The Parnell Rose Gardens Loop winds through Dove-Myer Robinson Park, past the historic Nancy Steen Garden and St Stephens Church, down to Judges Bay for views of Rangitoto. It’s a 2.1km loop taking 40 to 75 minutes, with some steep stairs. Dogs must stay on lead, and the roses are best from November to March.
Quick facts
Getting there and parking at Dove-Myer Robinson Park
Start at the stone entrance on the corner of Gladstone Road and Judges Bay Road, right on the edge of Dove-Myer Robinson Park, home to the Parnell Rose Gardens. There’s parking on Gladstone Road and the surrounding streets, and it’s a short, flat walk up from the Parnell shops and cafes if you’d rather leave the car there. This loop is one of several walks in the Auckland Central walks collection, worth a look if you want to string a few together.
Walkers who carry on past Judges Bay towards the city sometimes tack on a visit to SEA LIFE Kelly Tarltons Aquarium, a good option if you’ve got kids with you. Dove-Myer Robinson Park also looks out over the Waitemata Harbour to Rangitoto, the volcanic island you can see from the park tracks. If that view makes you want to get out on the water, Discover Rangitoto Island, Fullers360 Ferry runs trips out to it.
Through the gardens and down to Judges Bay
From the entrance you’re straight into a short stretch of bush before you reach the Nancy Steen Garden, named after the rose collector and historian. There’s a fountain here and seats if you want to sit a while among the roses before carrying on.
The path continues via Judges Bay to St Stephens Anglican Church, a lovely old building dating from 1859. The graveyard holds plenty of early Auckland history, and it’s worth a slow walk through. Pass under the churchyard archway and you come out on St Stephens Avenue, one of Parnell’s grander streets.
From here you descend stairs towards the Parnell Baths and Judges Bay, with wide views across the Waitemata Harbour to Rangitoto and North Head on the way down. If you want to keep going, the path connects to Tamaki Drive and the Auckland waterfront. Walk out along the pedestrian bridge for a good look back at the baths, it hangs right out over the water.
Judges Bay and the Parnell Baths are a lovely spot in the warmer months, with a jetty, a toilet block and a BBQ. Judges Bay is a popular spot for a summer swim, but check Safeswim before you get in, the bay currently carries an advisory against swimming due to wastewater contamination in the area.
Head back up the hill towards Dove-Myer Robinson Park, through bush and under big pohutukawa trees. Look out for the Wedge sculpture on the grass hill to your left, a reminder not to let small things come between people. Back in the rose gardens, take some time over the monuments, including the Korean War memorial near Gladstone Road.
Roses, pohutukawa trees and Waitemata views
This is a rose garden walk at heart, and the beds around Dove-Myer Robinson Park are packed with colour and scent for most of the year. Add in the huge old pohutukawa trees, the bush pocket near the entrance, and the harbour views on the Judges Bay side, and you get a lot of variety for a short loop. The elevation is gentle through the gardens themselves, with the steeper ground down near the bay.
Buggies, wheelchairs and stairs on this loop
The section around the rose gardens itself is good for wheelchairs and buggies, the path is paved and mostly flat. Getting down to Judges Bay is a different story, the tracks are steep and need care, especially in the wet. There are also a good number of stairs at the eastern end of the Parnell Baths that are best avoided with wheels. If you want the gardens without the hills, stick to the loop around Dove-Myer Robinson Park and skip the Judges Bay descent.
When the roses are in full bloom
The Parnell Rose Gardens are free to enter and open year round, with the roses at their best from November through to March. Outside those months you’ll still get the pohutukawa, the harbour views and the history, just fewer blooms. If you enjoy the sculptures and planting here, Sculptureum Galleries & Gardens Experience, Day Pass is another beautifully kept garden and sculpture outing worth adding to your list. For an evening out after a day of harbour views, an Auckland Harbour Sailing Dinner Cruise with 3-course Meal puts you out on the same water you’ve been looking at from Judges Bay.
Dog rules and swimming safety at Judges Bay
Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times in the park areas, car park and wharf at Dove-Myer Robinson Park. Rules can be updated, so check the current Auckland Council rules for this park before you head out, even if the signage on site says something different.
Swimming at Judges Bay needs a check too. The bay has carried a long-term advisory against swimming for more than one summer, after wastewater network damage from the 2023 Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle. Check Safeswim on the day if you’re planning to swim.
Common questions
Is it safe to swim at Judges Bay? Not always. The bay currently has a Safeswim advisory against swimming due to wastewater contamination, and it has carried a black flag warning for more than one summer since the 2023 floods and Cyclone Gabrielle. Check Safeswim before you get in.
Are dogs allowed on the Parnell Rose Gardens Loop? Yes, on a leash at all times in the park, car park and wharf areas. Check the current Auckland Council rules for this park if you’re unsure.
When are the Parnell Baths open? The baths are a seasonal, unheated saltwater pool and close over winter, generally reopening around 1 November. Check the current opening hours before you go.
Is there an entry fee for the rose gardens? No, Dove-Myer Robinson Park and the Parnell Rose Gardens are free to enter and open year round.
How long does the loop take? Most people take 40 to 75 minutes for the full 2.1km loop, depending on how long you linger in the gardens and at Judges Bay.
My honest take
I really like this one for the variety packed into such a short loop. You get roses, big old pohutukawa, a historic church and graveyard, harbour views and a swim spot, all within an hour or so. The stairs down to Judges Bay and back up are the sting in the tail, so it’s not a walk for anyone who struggles with steps. Afterwards I’ll usually head to Rosie’s Cafe on Gladstone Road for a coffee and a pastry, the restaurant next door is lovely too but on the pricier side.
If your legs are feeling the stairs by the end, a 1 Hour Full Body Massage, The Beauty Loft, Parnell is a nice way to finish the day. There’s also Rooftop Contrast Therapy, Sauna, Ice Bath, Hot Tub, ReNew Wellness Place, Parnell if you’d rather alternate hot and cold to ease tired legs. There are other cafes and restaurants around Parnell too if Rosie’s is busy.
Other walks near Parnell
If you want to keep walking, there’s plenty close by:
- Judges Bay Path Walk in Auckland, just below the rose gardens on the Parnell waterfront.
- Auckland Domain Heritage Walk, adjoining Auckland Domain, next to the rose gardens.
- Parnell Markets and Urban Bush Walk in Auckland, same Parnell village area, a short walk away.
For more walks in the area, head back to the Auckland Central walks hub page.
