If you need an escape from New Zealand city life without going too far, head to the city’s oldest park and its crown jewel, the Auckland Domain Wintergardens.
Originally designed by William Gummer, it was built in the early 1900s to provide winter garden viewing. Today, the Auckland Domain Wintergardens is a city treasure that is always free and open to the public.
Situated near the top of the domain, just to the west of the Auckland Museum, it’s often overlooked by both visitors and locals. This, I will never understand.
For me, it’s a place of peace and serenity, a place to breathe in nature, admire the architecture, stroll through the aromatic greenhouses, and relax. A public sanctuary in the centre of the city, it is a perfect add-on to a day in the park or a visit to the museum.
There are two barrel-vaulted Victorian-style greenhouses, a fernery, and an ornate courtyard filled with a pond and interesting artwork at the Domain Wintergardens.
The Auckland Domain Wintergardens are registered with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (now Heritage New Zealand)
Domain Wintergardens greenhouses
While architecturally quite similar, each greenhouse is distinctly different on the inside as one is heated to create a tropical environment, while the other is temperate. The plants in the temperate house change with the seasons.
Both contain a variety of colourful, fragrant, vibrant flowers and plants.
Amongst the most unusual is the tropical Titan Arum (the world’s largest flower, which blooms only once in seven years). An infrequent bloomer, when it does bloom, it produces a massive and stinky flower, often referred to as a corpse flower.
In 2013 when we were in Washington DC, we thought we had such a unique opportunity to see a Corpse Flower blooming. Imagine our surprise to find this rare opportunity again in our own city. We didn’t run up to Auckland and wait in the queue, so by the time we visited, the flower had somewhat retreated, but at least, it no longer smelt like rotting flesh.
Fernery
The fernery was built in the 1920s on the site of an old scoria quarry attached to the Wintergardens. It’s quite large, featuring a variety of New Zealand ferns.
Somehow, I didn’t notice the fernery on my first several visits to the Wintergardens, but it’s there with an entrance between the two greenhouses.
Domain Wintergardens courtyard
The two greenhouses face each other and are separated by a terraced courtyard. The sunken pool in the centre has lily pads and koi, but it is the neoclassical marble statues that capture my imagination.
More about the surrounding park
Like so many of the city’s green hills, the Auckland Domain is built around the cone of the extinct Pukekawa volcano. The 75-hectare park is Auckland’s oldest park.
In addition to the domain wintergardens, this Auckland park is home to:
- Forested bush trails
- Duck ponds
- Interesting sculptures
- Formal gardens
- Soccer fields
- The Auckland War Memorial Museum
- Wintergarden Cafe
- A band rotunda
- Plenty of open spots for picnics or sports.
Visiting Domain Wintergardens
- Domain Wintergardens sits next to the Auckland Museum on the cone of an extinct volcano that is now the Auckland Domain. It’s the oldest park in New Zealand’s largest city.
- Wintergardens is stop number 5 on the Auckland Explorer bus. Check the route and grab a ticket for the Auckland Explorer Hop-on Hop-off bus here.
- Entry to the Wintergardens is free.
- The Wintergardens opens every day at 9 am, closing at 4.30 in winter and 5.00 in summer. For more information or to check times, visit their official website.
- Bring a picnic and find a spot under one of the large mature canopy-like trees. Or, cross the road to the Wintergarden Café. Enjoy a delicious lunch, snack, or coffee while overlooking the duck pond that was the first source of piped water for Auckland (1866).
- The Auckland Domain Wintergardens are one of the many free things to do in Auckland.
More from Auckland you might like
… starting with these 75 free and nearly free things to do in the city
What’s your favourite part of the Domain Wintergardens?
Indah Nuria Savitri
a lovely garden indeed…love the ferns and their unique patterns..
Corinne
Rhonda, What gorgeous photos. I love the one of the statue. We don’t often go to gardens unless we have a lot of extra time. I do love them.
Happy #wkendtravelinspiration!
stevebethere
It looks lovely there Rhonda it reminded me of Kew Gardens here 🙂
Sorry to hear your not too good I hope you get it under control sooner rather than later, and well done for the weight loss and being caffeine free 🙂
Have a tanfastic weekend 🙂
Lyn aka TheTravellingLindfields
Beautiful photos as usual. Good luck with the weight loss. I don’t think anyone who has never been overweight has any idea how terribly difficult it is to lose weight and keep it off. Best wishes. Lyn
Paul F. Pietrangelo
What a beautiful place. We have a place we call Pointe Pelee. Very beautiful with many animals and fish. Pointe Pelee is the most southern tip of Canada even though it’s in Ontario, the middle province of Canada. Weird but true.
Your daughter is very beautiful. She must take after her mother. What is with the marks on her face & what is the word spriggan mean?
Have a beautiful Saturday Rhonda. See ya.
Cruisin Paul
Rhonda Albom
Hubby had work in Ottawa about 13 years ago, and the girls (then age 2 and 4) and I did a bit of touring from Montreal to Niagara Falls. I was surprised then to look at the map and see how far south parts of Ontario sit. I don’t believe we got to Point Pelee. Next time.
