Offering surprises around every corner, Ngatea Water Gardens in New Zealand exceeded our expectations on every level. While the landscape is beyond lovely and the birds and fish plentiful, it is both the owner’s sense of humour and the massive “Can Museum” that caught us off guard.
The five-acre water gardens are the design and creation of owners Roger and Emma Blake, but the humour is all Roger. The grounds are attractive, and their gardening expertise shines through. The paved walking path makes the facility accessible to everyone.
Ngatea Water Gardens
If you visit only for the beautiful water gardens, you won’t be disappointed. The meticulously cared for grounds, gardens, and water features highlight the attention to detail. Although manmade, the details make you forget that fact. For example, a massive 10HP pump powers the waterfall behind the bridge in the photo below.
Do you know how to pronounce Ngatea?
In the Maori language, the “g” is silent in the combination of ‘Ng’, therefore, the town name is pronounced “Na-tee-a.”
Click to hear it pronounced.
Ngatea Water Gardens birds, fish, and turtles
Your low entrance fee covers pretty much everything. However, we recommend adding a bag of their fish/bird food on your way into the gardens, as feeding the ducks, geese, and fish added to our fun.
(Don’t worry, they are only floating crocodile heads).
Ngatea Water Gardens’ sense of humour
The sign on the door reads: “Warning: Joke Zone, Sense of humour required beyond this point. You have entered a property with high concentrations of jokes and humorous scenes. We are not responsible for any health problems arising from excessive laughter while viewing this amazing attraction.”
Furthermore, it’s all true. The subtle humour is everywhere. If one ignored all the signage around the gardens (most of it is jokes) and just looked at the beauty, then maybe one could get through the water gardens without a laugh. But you sure would miss out.
My sense of humour matches Roger’s, so I read everything and took my time to explore each nook and cranny. For instance, one might walk past this outhouse and just find its odd decor without looking a bit closer at the feet.
A few of my other favourite funny spots:
“Just married, Do Not Disturb”
Fisherman anchored next to “No Fishing” sign
“You are here”
Arthur’s Canny Museum
Then we opened a door and found Arthur’s Canny Museum . . . and stood speechless for a few moments.
With over 11,000 cans on display, this is one massively impressive room. When Arthur Blake began collecting cans in 1989, I doubt he ever thought it would become the only collection of beverage cans on display to the public in New Zealand.
This “Can Museum” is like nothing I have seen. There are plenty of labels I recognize, intermixed with antique beer cans and other rare items. This is much more than a beer can collection.
Visiting Ngatea Water Gardens
- Ngatea Water Gardens is on Darlington Street, just off State Highway 2 (SH2) and across the street from the Ngatea gem factory.
- The drive from Coromandel, Hamilton, Tauranga or Auckland to Ngatea is only about one hour.
- Ngatea is often just a service stop for travellers. Don’t make this mistake, you will be missing out on a real gem. We visited Ngatea as part of an Auckland to Wellington road trip.
- The Ngatea gardens are open Sunday to Thursday from 10 am to 4 pm (summer) and only on Sundays in the winter (May to September). They are also open by appointment.
See our article: 9 Best New Zealand Gardens
Stay in Paeroa
If you are looking for Ngatea accommodation, we suggest staying in nearby Paeroa. Just 20 minutes away, in Paeroa, you will find the antiquing capital of New Zealand as well as home to our unofficial national drink, L&P (which stands for Lemon and Paeroa and is now owned by Coca-Cola).
And while in Paeroa, don’t miss the giant 6-metre-tall L&P bottle. Actually, not missing it would be more difficult as it is in the centre of town on State Hwy 2, just beyond the roundabout with State Hwy 26.
Read next: Auckland to Tauranga Road Trip: Stops on a North Island Itinerary Loop
More from the Bay Plenty and surrounding area
Have you been to Ngatea Water Gardens?
Disclaimer: We were guests of Ngatea Water Garden. However, the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
Nancy
What a gorgeous place – breathtaking!
Karla Ramos
Oh I love this! This garden looks really relaxing, almost homey. My grandmother’s house kind of give me the same vibes! I love it!
Erin Gustafson
I love a quirky collection! What an unexpected bonus to the beautiful gardens. That can collection is amazing! Thanks for the pronunciation guide – always good to try to say it correctly. Emphasis on the try. Especially in Denmark.
Mary {The World Is A Book}
What a fun place to visit! I would be exploring everything too and reading all the fun signs. Love unique attractions like these that can entertain visitors. That is an impressive collection of cans. This was a great find!
Jitaditya
Loved the quirky design…
I could not exactly describe the garden in words… I guess that is why it is quirky… he he…
Somewhere there is a medieval, old world charm to it too…
Ghia Lorenzo
What a very nice garden this is. This place is so relaxing, indeed perfect to unwind and to breathe in some fresh air. I love the decoration and the animals living in this garden.
Clare
Oh I’d LOVE to go here, Rhonda! It looks so much fun. I love a bit of a laugh – even more so in a surprising place like a garden. And some of those cans look absolutely beautiful.
Indrani
Interesting garden and pool decorations. I thought those crocodiles were real.
Such interesting collections they have. A place worth visiting.
Joyce Lansky
Beautiful photos of pretty places.
Kimmie Conner
I love that its a beutiful place to visit already, but the jokes make it THAT much better! what a cool place! It’s on my list now 🙂
Rhonda Albom
I agree, the jokes made the place really fun.
sara
Love the sense of humour in these gardens. But really want to know what happens if you don’t follow the signs in the castle and push the buttons??
