Waterlily Gardens

Hidden behind Waihi is a garden maze of delights, with something to admire at the end of every path – thick bush, a lily nursery, a secret fernery, a still lake, a trickling stream that burbles into a gentle waterfall. The Waihi Waterlily Gardens were created from farmland in 1946, and farmersturned-botanists Tom and Mabel Gordon imported their first waterlily in 1950.

Now the gardens cover 6ha, with 30 varieties of water lily growing across

30 ponds, with a café, wedding venue, accommodation and garden tours all on site. Auckland-based couple Rachael and Evan Pride's enthusiasm for city life had slowly dimmed and the couple had just signed a lease in Tuakau when Rachael's aunt invited her to visit the gardens where she worked. It was love, and in 2018, they took over from previous owners Bevan and Jenny McDuff. The majority of the year has been spent knee deep in ponds, learning lily varieties and how to care for them, and becoming skilled at hosting weddings, in between renovating the café and keeping an eye on their young children. The gardens are open to the public daily (entry via donation) and the café at weekends (closed during winter). The water lilies bloom from September to March, give or take, but the gardens are beautiful year-round. 441 Pukekauri Road, Waihi. (07) 214 8188, waterlily.co.nz