Waitakaruru Arboretum & Sculpture Park - Arboretums on Waymarking.com

In 1991 John and Dorothy Wakeling bought an old disused quarry with the aim of turning the industrial site into a place of enduring beauty. The 42 acre (17hectares) quarry had been decommissioned in the 1970’s and weeds such as gorse, pampas and blackberry were rife and with the sheer cliffs, deep ravines and lack of top soil provided a landscaping challenge.

After initially planting radiata pine on the steepest hillsides and ridgelines to provide shelter and a backdrop to the rest of plantings, more than 18,000 trees have now been acquired from a variety of sources and planted. Many are planted in geographically names areas – American, Australian, Asian and a Latin American section. In a rocky area a Rock Garden was created for cacti and succulents. An Autumn colour section was also created near the arboretum entrance.

To assist with botanical indentification many of the specimens are labelled and listed and named in an attractive handbook. Since 2003, the attractive outdoor settings, including ponds with water lilies, the vehicular access throughout the park for transporting and placing large sculptures together with the sites security, have resulted in the arboretum been used regularly for sculpture exhibitions. As well as the permanent features, three new exhibitions are staged annually, some supporting a range of charities.

The sculptures are not only placed among the trees and in the glades but also give both pensive and whimsical appreciation to the ponds and water lilies. The sculptures are catalogued and listed in a suitable handout.

The arboretum is open every day from 10am until dusk. Entry Fee $10 per person 12 years and over. A caravan-based café located adjacent to a covered area with picnic tables is open from 10am to 4pm on weekends and public holidays from September to May.

The arboretum is located 15 km east of Hamilton, Waikato, NZ . It is signposted from both SH 26 and SH 1B.

Arboretum address: 207 Scotsman Valley Rd. Tauwhare Hamilton, Waikato New Zealand Arboretum web site: [Web Link]

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