Waimea Arboretum and Botanical Garden
Waimea Arboretum and Botanical Garden
4.5
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Part of Waimea Adventure Park, this botanical garden offers 6,000 varieties of plant life.
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4.5
98 reviews
Excellent
73
Very good
17
Average
4
Poor
3
Terrible
1
dennis r
El Cajon, CA21 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
This place is a highlight when visiting the a north shore are of Oahu. It’s beautifully landscaped and will
Organized . For those with walking challenges the is a bus to snd from The waterfall. The path is wide and not difficult to. Navigate and the tropical Flora is amazing.
Organized . For those with walking challenges the is a bus to snd from The waterfall. The path is wide and not difficult to. Navigate and the tropical Flora is amazing.
Written 11 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chanel E
Reno, NV26 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
The views in this park are incredible. There is so much cultural information amongst the vast Hawaiian Flora. It hardly felt like I was hiking. I could visit this place every time - it’s beauty is unmatched.
Written 19 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeffery S
8 contributions
June 2022 • Family
Beautiful gardens full of Hawaii vegetation. The hike is rolling hills that lead back to a waterfall. Plan to bring cash and take the ride back out. Plenty of places for pictures. Opportunities to learn about island life. Recommend!
Written 5 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LOGAN1957
Coatesville, New Zealand66 contributions
Feb 2020
ensure you have a few hours to take a gentle stroll up to the waterfall. The water there is clear and deep enough to swim. There are toilets and changing room at the actual falls. My one concern would be a couple of invasive species have been let go (strange given their plant knowledge). Good to have the option of a gold kart for those needing help with transport.
Written 7 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
abrp722
Honolulu, HI340 contributions
Dec 2013 • Couples
This place is worth not only one visit, but many. Objects of interest are so diverse that there is something exciting for everyone. They are well covered in other reviews. And, first of all, this is extremely beautiful and peaceful place. Some practical tips are:
Free admission every third Sunday of a month
Special discounts for seniors and local people
A pass to national parks is not accepted.
Don't forget to bring your swimming costume and a towel.
Life jackets for swimming under the waterfall is available on-site and are free of charge.
Free admission every third Sunday of a month
Special discounts for seniors and local people
A pass to national parks is not accepted.
Don't forget to bring your swimming costume and a towel.
Life jackets for swimming under the waterfall is available on-site and are free of charge.
Written 21 December 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Casey O
Boise, ID76 contributions
Aug 2013 • Family
The walking tour of the garden is really nice, and the best opportunity you'll ever have to see a wide range of South Pacific island plants all in one area. There are more varieties of hibiscus than I ever knew existed, and I particularly enjoyed checking out the ginger garden area.
However, the hands-down best part of the park is swimming into the pool at the base of Waimea Falls. The pool has life guards stationed there, and you must wear a life jacket (provided) into the pool. Leave your shoes on--the bottom is pretty rocky until you get out deep enough to swim. There is something about the water in the pool...it feels invigorating and healing, and I felt such joy swimming there. It was wonderful. I am so glad I didn't miss it!
However, the hands-down best part of the park is swimming into the pool at the base of Waimea Falls. The pool has life guards stationed there, and you must wear a life jacket (provided) into the pool. Leave your shoes on--the bottom is pretty rocky until you get out deep enough to swim. There is something about the water in the pool...it feels invigorating and healing, and I felt such joy swimming there. It was wonderful. I am so glad I didn't miss it!
Written 24 September 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cathy Newman
California928 contributions
May 2012 • Couples
We were truly immersed in paradise, strolling amongst the robust, larger- than- average trees, bushes and flowers flourishing here due to the mineral rich volcanic soil. Every natural turn of the garden is picture postcard perfect. Beautiful peacocks and other exotic birds roam the grounds. Throughout the park are informative placards about history, culture and plants strategically placed by the well- labeled flora. At the end of the main path, like a great dessert at the end of a gourmet meal, is a waterfall.
The gift shop is one of the few places on Oahu where I could find a book on all of Hawaii’s botanical gardens combined, but not one book focusing only on this particular place. I would have liked to see more postcards on this garden’s worldwide collections of rare flowers and trees, instead of just the waterfall.
The land at Wiamea Valley was originally a sacred rainforest and replicas of religious sites can be found on the grounds. In more recent years, the attraction was known as an adventure theme park. Carefully landscaped over the design of the old theme park, to reintroduce flora, is the botanical gardens blending gracefully between urban park and wild mountain foliage with tree canopies and vines. The $15.00 admission price for adults and $7.50 for kids, ages 4 to 12 and seniors, aged 60 plus, goes to the worthwhile cause of conservation of native Hawaiian and rare plants.
For travelers who will be going to the gardens, here is some helpful information:
Wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring extra water for hydration, sun block, sun glasses, a hat and insect repellant. Don’t forget your camera!!!! Most of the accessible roads are conveniently paved and the main road is straight and has a slight incline for ¾ of a mile, one- way, to the waterfall. The paved side roads are curvy. The unpaved roads on the outer part of the park look like washes for flooding, so stay within the boundaries of the gardens.
