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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Hamilton & the Waikato, New Zealand
Lavender Backyard Garden east of Hamilton opens its lavender and blueberry fields from Nov 28 to Jan 31, ten minutes from the 19 Hamilton Gardens.
5 places · updated October 17, 2026
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The Waikato is flat, green dairy and river country in the middle of New Zealand's North Island, with Hamilton built along both banks of the Waikato River and Cambridge, the 'town of trees and champions', 25 minutes upstream. Because this is the Southern Hemisphere, summer runs December through February, which is when the fields, berry farms and river trails are at their busiest. Distances are short and the Waikato Expressway (State Highway 1) ties it together, so gardens, a museum, a summit climb and a farm stop all fit in one day.
Lavender Backyard Garden is on Marshmeadow Road on Hamilton's eastern edge, about five minutes from the expressway's Ruakura interchange. It grows 'Super' lavandin without sprays and steam-distills its own oil. For a short summer season the fields open daily, and one entry ticket covers both the lavender rows and a blueberry field where you can pick by the kilo or by the bunch. Alphra Lavender, listed near Kihikihi to the south, sells its own lavender oil and body care; its website does not post visiting details, so check before you go.
The lavender farms
- Lavender Backyard GardenLavender farm · Hamilton
Peak bloom usually late December to early January
Fields open daily November 28 to late January (2026–27 season); no booking needed for general entry; group visits and professional photography by arrangement.
- Alphra LavenderLavender farm · Kihikihi
Best time to visit
Lavender Backyard Garden's farm shop opens daily from mid-November (10 am to 3 pm), and its lavender and blueberry fields open from November 28, 2026 to January 31, 2027, daily 9 am to 5 pm; pick-your-own lavender runs all season and blueberry picking depends on the crop and weather. Tauwhare Berry Farm, 15 minutes east, opens for pick-your-own every weekend in January, and its fruit goes into the ice cream it makes on the farm. Spring (September and October) brings flowering cherries at Gudex Memorial Park near the Maungakawa reserve. Hamilton Gardens, Waikato Museum and the Waitakaruru sculpture park are open year-round, which makes them good fallbacks on a wet day or in the winter months of June to August, when the lavender fields are closed.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Hamilton Gardens🌷 Garden · Hamilton · about 5 mi, 10 min drive
Forty-five hectares of parkland on the Waikato River with 19 Enclosed Gardens built around garden history, from the Chinese Scholars' and Italian Renaissance gardens to Tudor and Surrealist gardens. Guided tours and an audio guide are offered.
Gates 6:15 am to 9 pm; Enclosed Gardens from 10 am daily except Christmas Day
Enclosed Gardens: adults from NZ$27.50 for visitors who live outside Hamilton; under-16s free (as listed October 2026)
- Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery🏛️ Museum · Hamilton · about 6 mi, 15 min drive
Riverside museum at 1 Grantham Street with a collection of more than 30,000 objects across art, social history, Māori taonga and science, plus Exscite, a hands-on zone for children.
Daily 10 am to 5 pm (closed December 25)
General admission free; Exscite and some exhibitions charge (Exscite from NZ$6)
- Hamilton Lake Domain🏞️ Park · Hamilton · about 7 mi, 15 min drive
An easy, tree-lined walk around a calm lake in the middle of the city, with access from Ruakiwi Road and Lake Crescent. A gentle way to end the day.
Year-round
free
- Hamilton Zoo🏞️ Park · Hamilton · about 12 mi, 30 min drive
A 25-hectare zoo at 183 Brymer Road with more than 450 animals, including tigers, chimpanzees and native birds and reptiles, and keeper-led encounters with red pandas, rhinos and tuatara.
Daily 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, last entry 3:30 pm (closed Christmas Day)
- Taitua Arboretum🌷 Garden · Hamilton (Temple View) · about 12 mi, 30 min drive
Twenty-two hectares of mature trees, small lakes and woodland gardens linked by walking tracks, with birdlife and picnic spots at 55 Taitua Road. Dogs are welcome on a lead.
Daily from 8 am, year-round
free
- Hakarimata Summit Track🥾 Trail · Ngāruawāhia · about 16 mi, 25 min drive
A steep climb up a long staircase from Brownlee Avenue in Ngāruawāhia to the 374-meter summit of the Hakarimata Range; about 3 hours return. Free to enter.
Year-round
free
- Te Awa River Ride🥾 Trail · Cambridge · about 12 mi, 20 min drive
A free, mostly flat 65 km walking and cycling path along the Waikato River from Ngāruawāhia to Karapiro. The Cambridge to Lake Karapiro section ends with a 400-meter boardwalk along the lake.
