About Lavender Backyard Garden
Lavender Backyard Garden is a family farm on Marshmeadow Road, about five minutes from the Ruakura Interchange on the Waikato Expressway east of Hamilton. Ben and Samantha started with four rows of lavender in 2014 on land that also held an overgrown blueberry orchard, which they cut back and brought back into fruit. Today they grow spray-free Super lavandin, steam-distill the oil on site each late summer and make their products in small batches, with their sister Tracey guiding the skin care range.
The fields open every summer. For the 2026 season, the shop opens from mid to late November, and the lavender and blueberry fields are open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November 28 through late January. Peak bloom usually lands from late December to early January. One admission covers both fields, then you pay on site for what you pick: lavender is sold by the jar ring, wrapped into a bundle for you, and blueberries are priced by the kilo when the crop allows. A coffee trailer serves barista coffee, fruit ice cream, cold drinks and light meals in summer.
The farm shop sells lavender essential oil, sleep spray, sachets, hand cream, dried flowers, soy candles and bath salts, and the online shop runs year-round. Personal photos are welcome, but styled, wedding and commercial shoots must be booked ahead.
Hamilton's berry shops and cafés are a short drive west, so it is easy to fold into a summer day in the Waikato.
Lavender here
- When it blooms
- Peak bloom usually late December to early January
- Visiting
- Fields open daily November 28 to late January (2026–27 season); no booking needed for general entry; group visits and professional photography by arrangement.
- Varieties grown
- Lavandula × intermedia 'Super'
From the farm shop
- Steam-distilled lavender essential oil
- Lavender sleep spray
- Sachets and dried flowers
- Hand cream
- Soy candles
- Bath salts
What to do
- Pick a bundle of lavender by the jar ring, late November to late January
- Pick blueberries by the kilo when the crop is ready
- Walk the lavender and blueberry fields on one admission
- Get a coffee or fruit ice cream from the summer coffee trailer
- Shop farm-distilled lavender oil, sleep spray and candles
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- 2026 season: shop from mid to late November; fields daily November 28 through late January
- Hours
- 2026–27 season: fields and shop daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m., November 28 to January 31; shop 10–3 in mid to late November
- Admission
- General $10–$14 depending on the date, children 6–12 $7–$10, under 5 free; PYO lavender $13.50 per jar ring; PYO blueberries $16.50 per kg (as published for the 2026–27 season)
Good to know
- Dogs
- Not allowed
- Reservations
- Walk-in
- Payment
- Cards and mobile pay listed
Tips for your visit
- Bring your own container for blueberries, or buy one in the shop.
- Picnics aren't allowed in the fields; eat in the seating area by the shop.
- No drones, and wedding-style outfits and shoots aren't allowed during open hours.
- Check the farm's social pages for daily bloom and picking updates.
Pair it with a nearby stop
Ruakura Berry Shop · about 10 minutes away
The Ruakura berry shop is on the same side of Hamilton, about ten minutes away.
Getting there
Questions
When is Lavender Backyard Garden open?
Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November 28 through late January.
Can I pick lavender and blueberries?
Yes. Lavender is sold by the jar ring and blueberries by the kilo, on top of field admission.
Are dogs allowed?
No, pets are not allowed on the farm.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Hamilton & the Waikato, New Zealand
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
