Kaipara Plant Centre Sculpture Walk

A PLACE WHERE NATURE AND ART MEET

08 JULY 2022

A self-supporting sculpture by Rosemary Li

Kaipara Plant Centre

Just a quick 45 minute drive from Auckland CBD, this beautiful piece of paradise has been here since 1989 and set on 3.5km of garden sculptures and forest trails
As we use to live only 5 minutes away from the plant centre we would visit a lot. It's nice to walk around the plant centre and grab some herbs and a few bits and pieces for the garden. They have so much to offer here.

They have a cafe onsite, with yummy pies, drinks, cakes and ice blocks. There is plenty of outdoor seating which is in a covered area and there is even a giant chalkboard and toys for kids to play with which we thought was a nice touch!

Little Sienna with a goat sculpture at the Plant Centre

Kids area at the Plant Centre Cafe

Games Games and More Games

We're not huge on art, but someone wanted us to go along with them one day and we thought "why not!" It looked like a nice walk.

What we were not expecting were the epic giant games along the trail! At the start they had GIANT connect4 (if you are shorty or a kid you are going to need help slotting the discs in from the top). There was a GIANT chess game which we didn't play as we don't really know how to play chess and further along there was a game where you smack balls with sticks into holes (bob game) FUN! Now that's something we can do.

There were games scattered all over the trail which really helped keep all of us entertained (even the adults!) .

One of the things we really appreciated was the number of trees that we could shelter under from the sun. It was such a hot day when we went so this was welcomed.

Giant connect 4 game

Giant chess game

Giant bobs game

Giant chess and checkers

Ohhh The Quirkiness

The walk is scattered with really quirky sculptures, a couple of big shelters with seats inside (perfect for photo opportunities) but beware of the spiders who now call this place their home. We managed to get the girls into a couple of the shelters for photos, but there was one that was completely covered in big black spiders and cobwebs so there was absolutely no chance of them going in there (nor us!).

Unsure of artist or what the description is on this one

Play a game!

Arabella and Sienna in one of the arty shelters

I Like Big Butts and I Cannot Lie

There's no denying it, when we saw this gigantic sculpture butt, we had a good giggle. Imagine having a big elephant butt in your garden! All sculptures are available to purchase and there a new sculptures in the park every November. So if you're looking for a new addition, November is a great month to see what's new.

As we walked along there was a beautiful origami sculpture. We remember making these origami swans when we were kids. One weekend I managed to make enough to fill my room with them. Who needs Netflix, right?

Bum bum bum

An origami sculpture

Colourful art hanging from a large tree

Let's Keep On Track

Within the sculpture gardens there are two walking tracks. One is the Harbour View Loop Track and the other is the Don's Conservation Track.

We did the Harbour View Loop Track which is 1.5km and we spent about an hour exploring everything there was to see. Towards the end of the track, we came to the entry of the Don's Conservation Track which had a piece of wood you had to step over. It has a sign that says, "Please do not continue on the track if you can't step over this barrier as the track is steep and takes 35 minutes. They do not recommend people with mobility, breathing, heart or serious health issues to go on this track. It's a 1km trail walking through mature native forest where you will hopefully see or hear some native birds like Tui and Wood Pigeon.

If you are really into art, then you would probably spend a bit longer soaking up the essence of all the amazing things to see. For us we really enjoyed the walk, the plants and just being in nature together.

We found the tracks to be really well maintained and easy to walk on the loose gravel. The tracks take on average between 20 mins to 1 hour.

A very peaceful walk around the gardens

The tracks are beautifully maintained

Sienna looks tiny compared to the bush!

Wooden art sculptures

The Hashtag Wish Tree

The Hashtag Wish Tree was such an awesome discovery along the way. When you get there you are greeted with 100's and 100's of personal messages from people who have visited the centre. If you are lucky enough you might find a spare one to write your own message on and hang up.

This was built by Rosemary Li who was inspired by the traditional Chinese building technique Dou Gong which is a self supporting structure. This art piece was built using over 3000 interlocking pieces, so no nails or glue was need to build this.

Simply find an empty tag hanging inside the structure, write your message, make a wish and hang it up.