That canny museum is, umm, wow, quite extensive!
Didn’t realise it was located so close to Paeroa. L&P is a great cocktail mixer 😉
Rhonda Albom
We disobeyed two signs, one was a do not stand here, the other was the do not push this button on the castle – both times we got wet, appropriate since it is a water garden.
Nancie
Lovely place to spend a day. The fountain looks like something from the Halifax Public Gardens. It must be that British influence.
Rhonda Albom
Halifax is somewhere still on my bucket list.
Amy Franks
I’ve never been to the water gardens, we’ve drive past it plenty of times but keep meaning to stop in, although someone told me recently it’s become a bit run down.
Rhonda Albom
Interesting. I was never there before, but it didn’t feel run down to me. I took the photos in April 2018.
amit
Haha, I did laugh as the coed toilet, gotta love the sense of humour on show here – The gardens do look quite nice and shame I missed them while I was in New Zealand (I spent a year out there.) I like how the humour was put in subtle places making you look that bit harder, and I’m sure as soon as you spotted it you were in stitches 🙂
Rhonda Albom
Perhaps on our next visit. No one can spend a year here and not want to come back some day.
Followingtherivera
Loving the look and vibe of these gardens! I didn’t know how to pronounce it so thanks for the tip! Also like the sense of humour surrounding the place; i didn’t see the men’s feet in the toilet either!
Rhonda Albom
LOL – I didn’t know how to pronounce it either, and I have lived in New Zealand for 16 years.
Jenn and Ed Coleman
I think it would be the can museum that gets me in the door. Anything that is “Biggest” is of some interest, but it looks like there is a legitimate slice of history and culture in there. In particular, what is “cool” and sellable during any particular time. Sometimes, it’s the most sublime items that give you the biggest insights.
Rhonda Albom
Honestly, the can museum was a big surprise to me, I came for the water gardens and was delighted with all the bonuses I got.
Carol Colborn
Good that part of the 5-acre Ngatea Water Gardens is imbued with laughter. Love the coed outhouse! I have never seen a Can Museum before!
Rhonda Albom
Honestly, at first glance, I didn’t notice the second set of feet. The guy who set up this place has a fabulous, albeit quirky, sense of humour.
Rachel Heller
I’m not that big of a fan of gardens; I’ll visit if I’m there, but I won’t go out of the way to see them. In the case of Ngatea Water Gardens, though, the visual jokes make it sound worth it!
Rhonda Albom
And don’t forget the can museum.
Jody Robbins
What a fun, quirky attraction. I love places like this. The gardens looked lovely and tranquil, and then you’ve got the added bonus of the odd can museum. Love it.
Rhonda Albom
Lovely and tranquil are great descriptors for the gardens.
Anda
Ngatea Water Gardens look quite similar to the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena. The same kind of landscape and vegetation. Even the same kind of ponds and little turtles. The sword in the stone however I didn’t see at the Huntington Gardens.
Rhonda Albom
Next time I am in LA I will check out Huntington Gardens. I loved Ngatea Water Gardens, so anywhere similar would be a treat too.
goblinette
Lovely gardens with lovely crocodiles 🙂 I like the sword in a stone, probably waiting for King Arthur.
Rhonda Albom
I have not heard the two words “lovely” and “crocodile” used together before today. 🙂
Hilary
Hi Rhonda – looks amazing and oh yes … to have some giggles while we admire the stunning gardens … and nearby too (to you granted!) cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom
I live north of Auckland, so it’s a bit farther for me, but yes it was a great find.
Comedy Plus
What a lovely place. I love water gardens. They are so very calming.
I would have loved looking through all those cans. A slice of history.
Love the outhouse.
Have a fabulous day and weekend, Rhonda. ♥
Rhonda Albom
Agreed. It is a wonderful place to visit and I am sure you will love it.
Wednesday Elf
What a fun (and truly beautiful) place to visit. I would love to see the Ngatea Water Gardens in person, but your virtual tour by photographs and delightful descriptions is almost as good. Love the places you find on your travels.
Rhonda Albom
I only showed some of it, there are plenty of surprises left for you to find on your own.
L. Diane Wolfe
I love the can collection. I’d be happy to feed fish and ducks, too.
Rhonda Albom
I was blown away by the cans. I just didn’t expect anything so big when I went through the door.
Jill
I don’t believe I would have entertained the idea of visiting a garden when I was younger – and am certain that I missed out on quite a bit. This one looks like a beautiful – and fun – place to visit. Especially the outhouse 😉 And how about the can collection – very impressive!
Rhonda Albom
With the ducks and King Arthur’s castle, Ngatea Water Gardens really are for all ages. The humour, while some a bit of double entendre, was all clean.
Ryan Biddulph
A hearty LOL on Roger’s sense of humor Rhonda! Especially the feet peaking out from the outhouse. Up my silly alley. Factor in the beauty of the place, wildlife – some ancient like the turtles – and you have a winning spot. Can museum is the topper as it is genuine. I mean, I never knew can museums existed. Love it.
Ryan
Rhonda Albom
I am with you, we have the same sense of humour. This place is great. If you are driving up the country when you come to Auckland next month, stop here on the way.
Alex J. Cavanaugh
All on five acres? Very impressive! Dig the amount of cans. And yes, I caught the feet on the outhouse.
Rhonda Albom
It’s compact, with so much to see. And as for the cans, wow, it was almost overwhelming.