McBryde & Allerton Garden, National Tropical Botanical Garden
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My husband and I came here for the sunset tour of Allerton Gardens and had a fantastic time. We were in an intimate group of 10 people and really enjoyed Ron, who is easily the best tour guide I’ve ever had for anything, ever. Whatever coffee Ron is drinking (Kauai Coffee Co. maybe?), I need to get my hands on it. He truly has so much charisma that it makes an already cool tour even better. He had fun facts about everything, advice for the island, had the group laughing the entire time and even broke open a coconut for us to eat on the tour. Ron speaks in Hawaiian Pidgin, a slang Hawaiian dialect, which we found made him more endearing. My husband is a huge Jurassic Park nut and loves dinosaurs so we were particularly excited to see the Morton Bay fig trees where they filmed that epic scene in Jurassic park! Ron took some very memorable photos for us at that spot, and has lots of interesting information about the filming of the movie. It is also worth mentioning - he said that on that particular day they were a little short handed, so in addition to giving a spectacular tour, he served us our meals and drove us around. Obviously we can’t speak enough about how much this guy rocks (so much!). Aside from Ron, the gardens are magnificent and breathtaking, offering some wonderful Great Gatsby-esque scenery and photo opportunities. The history of the garden is quite interesting and it felt like we were on a jungle adventure the whole time. One key mistake we made was not bringing bug spray - very important - but thankfully another couple did come prepared and let us use some. Prior to applying it we were being destroyed by mosquitos. Also, there is quite a bit of walking involved on a dirt path so do wear comfortable hiking sandals or sneakers. The food supplied for the evening meal was refreshing and just the right amount. You can get ahi tuna or shrimp and both options rock. Overall, I would recommend this tour for folks of all ages. We learned a ton about plants, pop culture, and Hawaiian history and traditions. We had a great time and will likely return in the future.
Paige WynnePaige Wynne
50
Allerton Gardens was beautiful and it was interesting to learn about the history of the location and it’s owners. Also, very cool to see where some of the iconic Jurassic Park scenes were filmed. Staff was knowledgeable and helpful with any questions. We did the Allerton by Fire tour…this tour was very pricey. You do not get to see the McBryde Conservation garden or even all the rooms at Allerton with this tour. Bummer! You do however get to see the Allerton house and have dinner and a fire/hula show. We were not impressed by the house so that was kind of a dud. Seems like some of the original beauty was washed away during the last flood/hurricane. Also, if it rains, which it did during our tour, there wasn’t a great backup plan for the show, as it needs to be performed outside. The staff did their best to make it work but perhaps a covered lanai would be a better option for the tropics where it rains intermittently daily. The food was ok, but for the price, I was hoping for something not served out of a lunch pail and cold. But the presentation and attention to detail welcoming guests deserves a gold star. The performers were talented and worked well under the constraints of a rainy night. Beware two things - mosquitos and tardiness. They will leave you if you are not present at departure time sharp. We were in the parking lot two minutes before and they were calling us to ask where we were. The mosquitos are BAD!!! Wear bug repellant and clothing that covers unless you want to get eaten alive. Overall, you go to see the gardens…so take the guided garden tour that’s three hours and see both McBryde and Allerton Garden and skip the evening show.