Head inside to get a different view

Sculpture by Rosemary Li

Write your own message and hang it inside

Chillin In The Forest

Near the end of the walk we came to a forest which was full of heaps of fun stuff to do. There was giant Jenga, giant pick up sticks, and even some musical pieces for the kids to bang on. While Lath and Bella were playing giant Jenga, Sienna was hanging out on the jungle gym. This area was really sheltered so is perfect on those really hot days. It was nice to take some time to have some fun and just play games in the middle of this incredible forest.

Sienna playing giant pick up sticks

Arabella and Lath playing giant Jenga

Sienna playing on the jungle gym

A very pretty walk through the forest

Tik Tok

Near the exit was a giant clock, named Tik Tok, made of steel pipe and corten steel and was created to remind us of how fleeting a minute is by showing time as a mechanically moving element as due to electronic devices, most of us never see the passing of a minute anymore (oooh powerful stuff!).

One of the many beautiful sculptures scattered around the place

Tik Tok, time is ticking (literally)

Heading out of the sculpture walk and back into the Plant Centre

Magical Kaleidoscope

What an awesome way to end our walk. As you head back into the plant centre there is a really cool interactive kaleidoscope display. There are 4 kaleidoscope on stands that are connected to a round garden that spins around and you look through the kaleidoscope of your choice. The flowers in the garden were all different colours and the kaleidoscopes were all different shapes, so it was so much fun spinning the garden and seeing all the colours and shapes unfold.

We highly recommend doing this, it's so cool

Super pretty patterns

The kaleidoscope and rotating garden

Omeru Reserve

Just to add another epic quick trip to your day, Omeru Reserve is just a 3 minute drive down the road at the Omeru Pā Scenic Reserve and a place where you can hangout by a waterfall and a river.

There is plenty of parking when you arrive. To get down to the waterfall you need to walk down a steep gravel hill (not so bad on the way down, but a nice leg work out on the way up!). When you get to the bottom of the hill, there are toilets to the left. Head to the right and you'll see a small wooden bridge to cross the river. If you head to the left, you'll come to a huge grass clearing that's perfect to setup for the day, have a picnic, to play games and there are some concrete tables and chairs for your stuff. This area is surrounded by a river, but even better there is a huge grassy hill which is epic for sliding down on carboard (mum, dad and kids have all done it!)

You will also find the entrance to the walkway for the big waterfall here (Waitangi Falls) which is a 20 minute walk, but for the last few years it has been closed to help stop the spread of the Kauri dieback disease.

Heading back to the bridge if you choose to go right instead, this will take you to the most popular waterfall which is fairly small, but still packs and punch. It can be underwhelming in summer with barely a trickle, so be prepared for this.

The kids really enjoy playing with their toys in and around the waterfall, but keep in mind it can be pretty slippery.

We've visited here many times and it never gets old. It's just short 5 - 10 minute walk from the carpark to your first waterfall and hopefully in the near future, the 2nd track which leads to the Waitangi Falls will be open again for all to enjoy.

The main waterfall at the reserve

Barbies having a gay ol' time on the boogie boards in the river

Big grass hill that's perfect for sliding down on boogie boards or cardboard

Know Before You Go

For information, updates and updated pricing click here
Adults – $15
Children (5-16) – $7.50 (under 5’s are free)
Family Pass (2A + 3C) – $35
Groups 15+ – $10
Groups and Bus tours welcome.
Group morning/afternoon teas and lunches available if booked in advance.
Over 65’s & Students – $12
Annual Passes: Adult – $25 | Family (2A + 3C) – $50
Purchase an annual pass so you can come at any time throughout the year and see the sculptures afresh as the gardens change with the seasons.
Open 9am-5pm daily, last admissions 4pm
Not suitable for wheelchairs, walkers or pram
There is food and drink available at the cafe (mainly pies, cake, ice blocks, coffee and fizzy)

Mappy McMap Face

Getting There

1481 Kaipara Coast Highway, Kaukapakapa, Auckland

The Kaipara Plant Centre is just 45 minutes northwest of Auckland CBD and only 25 minutes from Silverdale and it's well sign posted on the main highway.

Conclusion

If you're tired of staring at the same old boring plants at your local nursery (you can do this also, they have a shop) then check out the beautiful plant life and the unique art at the Kaipara Plant Centre. The giant games are super fun to play with and is the perfect way to spend the afternoon as a family. There is a cafe at the plant centre which has coffee, tea, cold drinks, sweet slices, pies and iceblocks.