Hawai‘i Tropical Botanical Garden

I'm slightly torn about how to review this place because on one hand, the place is very well kept up, and very beautifully designed. It takes about 90 min to walk through the entire garden. If you love flowers, I'd still recommend it. On the other hand, however, the beauty of the area couldn't remove the sour taste in my mouth from how capitalistic the experience felt. They market it as a non-profit, but as a tourist, it costs $30+ to enter the gardens. That's pretty expensive considering many botanic gardens around the world are free. Then, the welcome center attendant asked everyone if they'd like to buy $14 bug spray along with their ticket. There's nothing wrong with being opportunistic, but it doesn't make your guests feel good to feel taken advantage of. The first 1/3rd of the garden is truly stunning, but very few flowers have well-documented signage, and most of the impressive ones aren't even local to Hawaii. The final 1/3rd actually overlaps the Onomea Bay Trail, which if you visited (for free!) would give you a better view of the coastline anyways. So ultimately, if you're happy paying $30 to look at flowers for about an hour, go for it. But considering beautiful nature in Hawaii is all around you, going once is enough for me.

If you are visiting Hilo, and you don’t find a way to work in a visit to these gardens, you are doing yourself a huge disservice. We have visited several botanical gardens in different areas of the world, and found these to be some of the best; not because of an overwhelming variety, or wandering and vast expanse, but because of the “consumability”.. if that’s a word. And because of how the gardens came to be. While some other botanical gardens might be more overtly “impressive” in ways, these gardens provide a unique opportunity for visitors to truly appreciate the beauty of each type of tree, plant and flower, and each place along the path. The planning and thought that went in to each section, allows each individual thing to shine, somehow. The orchids were perhaps the most impressive part in my humble opinion. The different colors and varieties were breathtaking. I truly enjoyed the serene spots along the path, where, among the flowers and alluring views, one could easily spend hours soaking in the beauty, contemplating life, and being grateful for this place. We’re so glad we got to experience this beautiful place!

At first my husband and I were put off by the $30-ish per person entry fee (small military discount is offered), but once we got inside and walked around we agreed it was worth the cost of admission. So many beautiful flowers and trees, lovely ponds, scenic views…my camera reel is overflowing due to this one stop alone. There are many signs posted near various plants in the garden to learn species information, as well as displays with some of the area’s local history. Would love to return!

I cannot say enough about how great this place was. It's definitely an oasis on the island. Beautiful local plants and flowers, walking paths, streams, waterfalls, etc. The drive is incredible, although the roads are a bit tight and have a bunch of small, one lane bridges. The main path going down is steep, but it's manageable, and all the other paths were easy to navigate. You can see it all in about two hours taking your time (and a lot of photos!) There are some stunning ocean views as well. It was a warm day, but being emerged in the trees and luscious surrounding, you stay pretty cool. I would definitely go back!

Hawai‘i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden: A Paradise of Plants (and Geckos!) This garden is absolutely stunning, like stepping into a tropical paradise. 🌺🌴 The variety of plants, flowers, and trees is incredible, and the paths are beautifully maintained. You’ll see rare orchids, giant palms, vibrant blooms, and even ocean views from the trail. The bright green geckos are everywhere! 🦎 They’re beautiful, but watch your step so you don’t accidentally startle one.

What a truly beautiful place! We visited on a sunny day in May and took our time following the paths through all the plants. There is so much to see and enjoy! I already wish I could go back. We purchased tickets upon arrival. The staff was friendly and kind. The gift shop stocks bug spray, water, hats, and assorted other items.

Absolutely gorgeous, stunning everything. We had an amazing time and took a million photos! The walk is taxing due to the very steep pitches, but there are benches and places to rest, I am taking off one star because they got rid of the golf cart service that would bring you back up after you hiked all the way down. For the price, I think it should be a service included, not for myself, but we were traveling with older folks. And there is no mobility devices allowed on the trail, which I understand because it would be incredibly dangerous, but unfortunately it limits people with mobility issues from enjoying the spectacular beauty.

One of my new favorite places on earth!!! This jungle is full of vibrant and unique flowers, plants, palms, trees, and so on. There is something beautiful and intriguing everywhere you look. There are benches and tables, so consider bringing some snacks for a break. There is a fairly steep incline at the beginning of the trail, then it is mostly level. I will recommend this botanical garden to everyone who visits the big island!! (PS bring lots of bug spray if they like to bite you! I would also recommend going early for crowd and heat reasons.)

