McBryde Garden History
The land now occupied by the McBryde Garden lies in the southern part of what was once the Hawaiian ahupua‘a (land division) of Lāwa‘i, originally extending along the Lāwa‘i Stream from the Kapalaoa Range to Lāwa‘i Bay.
Located on the South Shore of the Hawaiian island of Kaua’i, McBryde Garden is nestled in the picturesque and historic Lawa’i Valley. The garden is a veritable botanical ark of tropical flora and home to the largest ex situ collection of native Hawaiian flora in existence. Our extensive collections of palms, flowering trees, rubiaceae, heliconias, orchids, and many others have been wild-collected by botanists and biologists from throughout tropical regions around the world and transported to McBryde Garden to research, cultivate and thrive.
Tours of McBryde Garden and the adjacent Allerton Garden are available by appointment only. Visitors are transported into the garden via a short, narrated shuttle ride along the stunning coastline of the South Shore. Be on the lookout for whales, dolphins and other marine life as you make your way into the garden over a historic railroad trestle road and into the magnificent valley.
Your health is our top priority: We have put special measures in place to keep all guests safe both during and after your garden visit.
Stringent Cleaning: We’ve increased the frequency of disinfecting surfaces of high-traffic areas in our facilities. All buses will be sanitized between each departure. Hand-washing stations are located throughout the gardens and at our Visitor Center.
Social Distancing: Guests will stay a safe 6-foot distance before boarding the bus, while in common areas throughout the garden, and in our visitor center. Guests will stay 10 feet apart from other groups while in McBryde Garden When safety-distancing is not attainable face coverings will be used by all staff and guests. Shields have been installed at our Visitor Center registers. We are limiting the number of guests in our Visitor Center to 10 people at a time. Please adhere to these guidelines and practice safety first. Bus capacity is also limited based on the most current mandates/ordinances.
Wellness: If you or anyone in your group is experiencing symptoms of illness, we will work directly with you to cancel or reschedule your tour. Our family of staff and volunteers are also trained to be aware of symptoms of illness. No one comes to work or to volunteer if they are unwell.
The land now occupied by the McBryde Garden lies in the southern part of what was once the Hawaiian ahupua‘a (land division) of Lāwa‘i, originally extending along the Lāwa‘i Stream from the Kapalaoa Range to Lāwa‘i Bay.
Garden Policies for everyone’s benefit
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McBryde Garden visitors can explore 50 acres of diverse plant collections including Hawaiian native and ethnobotanical species, palms, rubiaceae (coffee family), zingiberales (heliconia family), and erythrina (coral trees). See exotic spices from allspice to vanilla on the Spice of Life Trail, and take a journey back in time in the Hawaiian Life Canoe Plant Garden and along the Biodiversity Trail.
View all of the collections at your own pace on this self-guided tour.
McBryde Garden is timed entry/exit. Guests will have approximately 2 hours in the garden. Transportation via private bus is required to access the Garden and admission price includes the bus portion. Bus occupancy is limited and cleaned routinely with COVID-19 measures in place. Bus departs on time from the Visitor Center.
For more information please call: (808) 742-2623
Availability: click BOOK TOUR to see next available or call 808-742-2623
Tour Duration: 2.75 hours
Tour Type: Self-Guided Tour
Ticket Prices: Day Pass includes admission into our Visitor Center Garden
Visitor
Adults – $20
Children (6-12) – $10
Kama’aina
Adults – $16
Member
Adults – Free
Closed toe shoes required for all tours and garden access. No slippers or sandals. Guests will be rescheduled to another tour if they do not have the appropriate footwear.
Garden Policies for everyone’s benefit
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For visitors who want a taste of both worlds, this is the tour! Our highly-trained interpretive guides takes guests through select Allerton Garden rooms and McBryde Garden highlights. Enjoy the greatest aspects of both gardens. Whether you are seeking that perfect picture of you with the Jurassic Park Trees or have limited time, this is it!
View select rooms in the Allerton Garden, named one of the ’50 Places of a Lifetime’ by National Geographic Traveler. Then have a guided experience through our McBryde Garden, an active conservation and research garden with active interpretation and Hawaiian cultural significance.
Availability: click BOOK TOUR to see next available or call 808-742-2623
Tour Type: Guided Tour
Tour Duration: 2.75 hours
Ticket Prices:
Tour fee includes admission into our Visitor Center Garden
Visitor
Adults – $60
Children (6-12) – $30
Kama’aina
Adults – $48
Member
Adults – $45
Closed toe shoes required for all tours and garden access. No slippers or sandals. Guests will be rescheduled to another tour if they do not have the appropriate footwear.
Garden Policies for everyone’s benefit
Join us for an after-hours tour of exploration and discovery that takes place amongst Allerton and McBryde Gardens. Listen to the birds as they sing their sundown songs before their evening rest. Look for night time pollinators. Smell the sweet fragrance of our night blooming flowers. Feel the gardens come alive in a whole new perspective.
Guided by the moonlight each tour is unique and the path will be dependent upon the season, weather, and Mother Nature in her most secretive time, twilight. Unlike any of our other tours, this experience may take guests through normally off limit areas like: the west end of Allerton, the secret garden tunnels and other off the path enchanted trails.
Bring a flashlight, hydration, and insect repellent. Recommended age is 12+.
Tour Type: Guided Tour
Days Available: click BOOK TOUR to see next available or call 808-742-2623
Tour Time: Departs at 5:30 pm
Tour Duration: 2.5 hours
Ticket Prices:
Adults: $70
Kama’aina: $60
Member: $55
Closed toe shoes required for all tours and garden access. No slippers or sandals.
Garden Policies for everyone’s benefit
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Biodiversity Guided Tour
Temporarily paused
Ho’ike programing temporarily paused due to COVID
Days Available: Wednesday & Saturdays 9 – 12:00 pm
Daily Schedule:
9:00 a.m. Gates Open
12:00 p.m. Gates Close
Admission Ticket Prices:
Kama’aina & Members
Free Admission
donations welcome
Check-in Required, but free, walk-ups welcome
Closed toe shoes required for all tours and garden access. No slippers or sandals. Guests will be rescheduled to another tour if they do not have the appropriate footwear.
Join us for a unique cultural and artistic experience! NTBG is hosting several, three-day ink and kapa making workshops in 2021.
Check out our March 2021 South Shore events! Yoga in the Garden is back or enjoy a full moon Twilight Tour.
Enjoy the natural and pristine setting of The Kampong Botanical Garden for Gentle Yoga & Meditation practice in this beautiful space every Tuesday and Thursday at 12 p.m.
Head to our South Shore Visitor Center for a plant sale on February 27, 2021! The sale will feature plants from our McBryde Garden.
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