For those people wanting to swim in the pond by the water fall, here is some helpful information:
Call the same day as your visit to see if the waterfall will be open. Wear water shoes as the ground is full of small, hard rocks, which hurt to walk upon. The pond’s bottom has a sudden, sharp drop into cold deep water, so, if necessary, wear flotation devices provided at the life guard station. Bring insect repellant, sun block, towels to dry off and swim wear. There are changing rooms by the falls. An over-sized golf cart trolley goes to the waterfall for $4.00 one way or $6.00 roundtrip.
We will return to take more pictures of the garden and swim at the famous falls seen in movies and t.v.
The gift shop is one of the few places on Oahu where I could find a book on all of Hawaii’s botanical gardens combined, but not one book focusing only on this particular place. I would have liked to see more postcards on this garden’s worldwide collections of rare flowers and trees, instead of just the waterfall.
The land at Wiamea Valley was originally a sacred rainforest and replicas of religious sites can be found on the grounds. In more recent years, the attraction was known as an adventure theme park. Carefully landscaped over the design of the old theme park, to reintroduce flora, is the botanical gardens blending gracefully between urban park and wild mountain foliage with tree canopies and vines. The $15.00 admission price for adults and $7.50 for kids, ages 4 to 12 and seniors, aged 60 plus, goes to the worthwhile cause of conservation of native Hawaiian and rare plants.
For travelers who will be going to the gardens, here is some helpful information:
Wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring extra water for hydration, sun block, sun glasses, a hat and insect repellant. Don’t forget your camera!!!! Most of the accessible roads are conveniently paved and the main road is straight and has a slight incline for ¾ of a mile, one- way, to the waterfall. The paved side roads are curvy. The unpaved roads on the outer part of the park look like washes for flooding, so stay within the boundaries of the gardens.
For those people wanting to swim in the pond by the water fall, here is some helpful information:
Call the same day as your visit to see if the waterfall will be open. Wear water shoes as the ground is full of small, hard rocks, which hurt to walk upon. The pond’s bottom has a sudden, sharp drop into cold deep water, so, if necessary, wear flotation devices provided at the life guard station. Bring insect repellant, sun block, towels to dry off and swim wear. There are changing rooms by the falls. An over-sized golf cart trolley goes to the waterfall for $4.00 one way or $6.00 roundtrip.
We will return to take more pictures of the garden and swim at the famous falls seen in movies and t.v.
Written 19 December 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Don'tWaitForRetirement
California5,667 contributions
Jan 2012 • Couples
I say skip it. It's expensive for what it is. It's kind of sad and tired like it probably had it's heyday 20 years ago. After paying your entry fee, you take a long walk to a waterfall, past a few huts. You can swim at the waterfall, but we didn't know you could do that and weren't prepared with swim suites. Then you walk back again, (or pay to take a shuttle) go in the gift shop and you're done. Don't waste your money.
Written 23 January 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fourseasons63
Broadbeach, Australia75 contributions
Aug 2011 • Solo
This garden also includes Waimea Falls. Entry fee that was quoted in all tourist flyers was not honoured and ended up being $15 per adult-but the American couple who went in before me managed to get the quoted rate of $13.
On the day I went you could not get all the way to the falls you could only view from the last bridge which was about 50 yards away.
Nice valley location for the gardens but the range, layout and maintenance was very disappointing. Many of the tracks through the garden and on their map were closed. Toilet in the garden was a grotty Porta Loo-eewee.
Save your $'s and see something else.
Waimea Bay is absolutely beautiful and free. If car park full at beach drive north towards Sunset and about 150 yards you'll see a small parking area on the side of the road. Park there and walk back about 5mins and you'll be treated with one of the best views of the bay. If you keep walking you can access the beach from this side.
On the day I went you could not get all the way to the falls you could only view from the last bridge which was about 50 yards away.
Nice valley location for the gardens but the range, layout and maintenance was very disappointing. Many of the tracks through the garden and on their map were closed. Toilet in the garden was a grotty Porta Loo-eewee.
Save your $'s and see something else.
Waimea Bay is absolutely beautiful and free. If car park full at beach drive north towards Sunset and about 150 yards you'll see a small parking area on the side of the road. Park there and walk back about 5mins and you'll be treated with one of the best views of the bay. If you keep walking you can access the beach from this side.
Written 11 August 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kaye N
Provo, UT2,151 contributions
Oct 2021
This was probably my favorite place on Oahu this time. Peaceful, colorful, a leisurely walk through the gardens - it was rejuvenating! Take your time and don't hurry to the falls! A young man employee at the falls said he's always sad when people hurry there and don't see the magnificent gardens.
We bought tickets online the day before. We carried a picnic lunch with us and ate just off the trail. I took so many pictures of vibrant flowers - the experience was a rainbow experience! Visit the village area - we got to talk to a woman making a tapa cloth - very cool.
All the little side paths are worth exploring. We were not bothered by insects at all. We were there from about 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Take water though and sun protection. While it's very shaded there are sunny areas too.
We bought tickets online the day before. We carried a picnic lunch with us and ate just off the trail. I took so many pictures of vibrant flowers - the experience was a rainbow experience! Visit the village area - we got to talk to a woman making a tapa cloth - very cool.
All the little side paths are worth exploring. We were not bothered by insects at all. We were there from about 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Take water though and sun protection. While it's very shaded there are sunny areas too.
Written 13 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Before you enter, there is a very small eatery. Their fries are excellent!
Written 14 March 2017
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