Sunken Gardens // Napier, NZ

As you walk along Marine Parade in Napier, New Zealand, you’ll see many things: art deco buildings, crashing waves, the National Aquarium, a skate park, and lots of sculptures and landscape art. One thing you might miss if you’re not looking is the Sunken Gardens.

While the gardens aren’t hidden, they are sunken–they are set just below street level, making for a peaceful respite from the surrounding city. If you’re on the beach side of the Parade, you may just walk by the gardens without noticing.

Walking through the Sunken Gardens, you almost feel as if you’re in a palatial setting. Fountains, waterways, sculptures, and (of course) beautiful plants and flowers form a rich landscape in a small space. This is a wonderful place to read a book or just take a short break for some quiet time.