Fodor's Expert Review Parnell Rose Gardens

When you tire of boutiques and cafés, take 10 minutes (or more) to gaze upon and sniff this collection of some 5,000 rosebushes. The main beds contain mostly modern hybrids, with new introductions planted regularly. The adjacent Nancy Steen Garden has antique varieties. And don't miss the incredible trees. There is a 200-year-old pohutukawa (puh-hoo-too-ka-wa), whose weighty branches touch the ground and rise up again, and a kanuka that is one of Auckland's oldest trees. In summer it's a popular site for wedding photographs.