Exploring Hamilton – Oh Wonderful Gardens!

Hailed as the most popular attraction in the Waikato region, the “Hamilton Gardens“ is just a stone throw away from the BFF’s home. It makes for a nice, relaxing morning/afternoon walk and great opportunities for taking photos!

(Te Parapara Garden – A garden that demonstrates pre-European Maori horticultural traditions & technologies)

The BFF mentioned that anybody can take great photos in New Zealand because every corner is beautiful. Guess what? I am beginning to think the same way! Unfortunately, one of the vital lens for my DSLR broke down upon my arrival (sadness of all sadness!) and I am relying on the compact Olympus to do the job. So far, it has not let me down. Or perhaps, as the BFF says, the land is so beautiful that any pictures will come out fine.

(By the Garden’s Lake)

(Indulging in the remnants of Autumn, shot by BFF @Dlin:))

Back to the Hamilton Gardens – it opens at 7.30am every day of the year (though some exhibitions open at a later hour) and the best part of it is FREE ADMISSION! Within the magnificent Hamilton Gardens lies various collections of garden that include: Paradise, Productive, Fantasy, Cultivar and Landscape. Believe me when I say that one can get lost in there! The sheer size of it as well as the meticulous planning and maintenance of the gardens is mind-boggling(!) and we spent a few hours exploring the Paradise and Productive Collections.

I will let the photos do the talking. 🙂

Entrance to Hamilton Gardens – Heading towards the Paradis Collection

A pretty flower blossoming in the cold winter season

Found a lone white calla lily ~

Japanese Garden of Contemplation | This is a garden that embraces contradiction in all its forms, i.e. movement/stillness, complexity/simplicity, vastness/ smallness, and even wet/dry…”

English Flower Garden and its tenant.

English Flower Garden | Inspired by the 19th century Arts & Crafts style.

Lovenest amid the English Flower Garden

Chinese Scholars Garden | Generally but not exactly a traditional Chinese garden from the Sung Dynasty, 10th – 12th century.

Friendship Tree, the BFF & me. 😀

Love Mandarins| The BFF claims they are lovers.

Chinese Scholars Garden | Generally but not exactly a traditional Chinese garden from the Sung Dynasty, 10th – 12th century.

Reflection 🙂

A glimpse of Waikato River

And then I saw rainbow (again!)

American Modernist Garden

Indian Char Bagh Garden | The ‘Char Bagh’ or ‘enclosed four part’ garden was the original Paradise Garden. It is sometimes known as the ‘Universal Garden’, not only for its widespread and long period of use, but also because it was regarded as an icon for the universe itself.

Italian Renaissance Garden | Soaked in myth, tradition and history, this garden is a testament to the ancient fable of Romulus and Remus.

Te Parapara | Listed under the Productive Collection, this garden includes records of traditional knowledge, interpretive material and ceremonies all focused on the heritage and tikanga associated with the local area.

Bare Your Teeth!

Crossroad?

Herb Garden – Something to be used for cosmetic purposes

Tudor Garden | Inspired by historical Tudor gardens featuring mythical beasts, such as unicorns, sea serpents and griffins.

Three Friends by the Lake

Before the Plunge.

Natural beauty

Another pair of love birds~

For more information, check out the Hamilton Gardens:

Official website | Opening Hours

Happy Exploring!

The above information has been complied based on various sources, including my own experience and should only be used as a reference. Check out http://www.newzealand.com/sg/hamilton-waikato/ for more information on Hamilton, New Zealand.