Waikato Blossom Guide

The city of Hamilton is all abloom with flowers during the springtime.

Below is a list of my favorite spots around the Hamilton region where you can get your floral fix for free.

The Hamilton Gardens

Perhaps one of Hamilton’s most famous places to see, Hamilton Gardens is a special place to visit during the springtime. There are daffodils, all aglow as large swathes of buttery yellow goodness. The trees are alight with blossoms of many different colours and all the flowers are in bloom. The gardens are a great place to wander around for a few hours at least, and there is a nice cafe on-site to recharge after all that walking.

Getting there - Hungerford Crescent, Hamilton 3216

Opening hours - 10am to 5pm the enclosed gardens hours, but you can wander around the outskirts of the gardens anytime.

Taitua Arboretum

The Taitua Arboretum is around a ten minute drive out of Hamilton and is a sprawling 20 hectares of woodland, lakes and pastureland. The place was created in the 1970s by two wonderful people, Bunny and John Mortimer. They planted seeds and cuttings, which they had collected from around the world. Initially for shade for their livestock, and then for the birds and the insects. They gifted this place to the city of Hamilton in the late 1990s and now is a favorite spot for many people to wander around.

In spring, some of the trees are covered in flowers, including a amazing looking magnolia at the beginning of the walk. As you make your way around the park, you can marvel at all the flowers both on the trees but also the daffodils and bluebells popping up along the path.

Getting There - From Hamilton follow SH23 west (towards Raglan) and turn left into Howden Road, then left again into Taitua Road. Bus parking is available at the arboretum's entrance.

Opening Hours - 8am - to half an hour before dusk. Seven days a week.

Shaws Bird Park

Shaw’s Bird Park is a privately owned nature paradise that is open to the public seven days a week.

There are a lot of birds to see at this spot, including parrots and waterfowl. As well as a lot of bird species, there are beautiful blossoming trees to marvel at during the springtime.

My favorites are the delicate white blossoming trees where there are an abundance of bees and birds feeding on the flowers.

The park is free to the public and is a great place to get a blossom fix this spring.

Getting There - 143 Hall Road, Glenview, Hamilton 3282

Opening Hours - 8am - 6pm

Yendell Park

This is a roadside park, and may not seem like a good place for springtime flowers, but this spot has heaps of daffodils during spring. Many will only see them as a dash of yellow as they drive down this busy road, but it is worth parking up and having a wander.

Getting There - Best place to park would be the Rose Garden carpark and you can walk over as there is no on street parking.

Cambridge

There are a few spots in the town of Cambridge where the blossoms are bright and beautiful. One of them is Te Koo Utu Lake Domain. There are cherry blossom trees that are beautifully pink in the spring and you can see small tauhou or silver eyes and tui in the trees as well.

Maungakawa Scenic Reserve is also a great spot to go and soak in some spring vibes. Kōwhai golden hues, pink blossoms and beautiful daffodils are all present during the springtime making for a beautiful spot. There is also a great looped walk in the area that goes through the forested area.