Yes, we can’t physically travel anywhere outside of New Zealand at the moment. But we’re one of the lucky few countries in the world who still has the grip on Corona, so we can at least travel freely within our own country. And when your feet itch too much for exotic countries, we know of a place that might help. Hamilton Gardens takes you around the world in just one single day.

Down the Rabbit Hole

Standing in the middle of a round courtyard, I feel like Alice in Wonderland. Surrounding me are several doors, all leading to a different universe. Within each universe lies yet another court with even more doors, transporting us to other worlds. Had there been a table with cake and a bottle saying ‘Eat Me’ and ‘Drink Me’, I wouldn’t have been surprised.

Japan

The first door beams us into right the backyard of a Ryokan somewhere in Japan. We pass a minimalist zen garden to a traditional wooden house that opens up onto a pond. The wind sends waves through the leaves of the Japanese Maple trees in the background and gently ripples the water.  

I wish I could come here after (or rather before) hours, meditate or do yoga. This would be a perfectly peaceful sanctuary. On this Sunday afternoon, however, this lovely place is filled with chatter and screaming children. A different kind of peace and, especially, normality in this crazy world.

England

Being spring, a lot of the plants in the English Garden are still small and the foliage still green but I’m sure it’s going to look stunning come summer. After all, it’s quite cold and miserable in England during the winter, isn’t it? The tulips in this section are unlike any tulips I’ve seen so far. They’re white and the rim of the petals looks like it formed ice crystals. 

China

We continue our travels to China. The Chinese Scholar Garden at Hamilton Gardens leads us through a tunnel of intoxicatingly sweet-smelling Jasmine and drops us in the heart of China. We follow the path around a Koi pond and over a bridge into the bamboo forest to a red pavilion on top of a hill.

India (or Middle-East)

The garden is called Indian Char Bagh Garden and its concept is spread well through India and the Middle East. In fact, the garden is so well-created it takes me back to the gardens and palaces I visited in Iran a few years ago. Even the blue ceiling of the building at the end of the garden feels as if we were in Shiraz and not Hamilton. 

I’ve never been to India but since the inspiration for this garden comes from the gardens in the Taj Mahal, I’m sure it must feel like India, too.

Italy

Having grown up in Switzerland, I’ve been to Italy and Switzerland’s Italian part Ticino many times over the decades. Some of my family lives or have lived there. While the geometrical symmetry we can see in Hamilton is more a thing of the past, the vibrant colours, the citrus trees growing in terracotta pots and sitting areas under the shade of a pergola overgrown by grapevines really is true vita italiana. The only thing I miss, sitting under the grapes, is a nice glass of wine, a grazing platter and Italian songs in the background. 

Tudors Garden

The Tudors Garden is where the Alice in Wonderland feeling hit me even harder. The garden looks right out the movies and books and I feel like the Red Queen must come around the corner any minute now. This must be the type of garden Lewis Caroll had in mind when he wrote the story of Alice.

Hamilton’s Tudor Garden is, like many of the other gardens, very symmetrical. Mystical beasts on poles seem to guard the garden and a stone pavilion sits in the backdrop.

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Edibles, tea parties and surrealism in Hamilton Gardens

We continue our journey through Hamilton Gardens to the next universe. This one is all about edible and herb gardens, followed by more fantastic gardens.

Edible Gardens

The edible gardens are massive and divided into the Sustainable Backyard, Herb Garden and Kitchen Garden. If I’ll have a food garden of only a quarter of the size as the ones in Hamilton, I’d be happy. 

We learn how the Maori used to grow and store the kumara and other plants before (and probably also after) the Pakeha came along. 

I love to see the sustainable backyard and how it shows us how pretty much anyone can turn their garden into a garden that produces food and herbs while still keeping the look of a pretty garden you’d love to invite people to.

The Herb Garden divides the herbs into sections of medicinal herbs, herbs used in and for cosmetics and a pot puri of other herbs. As a fan of medicinal plants and Mediterranean herbs, I’m in my element.

The Kitchen Garden section is too big to walk around it in a short time. Signs explain how to best rotate the vegetables every season to make the most of the nutrients in the soil and I realise I still have a loong way to go to create my perfect food garden.

The Garden Party

Having never read Katherine Mansfield’s The Garden Party, to me, this garden setting looks like it could be any pretty garden with a charming New Zealand villa residing in its midst. However, we arrive within the setting of an important piece of New Zealand literature, a story of the massive divide between working class and the privileged in the Edwardian time period. It seems like we have just arrived in time for the party to start, the marquee with the buffet set up on the tennis court.

Surrealist Garden

The most recent addition in Hamilton Gardens is perfect for the modern, socially sharing society. The Surrealist Garden is absolutely well-created and totally insta-worthy. The garden is entered through a gate with crooked-looking tiles and drops you into a forest of fantastic trees with moving branches (well, hello again, Alice theme). 

The edges of the garden lift from the ground as if they were paper that got doused in water and dried again. 

We see a garden from the perspective of an ant. Everything is so much bigger than we are, from the water tab to the garden shove and the giant wheelbarrow. But the most intriguing is the giant door in the giant hedge. Just like Alice, we are tiny and can’t quite reach the doorknob, try as we might.

Tropical Garden

We exit the botanical garden through one last door to a magical garden. This time we’re dropped into a lush green garden that looks like a jungle somewhere in South East Asia. The most fascinating fact about this tropical garden is, though, the plants are not tropical at all. They’re your average plants you can see on walks through the neighbourhood or reserves, here in New Zealand: Fern Trees, Nikau Palms, even Clivias. But the way the garden was designed and planted gives it a feel of the tropics. One last time I realise what almazing backyards we all could create with just a bit of landscaping talent.

Within half a day, we were transported to Japan, China, Middle East/India and Italy. We even travelled back in time before Aotearoa became New Zealand as well as the early 1900s when the country was in a firm imperial grip. And I learned more about backyard gardening and food gardens which will help me create my own dream garden. 

Hamilton Gardens is a true Wonderland to discover, whether or not you’re into gardening. If you’re wanting to escape reality for a day, you know where to go.

A little FAQ about Hamilton Gardens

Where is Hamilton Gardens?

Once you arrive in Hamilton, follow the signs to Hamilton Gardens. The general public car park for the enclosed gardens is at gate 1. To be honest, it’s easiest to follow your GPS.

What are the opening hours?

The enclosed gardens are open from 7.30am to 7.30pm, 7 days a week, summer and winter.

It can get very busy between 11am and 3pm on the weekends and public holidays. If you prefer more peace and quiet, try and arrive either before or after the busiest time.

Is Hamilton Gardens free?

Yes! I can’t quite believe it but yes, there is not entry fee to these incredible gardens. Although, as far as I know they’re currently playing with the thought of asking for admission in the future. 

Guided tours are available every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 11 am and take 75 minutes. Theses tours cost a small fee and take you behind the scenes of the themed gardens.

Are dogs allowed?

Not in the enclosed gardens (which is the gardens I’m talking about) but dogs are allowed pretty much anywhere else in the garden as long as they’re on a lead. There’s also an off-lead exercise area near the carpark.

Events at Hamilton Gardens

Lots of events happen at the botanical garden all the time. Best check out Hamilton Garden’s website to see what’s coming up next.