The staff was exceptionally helpful and friendly. So many beautiful flowers, you could spend a day here if you were relaxed and have the ability to wind down. When you start, it is all down hill, rather steep down hill, but you are walking down a beautifully constructed boarded walkway. Be aware of the hike back up!!!!!! Make sure to hit every nook and cranny. What a beautiful place honoring plant species, including some that are no longer abundant in the wild. For plants extinct in their natural habitat, seeds are banked at this botanical garden.

This botanical garden is truly a living art display. Wide assortment of plants to awe over. Take your time as you stroll to carefully view the plants. Otherwise, you may miss seeing the tiny treasures that burst with color and pattern. In our digital age, it's rejuvenating and comforting to see living exhibits crafted by nature. It is healing and soothes the mind. I would suggest wearing mosquito repellent. Kamaaina discounts available.

I wanted to like this place so bad because Hilo is tiny and tbh not much to do there. Unfortunately, our visit to the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden in Hilo was less than pleasant. If you're in a wheelchair or have a stroller, I highly advise against visiting. The entrance is incredibly steep both going down and coming up, making it very difficult to navigate. To make matters worse, we were bombarded by mosquitoes the entire time probably about 1000000 of them. We purchased the $16 mosquito spray they sell, but it didn't do anything to help. We ALL were absolutely eaten alive. The entrance fee of $34 felt outrageous for what we experienced. To top it off, the front desk staff was rude and unwelcoming, which really set the tone for the visit. Overall, this was a huge disappointment and I can't recommend it to anyone.

We had not initially planned to come here on our trip, but had time one day and decided to check it out. Thank goodness we did as this one of our favorite things on our trip! It is absolutely worth the $30 admission price. The garden has plenty of parking so we had not problem finding a spot. The staff in the shop and at the start were super friendly and helpful. The first part of the garden is down a steep, paved path but there are stopping points where you can stop to sit for a break. The gardens are beautiful! So many variety of plants and well kept grounds.We saw a lot of geckos too which was was fun to try and spot them. Just when you think the gardens couldn't get any more beautiful, they also go up to the water so you get a beautiful view of the ocean! Overall we spent about an hour or 90 minutes here walking through the gardens and it was an amazing time!

Don't let the high admission price stop you from visiting this breathtaking gem of a botanical garden. You will quickly see that the fees appear to be unwasted on the tender, loving care that this garden seems to receive. We took the well-maintained, easy-to-navigate paved path from the visitor center down through the garden and back and were blown away, as most people are, by the sheer majesty of the place. The only spot where walking is maybe a bit of a challenge is the last stretch of the path back up to the top because of how steep it is, but if you are not a seasoned walker or hiker, no worries. Just take it slow, and you should be fine. As others have said, you really do feel like you stepped into the jungle, and that's because, in a very real sense, that's where you are! But if you read up on the history of the place, you will learn that this didn't just happen out of the blue. A ton of work went into making this place what it is, and I hope you will take a few brief moments to read the signs that explain how it came to be. The views in all directions are absolutely amazing. By that, I don't just mean sweeping views, although there is some of that, especially down by the ocean. I mean looking up and down as well. In some places, you'll feel like you are looking skyward at the vast canopy of the Amazon rain forest, and in other places, you'll feel like you are staring into the miniscule detail of delicate flowers and water features. The incredible nature of God's creation is on nearly full display here, and it is so worth two to four hours of your time to take it all in. The visitor center is pretty small but offers a gift shop, if you're so inclined to purchase a souvenir. (Just FYI: Not everything sold there is made in Hawaii.) There is a restroom along the path if you need it, as well as occasional places to sit and rest. I recommend you bring a water bottle strapped around your shoulder or on your belt. You will want to stay well-hydrated, especially if you are visiting on a muggier day. I highly recommend arriving at opening time, and you'll enjoy the experience much more by avoiding some of the warmer weather. Don't avoid this place, though, just because you don't think you're into "plants." That would be like avoiding the Grand Canyon because you're not really into "rocks." This is more like a wonder of the world than just a garden and will likely impress even those who aren't typically into botany. :)

Bountiful, beautiful and botanical! The number of exotic colors and riot of so much living green delights the eyes. Amazing. Every inch oozes with life and magic. The trail can be steep for some, so be prepared. The bottom has some great views of crashing waves. The power of the Pacific is inspiring, especially on a stormy day. It's a little pricey to get in, but I believe it is worth it. Suggestion: Bring mosquito repellent and an umbrella. The drive through a jungle canopy alone is worth it.

