Day #2: Hamilton Gardens and Raglan Sunset Cruise

Day #2: Hamilton Gardens and Raglan Sunset Cruise

The Northern Explorer from Auckland to Hamilton

The first full tour day saw guests boarding the Northern Explorer's Scenic Carriage for a trip to the next train stop and our Day 2 destination, Hamilton. This train odyssey differed from the Indian Pacific in that passengers do not sleep on board and the on-board meals reflected the transit times--usually we were traveling after breakfast in the morning. As a result, we primarily had lunches and an occasional dinner. However, like the Indian Pacfic, the meals on board the Northern Explorer were sourced locally, expertly prepared, and served with a wide variety of local wines. In addition there was an open-air car that allowed guests to take photos that did not suffer from

window glare. The trip from Auckland to Sydney was scenic. Along the way the train passes by Waitematā Harbor (photo to the left) and the pastured lands of Waikato (the movie set for the Shire in The Hobbit, photo to the right) before pulling into Hamilton, our home for the next two days. We arrived in Hamilton mid-morning. While the prescribed itinerary was a trip to to the Zealong Tea Plantation, we opted to visit the Hamilton Gardens and rejoined the group at the Tea Plantation for high tea.

Hamilton Gardens Tour

While the tour group headed to the Zealong Tea estate, the bus dropped us off at Hamilton Gardens. The gardens are a unique and expansive set of public gardens located in the Waikato region, offering an immersive experience that blends horticulture, history, and art. Unlike traditional botanic gardens, Hamilton Gardens consist of over 20 distinct garden collections, each representing a specific cultural theme, historical era, or design philosophy. The gardens are divided into 5 categories, and a the gardens of the individual collections are generally arranged around a central hub.

Paradise Garden Collection (Chinese Scholar's Garden, the Japanese Garden of Contemplation, the English Flower Garden, the Modernist Garden, the Italian Renaissance Garden, the Indian Char Bagh Garden, the Ancient Egypt Garden)
Cultivar Garden Collection (the Roggers Rose Garden, the Rhododendron Lawn, the Hammond Camellia Garden, the Victorian Flower Garden, the New Zealand Cultivar Garden, the Dutch Renaissance Garden)
Productive Garden Collection (the Herb Garden, the Kitchen Garden, the Sustainable Backyard, Te Parapara)
Landscape Garden Collection (Bussaco Woodland, the Hamilton East Park Cemetary, the Echo Bank Bush, The Valley Walk, the Hillside Lawn, the Baroque Formal Gardens)
Fantasy Garden Collection (the Chinoiserie Garden, the Tropical Garden, the Surrealist Garden, the Tudor Garden, the Concept Garden, the Picturesque Garden, the Mansfield Garden)

Each themed garden transports visitors to a different time and place, showcasing the global diversity of garden styles and cultural influences. The most eye-catching gardens are the enclosed gardens from the Paradise Garden Collection, as well as the Fantasy Garden Collection. These are displayed in the photo gallery below. Clicking on the photo will call up a larger version, while clicking on the title will take you to Hamilton Garden's description of the garden. The collections we will be focusing upon are arrayed around the Cloud Court (Paradise Collection, photo to the left) and the Time Court (Fantasy Collection, photo to the right). For a much more detailed tour of the gardens, please select our Virtual Tour below.

Paradise Garden Collection (Click on Photo to Enlarge)

Japanese Garden of Contemplation	Chinese Scholar's Garden	Modernist Garden

Indian Char Bagh Garden	Italian Renaissance Garden	Ancient Egypt Garden
Fantasy Garden Collection

Chinoiserie Garden	Surrealist Garden	Tropical Garden

Tudor Garden	Picturesque Garden	Mansfield Garden

The gardens also host a wide variety of events, educational programs, and exhibitions, making them a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. With over a million visitors annually, Hamilton Gardens is celebrated for its beauty, creativity, and unique storytelling approach to horticulture.

There is a much more detailed VR tour of the gardens. Please follow this link. Tour will open in a new window

Zealong Tea Plantation

Zealong Tea Estate is New Zealand's only commercial tea plantation, and offers visitors a first-hand look into the world of premium organic tea. Spanning 48 hectares with over 1.2 million tea plants, the estate produces internationally award-winning green, oolong, and black teas that are completely traceable from soil to cup. Visitors explore rolling tea terraces through a guided tour that combine cultural immersion with sensory discovery. The tour features a traditional tea ceremony and tastings of five exquisite teas while learning about the fascinating story of how tea cultivation came to New Zealand. The estate's Tea Room and acclaimed Camellia Restaurant provide a perfect setting to savor signature High Tea or seasonal cuisine, all while overlooking panoramic views of the tea plantation and

landscaped gardens. Whether you're a tea enthusiast or simply seeking a tranquil escape, Zealong offers a wonderful introduction to the world of tea. We were fortunate to rejoin our group after their tour and enjoy their signature High Tea. Below is a video from New Zealand Made explaining the history and workings of the Zealong Tea Estate.
Also of interest to us were the tea-themed sculptures that lined the path from our High Tea to the main building. These are presented in the gallery below the video.

Zealong Tea Estate

Tea Themed Sculptures at Zealong Tea Estate


Tea Fixation Sculpture	Tea Horse Road Sculpture	Tea Rolling Sculpture	Tea Picking Sculpture


Captain James Cook Sculpture	Harold Nielsen Sculpture	Li Yu Sculpture	Teapot Dragon Sculpture

Raglan Sunset Dinner Cruise

After a brief refresh from the day's activities we boarded a bus for Raglan, a coastal town on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island, about 50 kilometers west of Hamilton. Famous for its world-class surf breaks and black sand beaches, we headed there for a relaxing sunset cruise, boarding at Whaingaroa Harbor for the 1 1/2 hour voyage. The captain kept us entertained and informed as we drank, ate fish and chips and took in the scenery of the coastline. Among the sites were the rugged west coastline, interesting formations of pancake limestone rocks, and the remnants of volcanic eruptions. When the captain was not telling us about the coastal formations and Raglan's history, the boat was filled with the sound of the "captain's playlist." I don't think there was a single song newer that my high school graduation year! The high point of the evening was to head toward the Tasman Sea to watch the sun sinking over the horizon. Below is a YouTube video by Les Carter that captures some of the magic of the Raglan cruise, and below that a gallery of some of the more interesting pancake rocks.

Raglan Sunset Cruise

Pancake Rocks (click on photo to enlarge)