Last updated October 2026
The Gardens is a family-oriented South Auckland residential suburb named for its proximity to the major Auckland Botanic Gardens — modern family housing with the substantial 64-hectare gardens immediately adjacent, plus easy access to Manukau and SH1 motorway commuting.
Official Suburb Facts
- Population (2023 Census)
- About 3,510, up 3% since 2018
- Land area
- 3.70 km²
- Location
- 22.0 km south-east of central Auckland
- Council
- Auckland Council
- Neighbouring suburbs
- Tōtara Park, Manurewa, Totara Heights, Flat Bush, Hillpark, Goodwood Heights, Alfriston, Manurewa East, Randwick Park
- Ward or local board
- Manurewa Local Board
- Nearby landmarks
- Auckland Botanic Gardens
Who Lives in The Gardens
About 3,510 residents in 980 households. From the 2023 Census, with the New Zealand figure alongside for comparison.
Schools in The Gardens
One school sits inside the The Gardens boundary. It has an enrolment zone, so check an address is in zone before you buy or rent.
Also zoned for The Gardens
Zones change, so confirm with the school before relying on one.
Bin Day in The Gardens
Auckland Council sets collection days street by street. Look up your address to get your day and which bins go out.
Find your bin day and what goes in each binStreets in The Gardens
33 streets are in The Gardens. Search any street in Auckland to see which suburb it is in.
Show all 33 streets in The Gardens
- A
- Accessway
- Accessway
- Aldon Lane
- Auckland-Hamilton Motorway
- B
- Beirut Court
- Byblos Place
- C
- Charles Prevost Drive
- D
- Dawood Place
- E
- Elias Court
- F
- Frederick Reece Drive
- H
- Henriette Place
- Hill Road
- I
- Idris Court
- K
- Katote Close
- Kumar Place
- Kuripaka Crescent
- L
- Lamia Place
- Larkspur Court
- Lemonwood Place
- M
- Manara Place
- Marwan Crescent
- Mt Lebanon Crescent
- Muka Close
- N
- Nita Place
- Norman Close
- P
- Peretao Rise
- Phoenicia Court
- R
- Rarahu Place
- S
- Saint Maroun Rise
- State Highway 1
- T
- Tuakura Way
- W
- Wairere Road
- Y
- Ysabel Crescent
A long road is listed in each suburb it runs through.
Safety and Hazards
Lower than the Auckland average for the number of people who live here. Another 27 reports were at shops and businesses.
Buses from The Gardens
14 bus stops inside the suburb.
Typical weekday daytime frequency.
Handy Facilities
Weather and Rent at a Glance
Weather is city-wide; rent is for this suburb.
In The Gardens
Places and businesses inside the official The Gardens boundary.
Places
About The Gardens
The Gardens is a modern South Auckland family residential suburb — developed substantially from the 1980s onwa...
The Gardens is a modern South Auckland family residential suburb — developed substantially from the 1980s onwards alongside the Auckland Botanic Gardens, with the gardens themselves giving the suburb its name. The combination of family-oriented housing plus the substantial gardens amenity makes The Gardens one of the more distinctive South Auckland family destinations.
Auckland Botanic Gardens
Auckland Botanic Gardens are 64 hectares of curated gardens, native bush remnants and themed planting collecti...
Auckland Botanic Gardens are 64 hectares of curated gardens, native bush remnants and themed planting collections immediately adjacent to The Gardens suburb — free entry, with the Visitor Centre, café, themed garden areas (rose garden, native plant garden, threatened species collection), and walking tracks throughout.
The gardens host major annual events including the Sculpture in the Gardens exhibition. Direct walking access from The Gardens streets gives residents one of South Auckland’s standout green-space amenities.
Near The Gardens
Just outside The Gardens, within 10 km of its centre, nearest first.
Places
Show 2 more places
Businesses
Explore all Auckland businesses
Where to Learn More
Auckland Botanic Gardens — official gardens website.
Manurewa Local Board — local government area.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people live in The Gardens?
About 3,510 people lived in The Gardens at the 2023 Census, up 3% since 2018. See Who Lives in The Gardens
What school zones cover The Gardens?
Alfriston College's zone covers all of The Gardens. Hillpark School, The Gardens School and Manurewa High School have zones covering part of it. Zones change, so check an address with the school. See Schools in The Gardens
Which buses serve The Gardens?
Route 366, about every 30 min. There are 14 stops in the suburb. See Buses from The Gardens
Is The Gardens in a flood zone?
About 10% of the land in The Gardens is in the council's mapped flood areas. Check a street on the council map before you buy. See Safety and Hazards
Are dogs allowed in The Gardens?
Auckland Botanic Gardens: on leash in most of the gardens; off leash in the north-western area (north of the palms and north-west of the roses, including the event lawn). Totara Park: off leash, except on leash in the picnic and playground area. See every dog park and walk in Auckland.
What suburbs border The Gardens?
How big are the Botanic Gardens?
64 hectares of curated gardens, native bush and themed plantings — free entry, with Visitor Centre and café.
What's the character?
Modern family residential with the substantial botanic gardens as the defining adjacent amenity.
Is the gardens free?
Yes — free entry to the Auckland Botanic Gardens.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Explore Auckland only lists suburbs officially recognised by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), and The Gardens is one of them. Suburb boundary: LINZ, CC BY 4.0.
Sources and data notes 8
- Official Suburb Facts: Boundary, area and neighbours: LINZ, CC BY 4.0. Population: Stats NZ 2023 Census usually resident population, CC BY 4.0, summed from the statistical areas inside the boundary.
- Who Lives in The Gardens: Stats NZ 2023 Census, CC BY 4.0. Figures are summed from the census areas inside the official The Gardens boundary. Percentages are of the people or homes that answered each question; a figure is left out when fewer than 100 answered.
- Schools in The Gardens: Ministry of Education school directory and enrolment zones (CC BY 4.0 and CC BY 3.0 NZ), October 2026.
- Streets in The Gardens: LINZ NZ Addresses road data, CC BY 4.0.
- Safety and Hazards: NZ Police victimisation data, CC BY 4.0, September 2025 to August 2026 (crimes inside homes are only published for burglary); Auckland Council tsunami evacuation zones (2024) and flood plains.
- Buses from The Gardens: Auckland Transport timetable data.
- Handy Facilities: Auckland Council park assets (public toilets); NZTA EVRoam charging sites.
- Weather and Rent at a Glance: NIWA climate averages 1991-2020 (via Figure.NZ); Tenancy Services rental bond data (new bonds in the suburb’s Stats NZ areas), July 2025 to June 2026, CC BY 3.0 NZ.