Loved the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden! If you're visiting Big Island this is a must see. The garden is beautiful. There is a nice trail that you go through in a loop, you'll end up close to the ocean. Admission is high, but I think it's worth it. We did this in between visiting Alaska Falls and Rainbow Falls. Make suer to take bug spray because you'll get bites here. I left with 10 bug bites. So much to see!

The garden was a delightful stroll along a looping trail of interesting sights. The beginning of the trail hosts a plethora of unique flowers. Following the flowers are scattered ponds and views of the ocean. Saving the best for last, the trail's finale is an extravagant view of the wild ocean clashing against rocks just below your feet. Highly recommended!

Omg..this place was beautiful. I loved all the floral and different tropical plants. This park was well maintained and offered views at the bottom of the ocean. The ponds also contained large koi fish that were fun to watch. Pro tip: wear hiking type shoes and clothes. There is a steep walk down and then back up. Also, mosquitos are all over. They sell bug spray at the top, but at a premium. It worked tho! Have an amazing visit.

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is a magical tranquil place with many varieties of tropical plants. The orchids which can be found high in the foliage and along the ground are stunning. The garden abounds in colorful flowers and leaves everywhere! Garden paths guide you to different groups of plant species. There are also coastal paths that lead you along the coastal shoreline. Deep in the back corner of the garden is a waterfall and little river that flows out to the ocean. After completing the self guided tour, you may visit the gift shop for a souvenir or maybe even a plant cutting, to plant in your own garden. This is truly one of the finest botanical gardens I have ever seen.

The botanical garden is gorgeous and worth the price if you enjoy nature and different types of plants. It took us an hour to walk the entire garden. You start off going downhill which is actually very steep, so just remember you eventually have to climb back up! There are signs everywhere in the garden so you'll never get lost. During this self guided tour, you even get to see the ocean. You should definitely wear bug spray while visiting. Even if you think you don't need it, you do!! I have 23 bug bites on just my right leg I didn't think I got bit at all until the next day when I swelled and itched like crazy.

Spectacular decent into what felt like a completely natural tropical landscape. What you learn is that several fauna aren't native. The view of the ocean from this space is nothing short of awe inspiring and powerful.

This is an easy one - the question obviously not being whether it's gorgeous, but whether it's worth $30 a person to get in, and the answer is, definitely. As soon as you walk in, you're surrounded by all manner of interesting tropical plants from all over the world (most of which I'd never heard of - a few aren't labeled, but the majority are), on a beautiful walk down to the ocean. At the bottom, sweeping vistas of the stream feeding into the ocean, large craggy rocks being pounded by waves, also one protected tide pool area right by the path where a sign pointed out very well camouflaged large crabs that we would otherwise never have seen, but sure enough, there were a bunch of them. Watch out for spiders though - there are also tons of spiders everywhere, which means tons of spider webs everywhere. (Plus side, presumably they're out there catching mosquitos for us.) It is pretty cool that it was just one regular guy who retired and decided to start a bioreserve, so it's also worth the admission in the sense of making sure they have the money to keep running it. We spent a couple hours here,, stopping and taking pictures of everything.

Amazing experience at this garden! Get ready for a hike when visiting this lush garden, but its WORTH IT. Its a downhill walk that ends at a gorgeous ocean cove with an impressive collection of tropical plants on the route there. We had on mosquito repellant and were fine. I recommend going within the first 30 minutes of opening as it felt like a private visit as we meandered around, by the time we were leaving, there were hoards of people. Warning, that comes with the price of possibly walking into spider webs if you are the first on the trails for the day. I think the low crowds while I was there set up my visit for an immersive experience.

Hello, jungle heaven! At one point when walking through the garden, it felt like we were in a magical snow globe (except made of foliage hovering way above us)... it's all so expansive, tall, and incredible. I loved the part overlooking the ocean too. If you want a tranquil place to see cool local tropical plants, you'll love this botanical garden. Even when it's sunny and hot, it's comfortable thanks to all that shade. You can really take your time enjoying the garden paths. The admission price was $30 per person... I think it's $10 less for HI residents. For tourists, I'd say it's not cheap but worth the price at least once to check it out! PS. Don't forget your bug spray -- I forgot and had to use Tiger Balm as a bug repellent because the mosquitoes were out and feasting on me.

