Visitors, cash rolling in to Hamilton Gardens after entry fee introduced

Tuesday, 22 October 2024

Sue Teale (left) was visiting from Christchurch to see the Gardens with her granddaughter Sarah. She was happy to pay $20.

Out-of-town visitors are flocking Hamilton Gardens, despite a $20 price tag at the front gate.

In the month since the fee was introduced, 14,400 day passes have been sold bringing in nearly $300,000 in revenue. The highest number of tickets sold in a single day was nearly 1000.

The numbers appear to be a win for Hamilton city councillors who voted to install the charge and ease the burden of maintenance and development on ratepayers.

Visitors need to have their my garden pass ready or be prepared to pay to enter the Hamilton Gardens.

Of the 14 councillors (including the mayor) present at the vote last June (only councillor Ewan Wilson was absent), 11 voted for the motion and only councillors Kesh Naidoo-Rauf, Geoff Taylor and Emma Pike voted against.

Taylor said at the time that the charge would only recoup $200,000 on operational expenditure from a total spend of $340m.

“Let’s not gamble the city’s biggest asset on chump change,” he told fellow councillors.

If the numbers continue over the next 11 months, total revenue for the year would be nearly $3.5 million.

Hamiltonians are settling into the new system too, snatching up 30,000 free My GardensPasses since last month. Another 550 annual passes, priced at $39 till December 31, have also been sold to frequent visitors.

Hamilton Gardens director Lucy Ryan said previously that although Hamilton’s “neighbours” such as Cambridge and Te Awamutu may be disappointed, the line had to be drawn somewhere.

The perfect setting for a girls’ trip, the Gardens were certainly worth $20 to Jill Samson and her friends who hail from around the country.

Many visitors agree, saying they’re completely happy to cough up to wander around what many consider to be New Zealand’s best botanical gardens.

Jill Samson, who was visiting Hamilton for a girls’ trip, said she’s amazed it was free for so long.

“Do I object to paying? No. Because look at all of this. I’m amazed it’s been free all this time, really,” Samson said.

Catherine O'Kelly and Chris Maru visited the cafe for an ice cream. Maru said he thought the Gardens were a great representation of the greenery New Zealand has to offer.

“I think the new visitor centre is very nice, it looks so lovely.”

Sue Teale had come all the way from Christchurch to visit the Gardens, as well as her granddaughter Sarah Teale.

“I think it’s absolutely fine. I’m from Christchurch but I’ve been here before and I think these gardens are very special.

“My granddaughter’s from here, so it’s nice to come here when I visit her. I’m very happy to pay.”

Catherine O’Kelly and Chris Maru hadn’t been into the Enclosed Gardens this time. They dropped by to grab a spot of lunch and an ice cream at the cafe.

Hamilton City Council deputy chief executive Sean Murray said the majority of people have accepted the changes as necessary to keep the Gardens maintained at a high level.

“We’re from Raglan, but we’ve been here before a few times,” O’Kelly said.

“I think it’s absolutely reasonable to charge people. It takes maintenance, and that doesn’t happen for free.”

Maru said he thinks the Gardens are a great way to show overseas visitors the beauty of New Zealand.

“I think the last time we went through, that was about two months ago, before the changes.

“Just looking at it I was thinking, it’s great for people overseas to see all the greenery we have here.”

Hamilton City Council’s deputy chief executive and general manager of council’s destinations group Sean Murray said the most day passes sold in one day since September 17 was 919.

“We’ve continued to receive a lot of positive feedback from visitors about Hamilton Gardens,” Murray said.

“Many people appreciate the value they get for the entry fee, noting that it helps maintain the beautiful and diverse garden spaces.

“Some have even mentioned that the fee is quite reasonable considering the quality and variety of the gardens.”

He said that so far, there have been no instances of people trying to sneak through without paying.

“The majority of the community who live outside of Hamilton have responded positively to the change, and visitors have been very respectful of the entry cost and understand its importance in maintaining the beauty and upkeep of Hamilton Gardens.”