GARDENS
Development of The Waterlily Gardens began in the 1940's thanks to retired farmers, Tom and Mabel Gordon, and celebrated 60 years of opening to the public in 2011, The gardens were first open to the public for four Tuesdays in February 1951.
The gardens host an abundance of hardy water lilies in the lake and ponds, lush trees, native forest walks, waterfalls and formal lawns.
Although the gardens are not open to the public currently, we will update our page when we re-open.
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THE GARDENS
Park up and wander through the gate, onto the formal lawns, past the café, Giant Oaks, liriodendrons, maples, liquid ambers, meta sequoias and swamp Cyprus.
Here you can find the small lake, abundant with hardy water lilies, local sculptures and a backdrop of ornamental cherry trees.
Over the stream, through some casually arranged ponds awash with colour. before heading through a path of native New Zealand flora and fauna. After exiting the bush, past cascading water, past the ginko trees and the copper beech, the gardens open to an expansive two-acre lake, overlooked by a weeping willow, and surrounded by giant flora.
Sit and relax, or play under the trees then amble back up through the bush, on the other side of the stream.
PONDS AND LAKES
Twenty stream-fed ponds, including the 0.8ha lake, are home to 70 varieties of water lily – including hardy, tropical types – and lotus plants
NATIVE BUSH WALK
The bush area is filled with rimu, kahikatea, lancewood, miro, kauri, punga, ferns and many more flora and fauna. Finches and Fantails flit through, following you on your journey. Tui's call from the high branches. The tranquil setting is like something out of a fairy tale. If you are bringing children, make sure they keep a look out for the fairy garden.
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