Are you looking for a breakaway from the frantic pace of life?

The Ruru Retreat located at the Waitakaruru Arboretum and Sculpture Park provides the perfect space to relax and enjoy nature at its best. This one bedroom house is available for two night stays all year round.

This autumn see the amazing variety of fungi found throughout the park. Including, this Basket Fungi - named because of it’s distinctive shape.

What is Sculpture?

It is a three-dimensional art form where materials are worked, molded, cast or assemble to create a piece.

It is a form of artistic expression - see how a riveting gun becomes an artists tool.

This time of year there are many types of fungi around.

What do they do and why are they necessary?

If you love nature and want to record and immerse yourself in what you see - Botanical Journalling.

Find out more…

Join the hunt for six of our native birds hidden throughout the Sculpture park - can you find all six?

We have a game for all ages, simply find the birds and fill in your entry form.

The connection between the Monarch Butterfly and the “swan” plant you have in your garden is key to the sustainability of this butterfly in New Zealand.

Learn how to make your own medicine drum and the power of the beat and essence of “drumming”

IMAgEN8 works to help young photographers (8 – 18yrs) connect with nature through education, photography and technology. Find out more about the great work they do.

Waikato Mobility Dogs have a training day at the Sculpture Park.

Are you a budding photographer wanting inspiration from nature and the arts?

Fleeting Moments of Autumn is the competition for you.

Are you part of a cycle group and looking for your next coffee spot?

Visit the Ruru cafe located at the Sculpture Park on Scotsman’s Valley Road.

Great coffee, great food and wonderful service.

Flower of the month - Tubular Begonia. Bright colors, subtle fragrance and the perfect gift to give.

The Portal Project by Marcus Tatton which was one year in the development and design is now complete.

The Portal Project — The Sculpture Park at Waitakaruru Arboretum | Art-in-Nature Arboretum Trust

Metal clay is a new unique jewelry making material that can transform to silver when heated. Learn how to create your own piece of art inspired jewellery.

Stone carving is an activity where pieces of rough natural stone are shaped by the controlled removal of stone. Owing to the permanence of the material, stonework has survived which was created during our prehistory or past time.

See Karin Barr work with Omaru stone at her workshop in February.

The Portal Project by Marcus Tatton - engineering a piece of sculpture from the destruction caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

The Creative workshops at the Sculpture Park are a showcase of some of the Waikato’s best artists and craftspeople. The workshops range from floristry to wood carving to creative writing or watercolor painting.

Owen and Yotum are part of the team behind managing the 17.5 hectares that is the Sculpture Park. The park contains over 30,000 different species of trees and shrubs and is a visual experience.

Metal clay is a new unique jewelry making material that can transform to silver when heated. Learn how to create your own piece of art inspired jewellery.