This place was ok, some pretty flowers but honestly I don't believe it was worth the $30 entrance fee to get in. It's not that big so you can see everything in around an hour I guess. There is a parking lot in the front.

This is a beautiful and very special place, and worth the steep admission to enter to see such a variety of tropical plants and trees. Yes, the beginning is a steep slope, but there are handrails and benches so if someone in your party uses a walking stick it should be okay if they go slowly. After the initial steepness there are paved paths and some stairs here and there. A couple of warnings: if you don't have bug spray to put on when you arrive, there is a soft sell to buy a bottle of theirs for $16, which is a steep upsell, imho. For the $32 per adult admission price, I suggest including a couple of spritzes of bug spray, but that's not the way it works here. We opted out of buying the bottle of spray, and we didn't get bites, though we did see mosquitoes in some parts of the visit. Also, this may not be an easy time if you bring tots or preschoolers. We observed families with strollers struggling to push it and get up and down stairs. Also, there's no hands-on learning, so we saw little ones being hot and bored. There is a strict request for visitors to not touch anything. Kids old enough to take in the majestic scale of trees and plants and all the beautiful flowers were fine.

PSA: TONS OF MOSQUITOES! I absolutely enjoyed spending about 2 hours here on December 21, 2024. The Big Island is a lot less lush than Oahu's windward side, so I was looking forward to checking out this garden. It's as green as I expect when I think of Hawai'i. It has an awe-inspiring walkway down the side of a hill to the beach. I wasn't expecting the walking route to be on an incline, but at a slow pace, it's easily doable and not tough. The views are astounding, and most of my favorite trip photos are from this place. However, I got about 17 bug bites during my 2-hour visit. The gift shop sells bug spray for $16, but I declined. I wish I'd thought to bring some! Yes, I definitely recommend checking out this garden if you love tropical plants.

Gorgeous location but amazing plant life. The hill down is steep. Plan accordingly. I was very impressed with the garden as a whole with two caveats- one- no place to refill water so be aware of that and make sure to bring your own and two- mosquito heaven! A third is more of an irritation- changing 13+ as an adult seems very unreasonable.

The most beautiful flowers and such a well organized bio reserve!! I was hesitant to pay 25$ per person for admission given all the natural plants you can see around the island but this was well worth it for me. We spent about 1.5 hours there with 31 different stops. The flowers were breathtaking and there were also nice waterfalls and ocean views. Most of it was well shaded and not too hot which made it even more enjoyable. The road getting there was a bit narrow and windy but well worth it!

A lovely way to spend the afternoon. The garden is beautiful - stunning collection of plants and flowers, plus some waterfalls and ocean views. We brought out three year old and she had a great time wandering along the different paths. The garden is also pretty stroller friendly. The first section kiddos can't ride in the stroller because it's steep and there are a couple short sections with stairs, but we were able to carry our travel stroller up and down without trouble. The $30 ticket felt a little high at first, but we felt we got our money's worth in the end and would definitely go back.

If you are on island do yourself a favor and check this place out. Second favor you need to do is buy bug spray when they offer it when you are buying your tickets. I asked and figured nah I will be fine....apparently I am a delicacy for the bugs there and they were all over me. There is some parking, but it was not too crowded when we went. It was raining a bit so I bought a poncho, but in retrospect I should have just let it rain on me as I was sweating underneath it and that attracted more bugs and I finally just took it off. There are paved pathways that take you around to see different trees, plants, and scenic views such as waterfalls and the ocean. It is a good place to go for a leisurely walk to enjoy nature with no real stressful hiking areas. Ensure to be careful on your way down and back up as it can get slippery if it has rained.

Full disclosure, I am not that into plants and flowers etc...this was a birthday experience for my friend during our girls trip! But...WOWZA! THIS PLACE IS JUST INCREDIBLE!!!! It's like walking in a tropical rainforests! Founder Dan Lutekenhouse Sr, purchased this 17 acre parcel and turned it into paradise! I would go back. And that coming from me, says a lot! They are in the process of building a butterfly sanctuary. My photos don't do this place justice. My friend was soooo happy and this is one place you need to stop when you are in Hilo! Make sure you wear comfortable shoes and put on some bug repellent. The path is paved, but the walk back up is a bit steep, but it is all worth it!!!!!

