Waterlily gardens celebrate spring
It’s spring time and The Waterlily Gardens have re-opened so are celebrating with the Spring Festival of Colour.
The spring festival is a free community day offering a flower and produce market, stalls, colour installations, best dressed competition, entertainment, children’s activities and food.
Rachael Pride says they had a big open day last year and they would like to do a big spring day out each year.
“We wanted to do something with Waihi Beach Events and Promotions to highlight the close links between Waihi and our other local towns.”
There will be colour installations throughout the gardens, a DJ, burgers or pig on the spit. The Waterlily Garden cafe will also be open. Kids will be entertained with face painting, craft play and a nature treasure hunt.
Dress up in your best spring colour outfit for possible spot prizes.
Rachael and Evan Pride took over the gardens one year ago. They had visited one Christmas and fell in love with the 6ha, seeing its potential and beauty.
In August, The Waterlily Gardens celebrated a win at the Wedding Industry Awards of New Zealand for best wedding venue.
Since taking on the gardens — which are between the Karangahake Gorge and Waihi — they have had work done on
trees, re-done the driveway, cleared and defined gardens around the formal lawns and cottages, added lighting, maps and better signage for visitors.
They are currently working their way through the ponds and have nearly finished the fernery.
Now they’re open to the public after their transformation.
“We want to to put the gardens back on people’s radar,” Teresa says.
Waihi Beach Events and Promotions community coordinator Teresa Qualtrough says The Waterlily Gardens is an important attraction for people who are visiting Waihi Beach. It is a 15-minute drive from the beach to The Waterlily Gardens on Pukekauri Rd.
The organisers encourage people to bring their own produce baskets or reusable bags to take home local produce and flowers.
See the Waihi Events Info page or Waterlily Gardens going up this week.