We’ll pay it say tourists on Hamilton Gardens price rise

Tuesday, 7 April 2026

Sharon and Simon Bristow get a gold card discount to enter the enclosed gardens

Visitors who spent Easter Monday at Hamilton’s leafiest attraction voiced support for a proposed fee increase — but some also pitched another change.

This comes as the Hamilton City Council seeks public feedback on its proposal to boost revenue by hiking the Hamilton Gardens admissions fee from $20 to $27.50.

The Waikato Times spoke to visitors at the enclosed gardens, which will remain free for residents under the proposal, and found people were receptive to the cost increase.

Hamilton couple James and Ella Richardson visit the Chinese Scholars' Garden.

However, some said the full fee should not apply for domestic tourists, especially those who lived in other parts of Waikato.

Hamilton couple James and Ella Richardson thought the initial $20 charge, introduced in September 2024, had been a positive move, easing the local rates burden on running what was a massive attraction for international tourists.

“The difference between $20 and $27.50, if you're a tourist, it's probably not that much,” James said.

However, he knew of people from places such as Te Awamutu and Cambridge who were “semi-local” but had stopped coming as often because they were no longer given free admission.

Hamilton local Malaki Casey and son Josiah Casey (12) relax at the Modernist Garden.

He agreed with Ella’s suggestion of a more staggered approach, with different prices depending on if people were international tourists, domestic tourists or locals.

The higher price would be in line with what people would pay if the attraction was overseas, the couple said.

Hamilton residents Malaki Casey and son Josiah Casey (12) were visiting the gardens to try out a new camera, and said it was a great place to take photos.

Malaki strongly supported the move as it applied to international tourists, noting that they tended to have money to spend.

Sisters Bexley (left) and Faye Bolonos said the Hamilton Gardens are worth visiting even if a fee hike is introduced.

“We are a tourist nation.”

However, the idea of applying the same price hike to New Zealand residents was less appealing, especially if they were visiting family members in Hamilton, and Malaki suggested such people should only have to pay 50% of the entry fee.

“If I was to come here with my pass, with my mother, a discount would be nice for that sort of situation.”

Hamilton City Council are considering increasing the enclosed gardens entry cost to $27.50 from October

Sisters Faye and Bexley Bolonos had travelled down from Auckland and were visiting the Gardens for the first time. Although they were non-residents and had to pay, they thought admission was still worth $27.50.

It was still a fair price for a nice experience, and everything was getting more expensive, Faye said.

Sharon and Simon Bristow used to come to the gardens a lot when they lived in Morrinsville, although they were now living in the Bay of Islands.

As gold card holders they — like those with a student ID or a community services card — had been charged a reduced entry fee of $18.

The fee increase seemed a “little high,” but, although it might put some people off, they were willing to pay it.

Alofa Leaupepe (left) and daughter Elisa Mano take in the English flower garden

It was a “fantastic” place where people could come and spend all day enjoying the different spots, Sharon said.

Among the international tourists, Elisa Mano was visiting from Brisbane. She had come to the Gardens because her mother, who was celebrating her 70th birthday, loved flowers.

It would absolutely be worth paying $27.50, she said.

It was a reasonable amount for maintenance and upkeep costs, and she thought visitors would get their money’s worth — the gardens were very beautiful.

Another group of tourists were also visiting from Australia, and told the Waikato Times the proposed price increase was OK by them as it was not a large amount of money and they were enjoying their time there.

Melbourne tourists (from left) Jiayi Wang, Jingcan Wang, Yinyue Wang and Yiran Hao visit the Italian Renaissance Garden

If the proposal goes ahead, the charge for non-residents aged 16 and over will increase from October.

Public feedback is being sought by the council until May 3, and a final decision will be made by late June.

The council website said the enclosed gardens entry price was at the lower end of visitor attraction pricing in New Zealand.

“The $27.50 entry price aligns with the adult entry price for Hamilton Zoo, and means Council has consistent entry prices across its premier visitor attractions,” the feedback page said.

“The increase to the entry price is expected to lead to a decrease in domestic visitors paying to access the Enclosed Gardens. However, there is minimal expected impact on international visitor numbers.”

“Council estimates the increase in entry price would result in $550,000 - $900,000 more revenue per year.”