Q&A with Jack Hobbs: Auckland Botanic Gardens

Just off the Southern Motorway, Auckland Botanic Gardens are a 20-minute drive from central Auckland or the airport, and are free to visit. Jack Hobbs has been in the top job as Director since 1997.

1. Can you tell us about your job, what you like about it?

It’s a real delight to mix plants with people and to work with people with that mutual interest. Gardening is so therapeutic. It's hugely beneficial to people and it’s becoming more and more popular.

2. What is special about Auckland Botanic Gardens?

It’s a really nice place for people to come to. There’s a nice café, it’s a nice place to be – we meet Qualmark standards for visitor experience and have a New Zealand Gardens Trust rating as well. Our objective is to connect people with plants and we inform people about gardening. What grows here grows in Auckland gardens. We have a trial garden and plants that prosper become ‘star performers’; we promote that programme with leaflets available to visitors and on our website.

3. Who visits the gardens?

Visitors are mostly Aucklanders, predominantly South Aucklanders and we have events such as Sculpture in the Gardens which attracts a whole new group of visitors from across the region. We have around 1.2 million visitors per year.

4. Which is your favourite part of the gardens?

The magnolia and camellias when they’re in full flower; it’s so spectacular and magical being surrounding by blossoms and birdlife. The Potter Children’s garden is a favourite for families. It’s very successful, design-wise and kids love it. It’s safe and fun and informative.

5. Where else would you recommend to visitors to Auckland?

Eden Garden is an oasis in the middle of central Auckland; a beautiful, quiet garden in an old quarry in Mt Eden. Also, some of our regional parks are treasures of international quality. Āwhitu Regional Park has history, lovely beaches, a beautiful wetland and magnificent trees; it’s really worth the drive to get to it. Up north, Tāwharanui is spectacular. I get to one of those parks and think – wow, it’s great to live in Auckland.