Year-round
free
- Cambridge🏘️ Town · Cambridge · about 11 mi, 18 min drive
Tree-lined streets, Victorian and Edwardian buildings and antique shops, with a farmers' market in Victoria Square every Saturday morning. Nearby Lake Karapiro, formed by a dam in 1947, is a national rowing venue.
Year-round; farmers' market Saturday mornings
- Lake Te Koo Utu🏞️ Park · Cambridge · about 11 mi, 18 min drive
A small lake set below street level in Cambridge, circled by an easy, flat path through trees and gardens that suits strollers. Enter from the car park off Albert Street.
Year-round
free
- Maungakawa Scenic Reserve🌲 Preserve · Te Miro · about 16 mi, 25 min drive
An easy 1.2 km, 30-minute bush loop on Sanatorium Hill past labeled native trees, the concrete remains of a TB sanatorium for returned servicemen and old garden plantings. Gudex Memorial Park next door has views over the plains and cherry blossom in spring.
Year-round; cherry blossom in spring
free
- The Sculpture Park at Waitakaruru Arboretum🌷 Garden · Tauwhare · about 8 mi, 15 min drive
More than 70 sculptures set through a 42-acre former hard-rock quarry that has been planted as an arboretum, on a self-guided walk of 2 km or more. Most paths suit wheelchairs.
Daily 10 am to 5 pm in winter, 10 am to 6:30 pm in summer
Adults from NZ$15, children NZ$5 (as listed October 2026)
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Zealong Tea EstateTea room · Gordonton
Organic tea plantation on Gordonton Road with tours, tastings and a tea room open Thursday to Monday, 10 am to 5 pm.
- Tauwhare Berry FarmBerry farm · Matangi
Bookable pick-your-own berries on January weekends, a cafe and farm shop, a playground and ice cream made from its own fruit.
- Duck Island Ice CreamIce cream or creamery · Hamilton
Hamilton-made ice cream with a scoop shop in Hamilton East, close to Hamilton Gardens.
- Vilagrad WinesWinery or vineyard (21+) · Ohaupo
Family winery just south of Hamilton pouring wines, ports and cider, with long weekend lunches.
- Bootleg BreweryBrewery or taproom (21+) · Matangi
Small-batch craft brewery in Matangi village, a few minutes from the lavender and berry farms.
- Viands BakeryBakery · Kihikihi
Kihikihi bakery run by a fifth generation of bakers, for bread, cakes and pastries on the way south.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMLavender Backyard Garden
In season (late November to January), walk the lavender rows, cut a bunch and pick blueberries; about an hour, plus the farm shop.
- 11:20 AMZealong Tea Estate · about 20 min drive
Lunch or high tea in the tea room and a walk among the tea terraces; about 1 hour 45 minutes. Open Thursday to Monday, so book ahead.
- 1:30 PMHamilton Gardens · about 20 min drive
Pick five or six of the Enclosed Gardens; about 1 hour 30 minutes.
- 3:10 PMDuck Island Ice Cream · about 5 min drive
A scoop in Hamilton East; 20 minutes.
- 3:40 PMTe Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery · about 5 min drive
Cross the river for an hour in the free galleries before the 5 pm close.
- 4:50 PMHamilton Lake Domain · about 5 min drive
End with an easy walk around the lake; 30 to 45 minutes.
Tips
- Lavender Backyard Garden does not allow pets in its fields, and you need to bring your own container for blueberry picking.
- Field entry at Lavender Backyard Garden changes through the season (NZ$10 to NZ$14 for adults in 2026–27, under-5s free), and lavender bunches and blueberries are paid for separately on site.
- Hamilton Gardens charges visitors from outside Hamilton for the Enclosed Gardens; the surrounding parkland is open from 6:15 am.
- Zealong's tea room and shop are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so plan a tea estate visit for Thursday to Monday.
- Many Waikato walking tracks do not allow dogs; Taitua Arboretum does, on a lead.
- Pick-your-own berry farms depend on the crop, so call ahead or check their social pages before driving out.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When is Lavender Backyard Garden open?
For the 2026–27 season its fields are open daily from November 28 to January 31, 9 am to 5 pm. The farm shop opens from mid-November.
How much does it cost to visit the lavender farm near Hamilton?
General field entry for 2026–27 is NZ$10 to NZ$14 depending on the dates, children 6–12 NZ$7 to NZ$10, and under-5s free. Picking lavender is NZ$13.50 a bunch and blueberries NZ$16.50 per kg.
Can I bring my dog to the lavender farm?
No. Lavender Backyard Garden says pets are not allowed in the fields.
Is Waikato Museum free?
Yes, general admission is free, open daily 10 am to 5 pm. Exscite and some special exhibitions charge.
How far is Hamilton Gardens from the lavender farm?
About 10 minutes by car, according to the farm.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
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