Things To Do

Centennial Garden & Waterfall

54 Coote Road, Bluff Hill, Napier 4110

Rating: 4.4 ★ (185 ratings)

Details

Centennial Garden & Waterfall offers a tranquil garden oasis in Napier, Hawke's Bay, boasting a spectacular 40-metre waterfall that cascades down limestone cliffs. This visually appealing and peaceful setting was developed in 1974 to commemorate Napier's centenary, yet it holds a fascinating past, having once served as a quarry worked by prison labour. The unique blend of natural beauty and intriguing history makes it a distinctive urban escape, just moments from the city centre.

A prominent highlight is the impressive 40-metre waterfall, where water is recirculated, creating a continuous cascade over the rock face and fostering lush plant growth on the limestone cliffs from its spray. Visitors can follow walking paths, crossing an arching footbridge that provides excellent views of the waterfall, which becomes especially captivating at night when illuminated with a green glow, evoking an almost primeval beauty. The gardens also feature serene artificial pools and, in spring, vibrant flowers add to the charm.

This delightful destination is ideal for those seeking a peaceful stroll or a quiet moment amidst nature, offering easy accessibility for all visitors. It is particularly well-suited for photographers, providing picturesque backdrops, especially during late autumn or early winter for rich colours, or when spring blooms are in full glory. The gardens also prove a popular choice for wedding photography and small ceremonies, offering a memorable setting for special occasions.

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Comments

daniela _ carina

30 Oct 2025

5.0 ★

A little but really beautiful garden with a stunning waterfall 🥰 definitely worth a short visit 🏵

June White

21 Sep 2025

4.0 ★

Lovely garden & waterfall. Unfortunately we were just the wrong time of year to see it in its full glory.

Haydn Murdoch

8 Jul 2023

5.0 ★

Centenial Gardens are a hidden gem not far from Marine Parade in Napier. The peaceful and visually appealing location is a joy to explore. From a spectacular waterfall to a racing watercourse and finally a lovely pool. All the family enjoyed the visit and I imagine it would be even more spectacular in spring. Will definitely go back to see.

Rafael Kargren (Raf)

11 Apr 2023

4.0 ★

Nice, little garden right in the centre of the city just few steps away from the marine promenade. It takes less than 5 to walk around it, but you can sit, relax and admire wonderful waterfall and just take a break.

BradinHK

18 Aug 2018

3.0 ★

We found the lovely Centennial Garden on Coote Rd. during our trip to Napier and very enjoyed our time viewing the spring flowers which were in full bloom at the time.

The spring blooms made this a lovely place to visit. There are also a couple of photogenic artificial pools as well as the natural waterfall and pool in the back of the garden. We liked the small bridge over the pool in back. This also made for some nice pictures.

Overall, we were quite impressed with the Centennial Garden in Napier and found it a very good place to find during the spring when the flowers are in bloom.

For those making their way up to the Bluff Hill Lookout, this is a easy stop to make along the way, You can conveniently visit the Centennial Garden in 10 minutes or a half hour if you enjoy what you find at the garden.