Whangarei Quarry Gardens
Photos
The Garden
Whangarei Quarry Gardens is a lush subtropical oasis created by volunteers, in the remnants of a former stone quarry in Northland, New Zealand. Kia ora! Nau mai, haere mai!
The ex-quarry site is a restoration project taken on by the local community that has flourished into well-established gardens that provide peaceful respite from the busy pace of modern life. Only moments from SH1, the Gardens are a wonderful place to break up the long journey North. Refuel at the cafe and recharge yourself with a walk in nature. A must see is renowned artist, Chris Booth’s sculpture “Te Wai U O Te Atakura”.
With an annual rainfall of 1500-2000 mm per year and New Zealand's highest average temperatures, Northland possesses a truly subtropical climate. At Whangarei Quarry Gardens these climatic conditions, coupled with the shelter provided by the towering walls of the old stone quarry, create an ideal microclimate for growing a diverse range of native and exotic subtropical plants.
While at the Gardens, visitors will find plenty to do:
- Explore waterfalls, quarry ruins, a lake and forest trails.
- Visit Quail Cafe and relax with an award-winning coffee.
- Book a one-hour Golf Cart tour (5 people max)
- Discover our Sculptures and their stories.
- Children love to hear themselves echo in the old tunnels
- Hike from WQG over the hill to the Quarry Arts Centre through stunning native bush (1.5 hour return trip)
- Relax in a quiet space for a moment or two and enjoy the view!
Entry by donation – supporting our community project.
2019 sees the return of Sculpture Northland to Whangarei Quarry Gardens from November 8th – 17th. Come and witness the transformation as the Gardens come to life with Sculptures from Northland’s many talented artists.
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The Gardener
Our dedicated volunteers come from all walks of life and offer a wide variety of skills to help the Gardens flourish. They meet every Monday and Wednesday morning and get stuck in to whatever tasks need attention. From weeding, mulching and pruning to liasing with visitors and helping in the office, there is a job for everyone! Cups of tea and coffee are on offer and there is always something to chat about. Our friendly team is our key asset and plays a big role in making Whangarei Quarry Gardens such a wonderful place for people and plants.Map
Garden Details
Quail Cafe open Wednesday - Sunday 9am - 3pm
Come in and relax with a coffee, morning tea or have lunch in the tranquil setting that is Whangarei Quarry Gardens.
Renowned for their excellent coffee and delicious sweets, Quail Cafe also have a wonderful breakfast and lunch menu to choose from.
The main gardens paths are gravel. Mixed reviews from wheelchair users.
There are several sites within the Gardens that are suitable for small or large ceremonies, with some parties choosing to come in for photo-shoots only.
The Visitor's Centre could be the perfect venue for your reception, with a large sunny balcony and plenty of room for guests to spill out into the Gardens. There is also a golf cart available to help guests get to the ceremony area on the day, and our event manager Kerry, will help ensure everything runs smoothly on the day.
Follow this link to get our current price-list for the different packages available. Email: events@whangareigardens.org.nz
Golf Cart. We can take up to 5 guests for a tour of the gardens,
which means visitors less able to manage the paths can now get out
and enjoy the view from our lookout and visit our stunning arid garden.
$30 for up to 3 people, $40 for 4, $50 for 5
Keri Keri based artist Chris Booth has spent the summer of 2017-18 in the gardens creating his beautiful giant goddess. It is the 5th in a world-wide "Vader" series that began in Denmark 20 years ago.
We are deeply honoured to have the only one in the southern hemisphere, here at the Quarry Gardens.
Chris Booth says "The main living aspect of the sculpture is fungi, the greatest recycler on the earth and a vital organism for the health of the majority of plants and animals. In these living sculptures I collaborate with fungi. The fungi consume the organic material causing the
boulder to ever so slowly descend to the ground. Depending on the wood, it could take 70 years or more. "
It is magnificent and sits beautifully in the gardens.
Thank you to Chris and Rata Kapa, who helped Chris build Vader V.
