Wrights Watergardens
Wrights Watergardens
3
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
About
Wrights Watergardens and Water Garden Function Centre is a unique watergarden located 45 minutes south of Auckland city. Features include ponds, gardens and pathways surround the historic Mauku Waterfall and rock quarry. The beautiful garden is a popular choice for garden visits, weddings, special occasions and celebrations. A garden nursery, café and gift shop are also located onsite.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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3.0
76 reviews
Excellent
10
Very good
21
Average
13
Poor
10
Terrible
22
Keitha S
Auckland, New Zealand
Jan 2023
Wrights Watergardens has all the elements one needs for a great garden experience - space, terrain made for a lot of interesting tracks and a super impressive waterfall. And, in fact, I suspect that at one point in its history, Wrights Watergardens must have been awesome. However, whether because of Covid and a lack of visitors or some other factors, the tracks are not maintained to the sort of standard you would expect in a place you pay money to go into, wooden features such as a pergola over a bridge and a swing seat all look as though they were put together in about 1972 and then just left to slowly decompose and even the waterlily beds themselves needed a bit of weeding. Mother Nature has, however, kept up her end of the bargain and the waterfall is seriously cool. Here's hoping a bit more love and|or money comes to help the rest.
Written 29 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LonelyTraveler
Auckland Central, New Zealand
Jan 2022
Was looking forward to seeing the gardens as they have been taken over by new owners, unfortunately, it was slightly and that's being polite underwhelming, this place could be a garden of Eden, it has the potential for numerous picnic areas that offer serenity and peace.
Written 28 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
May 2022 • Family
The waterfall is the only saving grace for these gardens. The ponds are poorly maintained and are running to ruin, even the plants in the nursery for sale have seen better days. Could be truly spectacular, but no one seems to have invested the time or money into making it so
Written 6 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dec 2021 • Couples
Having read some indifferent reviews, I came with no expectations. I am very glad to say that Wrights Water Gardens are a real treat. The gardens are very well maintained and we'll set out. The maintenance of the whole property is of a very high standard. There were a huge number of lilies flowering as well as many other flowering plants. The waterfall is a highlight but this is not a one feature attraction. We stayed for 2 hours and enjoyed every little bit of the gardens. The entrance fee for the gardens is a very reasonable $8.00 which was well worth the fee. A very pleasant way to spend a few hours. The cafe was trading under some Covid restriction- never the less, the food was lovely and was served quickly. Highly recommended.
Written 30 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Found_Lost_Key
New Zealand
Jan 2021 • Couples
Free parking. You enter via a busy cafe where you pay the entrance fee. Toilets are here. The gardens are nice with plenty to see including a substantial waterfall at one end. Not suitable for wheelchairs. We spent a couple of hours here exploring all the different paths, taking photos etc.
Written 8 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patricia T
Auckland, New Zealand
Oct 2020
Cafe busy but no excuse for warm coffee, 3/4 hour to serve soup and toast and another party who arrived after us served an elaborate meal ahead of us. Staff very polite and apologetic. Suggest folk try a cafe in Pukekohe. Gardens however amazing. Peaceful, rustic and tidy without a manicured look. Well worth a visit. Rated it average because of cafe
Written 2 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jess D
Raglan, New Zealand
Sept 2020 • Family
Had been 9 months ago with old owners, was terrible, run down, food was no good, went today with new owners, was exceptional, they’ve done a great job tidying it up, food was DELICIOUS! Will definitely be back!
Written 13 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Scott Marks
Auckland Central, New Zealand
Sept 2020
Maybe in the past it was a great place, there's certainly hints of it, but now is pretty depressing.
The waterfall is still spectacular, but the rest of the place looks run-down, overgrown and uncared for. Rubbish left besides the walkways, see the photo I took of electronic crap left next to a pergola. Old bikes, tyres and broken garden furniture scattered around the gardens. Old polystyrene containers rotting away, plants lying around left in their polythene plastic bags rather than being planted, old hanging pots with dead plants strung up and fallen, wind-blown pots, lying around on the ground.
It has an area with a wooden boardwalk over a pond where they've modified it from being a flat, even surface to having bizarre oversized boards mixed in that's just asking for an accident and breaking a foot or an ankle. OSH would have a heart-attack.
