington Gardens, yes, we would love to join you.

      Reply

  29. What a great idea to have differently-themed gardens! Like a brief history of the world tour in one place. I would much prefer to visit gardens like this to the uniform botanic gardens we tend to have in Australia.

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  30. Wow, I love the gardens! I bet that guided tour would be really interesting. I am so terrible at gardening, so I think it makes me appreciate nice gardens even more. #TheWeeklyPostcard

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  31. I love the concept of having all kinds of gardens in one place. Brought back memories of all the gardens that I have seen across the world. I would love to see the Hamilton Gardens some day. I had no idea there was something so beautiful in Hamilton.

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  33. Hamilton Gardens looks lovely! It reminds me of the structured gardens you typically find in Europe. I’m as so surprised to learn that there’s such a grand garden in Hamilton.

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  34. Astounding how many free things you can do in New Zealand Rhonda. Amazing really. So many other countries base their tourism on premium/paid trips or locations. I still cannot believe the national parks are free. In the US we’re talking 10 to 20 smackers, for some of these breath-taking spots.

    Ryan

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  35. Hi Rhonda – looks to be a wonderful place to visit … and I can see I’d need a few days there. How magnificent the gardens look … let alone the rest of the area – definitely on the ‘wish list’ … thanks for the great photos and descriptions … love the Tudor one … but all of them – cheers Hilary

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  36. OMG! These amazing gardens plus the tour of Hobbiton just catapulted the Hamilton Gardens to the #1 spot on my bucket list. I don’t know when I’ll get to go to New Zealand, but it’s something I simply must do.

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  37. Having never been to NZ (long at the top of my bucket list), I can’t help but insert European gardens as a comparison. From Monet’s gardens at Giverny to those that wrap around French castles in the Loire Valley. I see things that are similar — a curved foot bridge, a maze-like arrangement of shrubs — but the plants and environment are so very different from Europe. I bet this was an amazing experience!

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    • Europe is old world, New Zealand is new for manmade items, and often untouched for nature. The gardens are beautiful, and there is plenty more in New Zealand you will enjoy. Allow lots of time.

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  39. What beautiful gardens! And I certainly didn’t know that Rocky Horror’s creator was from Hamilton. I’ll never forget the first time seeing that wacky show! Or for that matter, the times since. It’s truly unforgettable.

    Reply

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