The 54 ha (130 acres) park is based on the banks of the Waikato River and includes enclosed gardens, open lawns, a lake, a nursery, a convention centre and the Hamilton East Cemetery.

[4] The first development of the gardens began in the early 1960s at what was then the city's waste disposal site.

The design of this area was, and still is, firmly in the Gardenesque tradition, with specimen trees and flower beds set in flat lawns.

Other planned developments included a playground, three central courts, an Italian Renaissance Pavilion jetty and security cameras.

It was discovered at Hamilton Gardens as a naturally occurring mutation of Paddy Stephens, which was a rose cultivated by rose expert Sam McGredy and like its predecessor has long stems, well formed blooms, and high disease tolerance.

The New Zealand Rose Society describes its colour as "an appealing blend of apricot, pink and cream" and says it grows about 1.5 metres.

They also recommend the pre-colonial Te Parapara garden and Ngā Uri O Hinetuparimaunga earth blanket statue at the main gates.

[11] Blogger David Farrer described Hamilton Gardens as a "hidden treasure" and a "great place to spend half a day".

Former Hamilton mayor Kathleen Braithwaite has been a major sponsor of the English Flower Garden and future development projects.

Muriel House made a substantial sponsorship towards the Modernist Garden, and the Russian Bell Tower Trust raised the money needed for the Hamilton Gardens Russian Bell Tower.

Hamilton Gardens is located between the Waikato River and Cobham Drive State Highway 1.

Local visitors include people from Auckland, the Waikato region, the Bay of Plenty and Taranaki.

[39] The gardens play host to many events, including the signature Pacific Rose Bowl Festival in November,[40] the National Painting and Printmaking Awards in February,[41] the Great Pumpkin Carnival in March,[42] the Hamilton Fringe Festival in late March,[43] and Stations of the Cross before Easter.

[7] The Hamilton Gardens Pavilion is the venue for concerts,[45] antique fairs,[46] collectable shows,[47] and model railway exhibitions.

[55] Local communities use the Hamilton Gardens for religious ceremonies,[56] cultural gatherings,[57][58] and balls.

The pavilion also houses the Hamilton Gardens Information Centre, which is run by paid staff and volunteers and offers seasonal plants, tourism bookings and souvenirs.

[64] An independently owned cafe, restaurant and catering company operates at the lake, serving a variety of coffees, snacks, meals and ice creams.

Seating is located around the site, with most gardens having sheltered spots in case of rain.

There are maps, apps, brochures and guided tours in different languages, and an activity sheet for children.

[67] As it was in a poor repair, a new facility, built by Total Marine services of Auckland was opened in June 2018[68][28] and is served by cruises from Memorial Park and Swarbrick Landing,[69] which started in 2012.