There's also a really sad pathway made with old tires filled half-heatedly with dirt and rocks to make a weird and nasty looking 'stepping stone' pathway.
Many ponds filled with algae and dirty scum, a lot of dead and dying plants. I feel terribly sorry for the few fish and turtles we saw living in such filthy conditions. The wishing well filled with nasty, algae choked water.
I'd certainly heard good reports of the place in the past so was curious as to why it was so disappointing now. Checking news stories online it seems for the previous owners of 20 years it had been a passion and something they'd done a lot of work on. But it was sold in 2016 and that very little, to nothing, has been maintained or cared for since.
The waterfall is still spectacular, but the rest of the place looks run-down, overgrown and uncared for. Rubbish left besides the walkways, see the photo I took of electronic crap left next to a pergola. Old bikes, tyres and broken garden furniture scattered around the gardens. Old polystyrene containers rotting away, plants lying around left in their polythene plastic bags rather than being planted, old hanging pots with dead plants strung up and fallen, wind-blown pots, lying around on the ground.
It has an area with a wooden boardwalk over a pond where they've modified it from being a flat, even surface to having bizarre oversized boards mixed in that's just asking for an accident and breaking a foot or an ankle. OSH would have a heart-attack.
There's also a really sad pathway made with old tires filled half-heatedly with dirt and rocks to make a weird and nasty looking 'stepping stone' pathway.
Many ponds filled with algae and dirty scum, a lot of dead and dying plants. I feel terribly sorry for the few fish and turtles we saw living in such filthy conditions. The wishing well filled with nasty, algae choked water.
I'd certainly heard good reports of the place in the past so was curious as to why it was so disappointing now. Checking news stories online it seems for the previous owners of 20 years it had been a passion and something they'd done a lot of work on. But it was sold in 2016 and that very little, to nothing, has been maintained or cared for since.
Written 6 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
deniseonholiday
Auckland Central, New Zealand
May 2020 • Friends
First time..took my elderly mum. Perfect blue sky. Autumn colours were rich.
Started with brunch. Tasty eggs bene. Mum had sandwich made with fresh baked bread that she raved about. Good coffee then paid our garden entry fee . $8 for me and $6 for mum
Old quarry reformed in 90s. New owners have a plan so hope their dreams come true.
Very friendly and helpful staff
We will return especially when the waterlillies and lotus are awake...end of year.
Took a few autumn pics....
Started with brunch. Tasty eggs bene. Mum had sandwich made with fresh baked bread that she raved about. Good coffee then paid our garden entry fee . $8 for me and $6 for mum
Old quarry reformed in 90s. New owners have a plan so hope their dreams come true.
Very friendly and helpful staff
We will return especially when the waterlillies and lotus are awake...end of year.
Took a few autumn pics....
Written 16 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jdarcyAuckland
Auckland, New Zealand
Jan 2020
Our recent visit was a disappointment.
First of all the menus were old and tattered. The service was slow but pleasant..
My fish and chips were supposed to be beer battered, but were hard and crisp, with no sign of tender batter.
lIL;m affraid the site and the restaurant have deteriorated since sold to nw owners. l
Will not be going back.
First of all the menus were old and tattered. The service was slow but pleasant..
My fish and chips were supposed to be beer battered, but were hard and crisp, with no sign of tender batter.
lIL;m affraid the site and the restaurant have deteriorated since sold to nw owners. l
Will not be going back.
Written 19 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vicky H
Otaki Beach, New Zealand
Why are the gardens so messy and over grown?
Why is there not much selection of food to eat at the cafe?
Trisha826
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Just wondering if it is correct you do not have a Cafe on site anymore only available for functions. Making enquiries for a Probus Club visit.
Also the best time to visit your gardens. Many thanks in advance Tricia Norton.
Vicky H
Otaki Beach, New Zealand
I have rung up before and asked to book a table on a Saturday for lunch and they said they didn't take bookings so I assumed there was no cafe. I went there today for the first time and there is a cafe, but it seems to mainly cater for casual drinks or weddings when it's all set up. There wasn't much food available
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