The Sculpture Park at Waitakaruru Arboretum

★★★★★

This former greywacke quarry has been transformed into a garden and arboretum over the past 35 years. It provides the foundation for a unique art-in-nature experience throughout its 17.5 hectares where imaginations are inspired, creative exploration encouraged and mental and physical health nurtured. 

It has many layers of interest to engage a diverse range of people.  With more than 100 sculptures exhibited at any time the walk through the park has sculptures range from small to the impressive Portal in Conifer Canyon.  The park holds events through the year including mid-winter night walks, Seeds of Renewal celebrating the spring season, as well as many creative workshops through the summer months.

The arboretum has been planted roughly according to geographic origins.  There are approximately 4ha of New Zealand native areas which wind their way between the American, Australian, South American sections ending at the largest and most recent planting area - the Asian Forest.  3000 trees and shrubs of Asian origin were planted almost 6 years ago. There are more than 110 species of trees and shrubs and an increasingly diverse array of herbaceous plants.

The trees are registered as a permanent forest, providing significant long-term carbon sequestration, under New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme.

Visitors enjoy the modernist Japanese folly at the peak of a flight of 109 steps to enjoy wide vistas over the Asian Forest. The Quarry pond has an impressive array of many species of water lilies and a noisy population of frogs in summer.

The terrain is undulating with a slow progression up to the top of the Quarry stairs, then down to the pond, and slow meander down to the café and entrance zone.

Facilities and Amenities

• More Information

  Brochure/Map available

  Cafe - open on weekends 10am to 3pm
  Terrain: gravel, and sealed road. Not suited to wheels (prams, walkers, wheelchairs) as there are steps through the circuit

  Picnics are encouraged.
  Children’s Activity: The Ruru Hunt
  Art/Craft sales

  Accommodation available at Ruru Retreat on site

  Dogs welcome every last Sunday of the Month

  Public Events/ Festivals – for dates refer to the website

  Conference/Wedding/Event Facilities 

  Tour Guide/s available

• Opening Hours & Tariffs

  Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm

  Entry fees for Self-guided walks
  15yrs plus: $20.00
  5 – 14yrs: $5.00

  Guided botanical tours $50

• Contact Details & Location

  207 Scotsman Valley Road, Hamilton

  Phone: 0273530467

  Email: info@sculpturepark.co.nz

  Website: www.sculpturepark.co.nz  

 

Other Gardens in Waikato

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