Visiting the McBryde Gardens in Kauai

The McBryde Gardens, located on the south shore of Kauai in the Lawa’i Valley, offer a variety of tours and is a lovely way to spend several hours enjoying the flora and fauna of the island.

Whether you are visiting the McBryde or Allerton Gardens, or both, you will start your adventure at the visitor center. You should arrive 30 minutes before your excursion to check in. There is a gift shop, snacks, water, bathrooms and a short path that you can wander down while you wait.

While we were waiting to board the bus (all tours bus you into the gardens), this Gold Dust Day Gecko decided to start a friendship with my husband. They sat together while I took a bathroom break, meandered through the gift shop and strolled the paths taking pictures.

After a short bus ride, where you will learn much about the gardens from the driver’s narration, you are free to wander the grounds for 2 hours. 

The gardens cover more than 50 acres with a collection of trees, plants, shrubs and flowers from around the world. 

The Tulip Trees were blooming during our visit, which was at the end of October.

If you happen to visit on a very hot day, there is plenty of shade to be found. I suggest bringing plenty of water and a book to read if you finish touring the gardens before the bus comes back.

We were happy that we were able to spot a Hawaiian Gallinule, an endangered species that is only found on Kauai and Oahu.

I walked right past this Green Anole resting on a tree trunk. My husband spotted her and called me back. She graciously posed for some photos.

In one section of the park you will find a huge, sprawling Woody Liana Vine that creates a tunnel for you to walk through. It is a great place to photograph and a great place to be bitten by mosquitoes! Be sure to use bug spray before going to the gardens.

Another tip, wear comfortable walking shoes. The terrain is relatively flat, making this a good choice for all age and ability groups.

Things to Know Before You Go

1. The entrance fee for the self-guided McBryde Tour is currently $30/adult and $10/child. Check their website for any price changes and current covid protocols.
2. Tours must be booked in advance. There is a 24 hour cancellation policy, money is fully refunded if you cancel at least 24 hours before your tour.
3. There is plenty of parking at the visitor center.
4. You can choose the Best of Both Worlds Tour, which includes both McBryde and Allerton Gardens. It is 2 1/2 hours long, you will see some of both parks, but less than you would see if you chose to do a full McBryde Self Guided Tour along with a full Guided Allerton Garden tour. (We choose the two separate tours, one right after another, so we spent about 4 1/2 hours in both gardens. I recommend this option if you have enough time.)
5. The Visitor Center is right across the street from the Spouting Horn. Be sure to make a quick stop to check it out!
6. The bus will pick you up from the gardens at the end of your 2 hour time slot and bring you back to the visitor center. You cannot stay longer.
7. There are bathrooms in the gardens.

At the end of our 2 hours, we boarded the bus (the air conditioning was broken, this was the only negative part of our experience), went back to the Visitor Center, checked in for our Allerton Tour and got back on the bus. I will share our experiences there on my next post. As always, wishing you happy travels and fantastic adventures in this thing called life.

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More Adventures in Kauai

The Lookout Points at Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park

Hiking the Kuilau Ridge Trail in Kauai

The Best Helicopter Tour on Kauai

Sailing and Snorkeling Along the Napili Coast

Visiting the Fern Grotto

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