3rd time lucky, but finally got to visit these water gardens. First visit was winter, and it's shut, 2nd time was a Tuesday - also closed.
Wrights Watergardens are built around the historic Mauku Waterfall and stream. The area has a rich and eventful history.
During the 1800s, a huge waterwheel was located at the top of the waterfall which powered the flax mill built beside it. Once dismantled, the area became a favourite picnic spot and the site of many wedding proposals.
After the Second World War, the land was turned into a rock quarry which provided much of the hard metal for the roads leading out to the local steel mill. After the quarry was abandoned, noxious weeds and rubbish covered the area for several decades.
The quarry has now been transformed into a 4-acre garden, beautiful in all seasons.