Katherine SmithKatherine Smith
100
Our family did the “Best of Both Worlds Tour” which is a $60, 2.5 hour, guided tour of both Allerton Garden and McBryde Garden. I would bring insect repellent, sunscreen, and water. Closed toe shoes are required. The guided tour consists of a ~15 minute bus ride to the first destination, which is Allerton Garden. It’s a closed air, traditional bus, with A/C that tries to cool the air. Masks were required when we went. Our tour guide was fantastic, with tons of jokes, anecdotes, history, etc. We thoroughly enjoyed the Allerton Garden tour. The place is absolutely beautiful and has a ton of history behind it. My favorite aspect of it was the art installations (mainly the water based ones but the landscaping was breathtaking as well). After about 1.5 hours, you get back on the tour bus then move to McBryde Garden. The McBryde Garden was nice, but our tour guide didn’t spend much time there (maybe). It’s also less art focused and more focused on endangered species of plants, which was a little less breathtaking to us, but still interesting! If we had to do it again I would just book the Allerton Garden tour. We thoroughly enjoyed that area. It was well worth it. The
Morteza GTMorteza GT
60
Highly recommend visiting these beautiful botanical gardens during your stay in Kauai. My wife and I did the McBryde Garden self guided tour. Even if you choose self guided, you'll have to ride their small bus from the staging area to the garden. This is a short and fun ride with lots to see. Our driver was Bob who was great and knew a lot about the area, history, plants, trees, beaches, etc. He was talking on the speaker the entire drive. Once at the garden, you have free roam of the trails. I recommend doing all of them because they aren't very long or difficult and you'll see so many cool things. Lots of beautiful flowers on the lower trails, lots of giant trees on the upper trails. I forgot mosquito spray and survived, but definitely bring/buy some. The weather was nice so I wore flip flops, but I'd recommend wearing some comfortable shoes you don't mind getting dirty. We caught the bus to the garden at 11:30am and caught the bus back at 3:00pm. We were walking slowly taking lots of photos and sat down for a bit to have a snack. You could probably walk all of the trails in 2 hours if you kept moving. Very relaxing and unique experience.
Ryan DeanRyan Dean
10
“Allerton by Fire” was such a intimate, special time. This is a hidden gem. Rather than a luau I opted for something less tourist-y. We board the bus and our guide kept the energy high on the drive to the garden- sharing interesting facts about the plants along the way. Once we started walking, guided us through some interesting statues and outdoor rooms. Once we arrived at the McBryde/Allerton house, we passed through the interior before heading to our tables set outdoors facing the ocean. I am on my honeymoon and they remembered that, set a note up saying our names and some flowers. The meals were good quality and the 2 hula dancers were young ladies that are diligently learning. The young man doing hula and then later fire dancing is practicing his skills and we were impressed with both. This is a real life, real people show. Have reasonable standards. The dessert was yummy popsicles and after the live music/hula/fire show, we were given grass leis. They made us honeymooners feel special in particular. We left feeling wholesome and it was special. We won’t forget it. I will recommend it to anyone I can. Thank you.
Talia RichmondTalia Richmond
40
This was one of the best experiences of my life. The best botanical garden I've ever been in and the tour by Soren was fantastic. He was incredibly knowledgeable and had an answer for every question. They take their jobs very seriously and care very deeply for the park and all of the plants in it. Be advised that this garden is off-site form the National Botanical Garden where you park. You will buy your tickets at the visitors center/gift shop and then get shuttled by your guide to the park with your group. It's a quick 10 minute ride and is kind of part of the tour where your guide will tell you about the history of the park and it's founders. It may seem like a commitment to do the 2.5 hours but it is well worth it and will go fast because it is so engaging. The hike is not difficult for children or most able bodied elderly people. Be advised! Bring bug spray, or of you don't, they can sell you some for like $2 when you buy tickets. We got bitten by a lot of mosquitoes.
Will FinleyWill Finley
30
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Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
4425 Lawai Rd, Koloa, HI 96756
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Phone
(808) 742-2623
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Website
ntbg.org
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Reviews
Overview
4.6
(723 reviews)
Ratings & Description
outdoor
relaxation
family friendly
Description
Allerton Garden, also known as Lāwaʻi-kai, is a botanical garden, originally created by Robert Allerton and John Gregg Allerton, located on the south shore of Kauai, Hawaii. The garden covers an 80-acre area and is situated beside the Lāwaʻi Bay, in a valley transected by the Lāwaʻi Stream.
attractions: Spouting Horn Park, McBryde & Allerton Gardens, National Tropical Botanical Garden, Spouting Horn, McBryde Garden, National Tropical Botanical Garden Gift Shop, Kukuiʻula Golf Course, Kukuiʻula Harbor Beach, The Lodge at Kukuiʻula, Kukuiula Boat Harbor, restaurants: The Club at Kukuiʻula
