Ngaere

Ngaere’s local history spans the former Ngaere Gardens, a public hall and a former dairy factory. The history of the Gardens is particularly extensive: from the late 19th century until the 1930s, Ngaere was their location. The site combined a collection of fruit trees and rare plants with water attractions, landscaped garden areas and animal enclosures. When planning your trip, it may be important to consider whether you are more interested in garden history and former leisure activities or in individual historic buildings. These different areas of focus can help you explore Ngaere’s local history according to your own interests.

The historic Ngaere Gardens

Former attractions included boats for hire, paddling pools and changing huts. There was also a geometric “carpet garden” and a bush lookout. These different areas give an impression of the varied design of the historic site: water and outdoor recreation sat alongside an orderly garden area and a lookout point. There was also a water railway boat, which could carry up to 18 passengers.

The history of the Gardens also includes cages for lemurs, monkeys, an emu and a wallaby. The animal enclosures were a different part of the former site from its plants and garden features. This means the history of Ngaere Gardens can be viewed from several angles: as a garden, a place for former leisure activities and a site with animals.

A collection of fruit trees and rare plants was assembled for planting at the site. Seeds of Canadian redwoods were also brought in; one was planted beside the garage. Charlie Sanders dreamed of creating Ngaere Gardens with two large lakes. Charlie Sanders envisioned Ngaere Gardens with two large lakes.

The railways advertised special fares for excursions to the historic Ngaere Gardens to attract more people there.

Hall and historic site

As well as the Gardens, Ngaere offers other points of interest for exploring the town’s history. Ngaere Hall is a public hall built in 1886. It is made of wood, with an iron roof.

Another historic building is the former Triumph Dairy Factory at 30A Finnerty Road. It is classified as a Category 2 Historic Place and is not open to the public. This access restriction applies to the former dairy factory.

Ngaere as a travel destination

If you are looking for holiday accommodation in Ngaere, the town’s history may be one factor in your choice: the Gardens offer topics ranging from plants and landscaped areas to former leisure activities, while the hall and former dairy factory are other historic places in the town. This can help you decide whether Ngaere’s history suits the interests of your travel group, without confusing the Gardens’ former attractions with experiences available today. For more ideas in the same group of towns, see Stratford.

For the broader travel overview: Stratford.