What an amazing botanical garden; even at $30 admission, you get a beautiful, clean, uncrowded, low key stroll through amazing, lush, curated botanical garden. They even have scented orchids; you gotta find them yourself! Many different walking paths are available; some hilly requiring a good work out. Customer service: excellent. Tiny mosquito's may be there.

Really great staff. Amazingly and beautiful. Recommend to everyone Amazingly huge trees. Beautiful coast portion. Lots of small waterfalls.

No matter how many times we visit we're always blown away by how beautiful everything is here. You'll want to budget at least an hour, and it'll probably be more like two hours. Be sure to wear bug spray, seriously- I tend to forget and this past visit I left with about twenty itchy "souvenirs". Our favorite game while we're there is to see how many geckos we can spot while we're taking in all the plants and flowers. Last visit we spotted 23 and it was so fun trying to take photos of them before they ran off. You'll see all sorts of native and non-native plants here as well as some beautiful views of the ocean. Be sure to read all the signage for more information on plants, statues, landmarks and more. There is a bathroom inside the botanical garden but we recommend using the one up at the gift shop before you head in. I can't wait to visit again on our next visit.

The best botanical garden that we have visited. The whole center was very well kept and the sites were just amazing! Loved the stroll, the water falls, the koi pond, and the views of the ocean. Definitely a must see.

Although pricey and limited military discount, the gardens are absolutely beautiful and worth the stop to stroll around and see some magnificent flowers, plants and trees. If you're into photography, you're in for a treat!! There is also a really nice view of the pacific. It may rain, as it's on the Hilo side, so be prepared.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to shell out the $30/person for entry, but I'm glad I did. The grounds are absolutely beautiful and it's just such an amazing property. Definitely seems like a labor of love.

I'm a little nature girl. I cant go on a walk without me pointing at, taking a photo of, talking incessantly about all of the plants and animals that I am seeing. The people who decided to create a bioreserve and garden were clearly my type of people. Get your camera ready and your eyes ready to be delighted. Its Hawaii, so of course you're going to be getting one of the greatest flora and fauna shows you could dream of. Wear something with a hood because it can just pour rain down on you at any moment. I don't even know where to start. My favorite flower is the orchid. Specifically the white orchid but there are so many colors and sizes or orchids all through out. It was a mesmerizing experience to see orchids just growing from the side of a tree. There is something to see everywhere. Mangos may even fall on you at one point in the trail. There may or may not be a wary little mongoose running across your path too. You can walk out to the edge of the ocean. Its a sight to behold to go from seemingly deep rainforest jungle to the edge of the rocky Pacific Ocean coast. I couldn't get enough. The history of the bioreserve is very interesting. There are graves near the shore that indicate the lives of people who lived here many, many years past. The originator of the garden really took incredible care at every turn for future generations to appreciate what they clearly had a vision of. I'm here for it.

This was our favorite part of our trip to the Big Island! Definitely worth the drive from Kona. Beautiful plants and loved the history of how this place came to be. They have bug spray wipes (DEET and DEET-free) for purchase when you go to buy your ticket! Beautiful views of the ocean - we were going to walk to Onomea Bay Trail after our visit, but you get to see the bay from the botanical garden, so that was a wonderful surprise!

This is must-see if you visit Hilo. It is 10 stars on a 5 star scale. There are no words to describe how beautiful the garden is, so I'll post a lot of photos instead. The price is $25 for an adult which sounds high to look at a garden but it is worth it. Kids under 6 are free. Parking is free. There is a small gift shop. We spent about 2 hours walking the 1.25 mile circle but we could have spent much longer. Bring mosquito spray! Don't count on your cell phone working. This garden is truly one of the true treasures of the Hilo area.

If you enjoy exotic flowers, amazing trees & beautiful greenery this is a must stop. Truly a magical paradise. It is perfectly manicured, peaceful & just simply stunning. The walkways are maintained extremely well & very easy to navigate. There is a surprise around each & every corner. Views of the ocean are amazing. Read the info about how this fabulous garden was started & created. Very impressive story. The staff is also very helpful & friendly. This was a highlight for us on our Hawaii vacation. Don't miss it!!

