Visitors aged 16 and over from outside Hamilton will start paying an entry fee to visit the 18 ‘specialty’ gardens located in the Enclosed Gardens at Hamilton Gardens from February next year. Surrounding lawns, lake, playground, etc will remain free for everyone.
Hamilton residents, however, will continue to enjoy these Gardens for free. This, however, may affect thousands of residents living in close vicinity of Hamilton such as Cambridge, Ngāruawāhia, Tamahere, etc who would have to pay entry fee.
Entry fee is scheduled to be introduced to coincide with the opening of the new Visitor Entry Precinct in February 2024. An annual pass option and concessions will be available.
The elected members of the Hamilton City Council yesterday provisionally approved the $20 fee to enter the renowned Enclosed Gardens for out-of-town visitors, while mulling over its 2023/24 draft Annual Plan.
According to Angela O’Leary, Deputy Mayor “this is projected to bring in between an additional $2.3m – $3.5m in the first year based on entry fee and additional tours income, retail spend in the new information centre, etc.”
Revenue from this entry fee is expected to go towards the significant and increasing costs to maintain Hamilton’s most-popular visitor attraction, and Council hopes this will continue to provide the world-class experience it is known for.
Revenue collected will also help to address Council’s ‘balancing the books’ shortfall. Council’s net debt today stands at $842 million.
Some local residents NewsViews spoke to yesterday evening were, however, unhappy at Council’s decision to levy fee for visitors to the Hamilton Gardens.
“This will be a bad outcome for the city’s development as a tourist centre,” says David(who gave only his first name).
“With high costs of living, city will lose domestic travellers. These Gardens are the only attraction for them- especially Aucklanders, to stop or visit the city. If a family of four, for example, has to shell out $80 entry fee, they will perhaps think twice and is very likely they will skip the stopover here.
“Council needs to rethink and ramp fee amount as $20 is a bit much.”
Similar view was echoed by Lisa. “More middle-class visitors have now started coming here from South-Asian countries and a visit to Hamilton Gardens is on top of their to-do list. But considering today’s currency rate, for them to afford pay $20 for each ticket will be additional burden for them.”
Visitor Destinations Unit Director Lee-Ann Jordan said the time is right to introduce the entry fee, given the growing visitation and the demand this puts on the site.
“Hamilton Gardens is a huge asset for our city and is an important contributor to local tourism and the city economy,” she said.
“$20 is a very reasonable price to experience the 18 amazing and unique gardens in the Enclosed Gardens. And, of course, they remain free for Hamiltonians.”
Council is yet to come out with details on the screening process – weaning locals from visitors. Moreover, local couples, for example, may be required to produce residence evidence separately, and so would youngsters. As on now, Council has not released more details on this.
“Every time when I decide to visit Hamilton Gardens, I’ll now have to carry a documentation proving my Hamilton resident status, and age-proof of my two teenage daughters. Has anyone thought of inconvenience this is going to cause and additional infrastructure- including deployment of extra staff to check credentials,” asked David.
Is this levy enough to ‘balance’ the budget debt shortfall, or are there better alternatives available, only time will tell.
There may be hundreds of visitors at the moment but when they have to start paying $20 per person the numbers will drop considerably. I live in Hamilton but I sure would not pay $20 to visit the gardens if I was from out of the area
Way too much Hamilton City Council, why not start at $10 and if you have to, gradually increase
it up over the next 5 years. But come on $20 is just too greedy, people will think twice about visiting
our beautiful gardens. Also what about our gold card members, what are you doing for them?
We have asked HCC their comments on SuperGoldcard holders; will entry fee apply to residents of neighbouring areas such as Tamahere, etc. Will update once response is received.
I live in tamahere which is still in Hamilton. Am I expected to pay a ridiculous price just to visit the Gardens that are apart of the city I belong to?
I lived in Hamilton for 50 years, paid rates for 29 years. I work in Hamilton as does my husband,but live in Ohaupo. We’re not paying $20 to visit the Gardens.
We, Hamiltonians, already pay for the Gardens in our rates. To make visitors pay $20 is only fair. It will hopefully avoid tourist buses going from Auckland to Matamata (Hobbiton) to stop at the Gardens and just use them as a toilet stop!
Oh lord. This will really make ALL think about visiting. Locals will need proof they can visit free. Added cost to holiday makers. Lower this fee to $10 may make it more popular.
Agreed, but why even $10? It must continue to be free, it’s foolish, as expenses(& inconvenience) involved in verifying entry requirements, will nullify expected revenue collection. Council needs to cut some of its own wasteful expenses.