Visit the Auckland Wintergardens at the Domain

Last updated on 12 April 2017

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase with one of these links, I recieve a small commission at no additional cost to you. Read the full Affiliate Policy.

Having driven past the Auckland Domain hundreds of times both in the car and on the bus, and been to the Auckland Museum numerous times, it was surprising that up until recently, I didn’t really know that there was much more than the Museum and a whole lotta sports fields at the Auckland Domain. But a little while ago, my friend and I headed to the Domain to check it out, and discovered the Auckland Wintergardens at the Domain.

So what exactly are the Auckland Wintergardens?

The Auckland Wintergardens were designed in the early 1990s and opened to the public in 1913. There are two barrel-vaulted glass houses, in the Victorian style, and they both face into a beautiful courtyard with a pond and various sculptures, which were later added. It’s like stepping into another time, that’s for sure!

The two glasshouses are slightly different from each other.

The first is heated (be warned if you’re going in summer! 🥵), and has beautiful tropical plants everywhere. Think plants that love the heat and the humidity, and you know what you’re stepping into. The other one is more temperate, and these plants change with the seasons a bit more.

There is also a rare Amorphopallus titanum (corpse flower) and a heck of a lot of chrysanthemums.

Where are the Auckland Wintergardens?

You can find the Wintergardens just off the main ring road that loops around the Auckland Domain. They are near the duck pond, at the hospital end of the park. There is some parking outside the gardens, and plenty around the domain, also. When in doubt, if it’s busy, you can park at the museum and wander down.

How much are the Wintergardens?

Free! Lots of spots like this around New Zealand are free to visit, so definitely pop it on your list of things to do if you’re in the area.

How long do I need to visit the gardens?

Not long at all. There are two gardens, which aren’t large, the courtyard, and then another outdoor path you can wander through. You probably need less than an hour. Then you could head back up to the museum to explore or grab a drink at the cafe.

Have you been to the Auckland Wintergardens at the Domain? What’s your favourite thing about them?