Highly recommend coming here if you love or enjoy seeing plants, flowers, and greenery. I saw so many pretty plants and flowers that I have never seen before. There is a lily pond and also an orchid garden. I enjoyed being able to view the beach as well. They have a butterfly sanctuary coming soon which is awesome. We spent an hour easily here.

THIS PLACE IS BEAUTIFUL!!! We visited this place recently to take photos, and we were so amazed by it's beauty. It's a drive if your coming from Kona, but I definitely think it's worth it if you are into the beauty of Hawaii's nature. So green and plenty of pretty flowers to see. There is a fee to go in, but out of all the gardens I've seen in Hawaii--this is the best so far. There is parking available. Once you get that map, it seems really long. Don't fret, there's plenty of stops to sit and towards the end is by the ocean to cool down. It does loop around too. Definitely a must see when your in Hilo.

Had to check out the botanical garden in the Big Island. Here was our experience. EXPERIENCE: Parking: Two plazas, I can see it getting busy on the weekend so plan accordingly. Feels: It's a 15 - 20 minute drive from Hilo. You drive up the road with a few curves here and there. Once you enter it's a long trail of steps with a decline (so prepare for the incline going up). The garden itself is beautiful. Very green with nice waterfalls and the view of the ocean. There are great informational plaques to read and learn and sitting spots to just sit and be present. Plants: An eclectic variety. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. From flowers to fruits, they all complement each other, beautiful aesthetics. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Awesome! Friendly rangers and pretty knowledgeable. OVERALL: 4.5 Stars. Lovely! I had a pleasant experience here. I learned a lot, I saw plenty of unique plants, and great photo ops. For all the nature information, this is a great spot to learn and appreciate the nature of the Aina. Tips: * Plan accordingly and make sure in for a hike, those steps entering the botanical can be steep.

There are not enough stars in the world to rate this place. This place holds the ancestors of all my houseplants on steroids! Seriously I had to pick my mouth off the ground numerous times. PRO TIP: Get the bugspray or bring some yourself because the bug life is NOT the business. When you purchase your ticket, you are given a map with suggested route to take to see EVERYTHING in the Garden. NOTE: as you enter you will descend down a steep pier/walkway take your time going both up and down it. The entire time you are surrounded by amazing lush green views that will take your breath away. The waterfall was first stop and breath-taking. Twin rocks view was stunning Tiki statue was fun I cannot say enough about this place- I probably could have stayed here all day. Secretly i with i had brought some clipper and went into a propagating frenzy but I know that is frowned upon.

Wonderful experience. A little pricey, but I'd say worth it. If you like flowers and views this is for you.

The part that you are allowed to see in the garden is so small it would take max 30 mins to see everything. That would not justify $30/adult and $25/kid tix. The ticket people seemed desperate to charge as much money as fast as possible. It's ok for people who just like an easy troll but for those like us who would like not to see fences, rails, paved roads, this is not for you. I've seen better gardens on this island and other Hawaiian islands. What a waste of money $110!!

This place is absolutely gorgeous. Price is $25 per person but it's worth it! Total about 1-1.5 mile walk but it's relatively easy besides the steep incline/decline when you enter. I went with sandals and was completely fine. Bit of bugs so maybe bring bud repellent or long sleeves. Best past is the location where you see the ocean. Great picture moments. I followed the numbered path on the map and it really helps hit everything. Took about 1.5 hours for me to go through everything while taking ton of pictures. One of my favorite activities on the big island.

OMG! I am so embarrassed that I wrote that review. I haven't been to the gardens in about 6 years. We had guests visit this month and of course I had to show them the gardens. While I am disabled, I was surprised to find that I was able to get back up the steep terrain with stopping along the way. My apologies. I love the place and if I can erase the negative comment about the loss of the carts...I would love to. Mahal for the beauty. It takes my breath away.

Happened upon this location by accident while driving the scenic route. Stopped and was pleasantly surprised. What a gorgeous assortment of plant life hidden in the middle of the jungle! It was an expensive entrance fee, but I would say it was worth it. Be prepared to leave with mosquito bites. I put repellant on and still got eaten. The pathway is very steep, would highly discourage visiting for people who need a cane or struggle with walking or endurance. It's not just difficult, but dangerous, if you're not equip for walking/hiking.