According to Google, “A spriggan is a legendary creature known from Cornish faery lore. Spriggans are particular to West Penwith in Cornwall.” As for the markings on her face, I face painted on what she told me she wanted. And thanks for the compliment.
Amy Bovaird
Hi Rhonda,
Loved the photos! My two favorites were the fern and corpse plant, which I had never heard of until now. Smells like rotting flesh when it’s blooming? Reminded me of how much I hate Durian (a fruit).
Loved the picture of your daughter! I take it “spriggan” is a Harry Potter term?
Great that you are working with a nutritionist. My sister had us all very healthy. She was very much into nutrition and it helped her so much. Kale, brussel sprouts, and anything dark and green are good for your eyes.
Great job with the weight loss and walking all those steps! I try to walk about 10,000 steps per day.
Thanks for posting the article about your Intracranial Hypertension. So sorry to hear about it. But you are doing great with everything you are accomplishing. Keep it up!! xx
Amy
Sally@Toddlers on Tour
How rare to find a beautiful place like this free to enter and explore.
Lexa Cain
I didn’t realize you were ill, and I’m so sorry for you. But I’m proud that you’re working hard to lose that weight and lessen your symptoms. If being outside is causing your asthma, maybe you need an inside treadmill. Your daughter is absolutely adorable in her spriggan LARPing costume and makeup!
Hilary
Hi Rhonda – thanks for the mention … glad they help as they occasionally flow out from our summer England! Good for you re the health and weightloss … but the asthma and splints on top – how very difficult and irritating – still keep your spirits up, and your family is being supportive – the main thing.
Isn’t the Botanical garden gorgeous … we have ‘lots’ here in the UK .. and I do get to visit them when I can … Kew – it’s just been revamped and I must get up and see it at some stage. I went to the Oxford Botanical Gardens for an art-seed-Arctic project .. that I haven’t ever written about – a complicated one to explain: perhaps I should have another go.
But I think my favourite is probably Kirstenbosch in Cape Town … an open botanical garden on the mountainside … it’s brilliant – lovely to walk around … and the Cape has an amazing range of plants – larger than elsewhere in the world … a small biome area: much protection needed. It sits looking out of the city and the Bay towards Robben Island … and south and east to the Cape of Good Hope: where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.
Love seeing your daughter .. they obviously have so much fun and live life to the full …
Enjoy your future visits and good luck with all that’s going on … thanks again for the mention. Cheers and thoughts – Hilary
Paula McInerney
So pleased you explained spriggan at a LARP as I had nothing. She looks gorgeous and the gardens are lovely also
budget jan
Congratulations on your weight loss. That is an incredible effort with your shin splints and asthma to overcome. Keep it up because that is an awesome amount to lose and I’m sure you will lose more. Fingers crossed for you.
I love the light captured in the hanging plant shot and the way the background is blurred.
Amy
I haven’t been to that place in literally years but like the auckland museum it’s one of my favourite places to visit, as for the weight loss, you go for it! I went down from over 85kgs 5 years ago and dropped down to 65kgs what I am now but it was done through stress, at least you are doing it through a more healthy method.
Joyce
Great photos.
Travelera
The glass green houses are beautiful! I love them
And Well done in losing all that weight in a short period of time, You are doing fantastic!!
Lydia C. Lee
I’ve not been to NZ – the cities are always different to how I imagine them in my head (I think the mountain scenery is just branded on my brain…). Lovely pics.
Lydia C. Lee
Sorry, I just missed that bit at the bottom. I hope all is saved and you are in the 75% of keeping the eyesight. How stressful for you. Take care.
Rhonda Albom
I think the mountain and coastal scenery is the best part of New Zealand. If I were here on a quick trip, I would get out of the cities as soon as possible.
eileen g
Wow, how could you not want to visit a botanic garden that is next to a museum and on top of a volcano? We have the Brooklyn BG, which is loveliest in spring when we have cherry blossoms, tulips and roses in abundance, and a lovely japanese garden.
Rhonda Albom
I don’t think we have cherry blossoms anywhere in New Zealand (but I could be wrong on this, I just have never seen them.) They are one of my favourites to see in bloom.
Comedy Plus
Oh I would love to visit there. With you.
I’m sorry you’re having a bad week. You are in my prayers. I hope you can get this in control. You sure are doing everything in your power to gain control. I’m so proud of you.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
Amila @Leisure and Me
Seems like a peaceful garden and I really like the picture of the pond.
Hope your health condition will be fine soon and your goal of reducing weight would be a success!
Stay Blessed and Have a Great Weekend!
L. Diane Wolfe
Beautiful gardens. I love all of the statues.
That’s fantastic you’ve lost so much weight.
Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor
I’ve always loved the Winter Garden. Nice peaceful spot. Was it just last year that the corpse tree flowered? I think I remember reading about it at the time.
Rhonda Albom
Can you believe I have lived here for 12 years and this is the first time I have visited. The Corpse flower bloomed in Dec 2013 and again this July (not sure if it is the same one, as they don’t bloom that often.