WOW!!! Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve & Garden is, hands-down, THE most beautiful botanical gardens I've ever visited! Up until my visit here, the Singapore Botanic Gardens was the epitome, for me; that is, until we visited HTBG! What a jaw-droppingly spectacular adventure and journey it is walking amongst majestically monstrous versions of common tropical landscape and house plants, as well as rare fruit trees, orchids, anthuriums, palms, bromeliads--virtually every kind of species and genera of tropical exotica imaginable! Everything Godzilla-sized!!! The grounds were very well-maintained, with a few areas of fallen trees and such due to recent storms. The trails of the gardens spider off into niches and alcoves of such beauty and tranquility. The sounds of waterfalls above, and the nearby surf crashing below, made for an idyllic setting, even with the number of other visitors there, too. The trails all lead downhill; thus, the way out is all uphill (something to consider if you have a hard time hiking). My visit struck me as very emotional. Without doubt, of our many Big Island highlights, HTBG was THE highlight of my visit...! :D [This is a botanical gardens, NOT a hiking trail. There's a lot of money that goes into the upkeep of these gardens (I've created several tropical landscapes back in Florida, so I know); thus, there'll almost always going to be an entrance fee. (The only "free" botanical gardens that I know of (on this scale) is in Melbourne, Australia.) Initially, we did feel that $25/person was a bit steep; however, we're on vacay, so what the heck! Once we entered, though, any thoughts of "tourist pricing" went right out the window; if we were residents, we would've bought memberships in an instant! Now, if you simply want to traipse through the jungles untethered for a hiking jaunt, then you DON'T go to a botanical garden, where there'll be paved pathways and trails, boundaries, restrictions and such. The trails here went right down to the ocean, if you want to; although, it was off-trail but within the park. We took it right down to the water; even walked onto the rocks and watched a local fisherman do his thing. No problem. And, too, I can assure you, you will NOT find most of these trees and plants just willy-nilly anywhere on this island or the entire state; or, educationally identified as they are here. This place is for serious botanists, plant lovers, and folks who want to be outdoors amongst all of this natural beauty; this is not your brick-n-mortar garden center....]

What a beautiful adventure! Kids and adults alike really enjoyed all the unique plants and flowers. We loved spotting wildlife (we saw gold dust day geckos, green anoles, mongoose, crabs, monarch butterflies!). The plaques throughout were really interesting. Was it a bit pricey? Yes. But I don't regret it one bit! A little slice of heaven.

The high Yelp reviews enticed us to give this place a try. We were disappointed that there wasn't really much to see to justify the high price. Perhaps this place is for people who aren't going to hike on their own. If you're a hiker or plan on seeing lots of scenery on your own, you probably won't find the offerings here to justify the high cost ($25/person). In fact, you can hike even closer to the water than what is possible in this place (and see a lot of the same plants for free).

The Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve is an awesome stop on your way to Hilo. There are so many plants to look at and really great views of the ocean. There is plenty of parking. Plan to spend 1+ hours here roaming around. The cost of admission is quite high but I think it's worth it. It's not easily accessible for people in wheelchairs or those who are a fall risk. The paved walkway down/up from the entrance is very steep and long. It can be pretty slippery when wet.

Definitely worth a visit and it was a top-3 activity for me. They have abundant parking available and you can pick up tickets at the manned kiosk in the parking lot. The entrance is right across the street. The only strenuous part of the park is the ramp going up and down directly from the entrance. It's a wooden ramp. But once you get past it, it's pretty easy walking. I took my time exploring and spent around 2 hours. The map they provide you is easy to follow. I was considering doing the Onomea Bay Trail nearby, but there are multiple views of Onomea Bay long the way. There is so much to see and it is totally worth the price of admission.

Love that part of the garden is right next to the water so you get amazing views all around! Came around 9:30AM on a sunny day - was already hot but didn't get attacked by too many bugs. There is water and bug spray available for purchase at the front desk. The very first part of the trail is a boardwalk but steep so recommend comfy walking shoes!

This place is pretty groovy. Now that Akaka Falls is a rip off tourist trap with the parking fees, I'd skip and just go here for the amazing plant curation. Probably took a few dozen pictures. They try to upsell you bug spray and water, so just bring your own. Didn't have a mosquito problem but that's our super power. It's an island, bugs exist. Only issue is that boardwalk down to the main zone is a bit steep. They might want to warn the cruise ship tourists to lay off the donuts before making the descent. It's a fun hike back up at the end. There is a nice location on the coast to picnic; the story about the two rocks is kinda trumpy, though. Not buying it.