McBryde Garden

The Basics

Kauai’s premier garden offers visitors an exhaustive overview of Hawaii’s dazzling biodiversity with its collection of native plants, trees, and flowers, including ethnobotanical “canoe plants” imported by the first Polynesians to provide food and medicine to survive.

Visits must be booked in advance and begin with a scenic tram ride along Kauai’s southern coast to the garden entrance. Once inside, visitors are free to roam the themed paths at their own pace to admire everything from allspice and vanilla along the Spice of Life Trail, to rows of kalo (taro), ulu (breadfruit), and uala (sweet potato) in the Hawaiian Life Canoe Plant Garden.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Self-guided visits last two hours. Visitors are transported to and from the entrance from the visitor center parking lot via shuttle bus.

• Closed-toe shoes or hiking sandals (no flip flops) are required to enter.

• Combined day or evening tours of Kauai’s Allerton and McBryde Gardens include a group guide.

• Children are welcome but must stay on the walking paths; the garden is accessible to strollers.

• The shuttle to and from the garden is not wheelchair-accessible.

How to Get There

The McBryde Garden is in the Lawai Valley on the southern coastline of Kauai. There is no local bus to the garden, so visitors must drive or take a taxi wherever they’re coming from. Free parking is located near the visitor center where shuttle buses depart for the garden entrance.

When to Get There

Though many of the walking paths are shaded, the best time to visit the garden is during the early and late hours of the day to avoid the worst of the midday sun and heat. The McBryde Garden is entirely outdoors, so choose a clear day to visit to avoid the sudden tropical downpours for which Kauai is famous.

The National Tropical Botanical Garden

McBryde Garden is one of five gardens operated by the National Tropical Botanical Garden, a non-profit institution dedicated to studying and preserving tropical flora. The others are Allerton Garden and Limahuli Garden and Preserve on Kauai, Kahanu Garden on Maui, and the Kampong Garden in Coconut Grove, Florida. Together, they cover almost 2,000 acres (810 hectares) and include thousands of plant, flower, and tree species, many of which are endangered.

Ways to explore

Booking a tour of McBryde Garden is essential—you can’t enter without one, and tours often sell out well in advance, so reserving ahead is highly recommended. Self-guided tours, roughly 2-hour walks through key areas of the garden, including endemic plant collections and rare tropical species, offer a great introduction. The “Best of Both Worlds” tour includes access to nearby Allerton Garden, while private tours offer customizable itineraries and usually last longer. All tours depart by shuttle from the Visitor Center.

Accessibility

McBryde Garden has uneven, sloping paths and may not be wheelchair accessible.

Age limits

None

What to pack

Camera with a macro lens, water bottle, plant field guide

What to wear

Closed-toe shoes or secure hiking sandals (required), breathable fabrics, poncho, wide-brimmed hat

Not allowed

Open-toe shoes, removing plants/picking flowers, venturing off designated paths

Amenities

Visitor center, gift shop, water stations, restrooms

Address 

Though public buses can take you to Poipu nearby, driving a rental car or taking a rideshare is faster and far more convenient.

Driving

To reach the gardens from Lihue, head west on Highway 50, then turn onto Maluhia Road—often called Tree Tunnel Road—and continue until you meet Lawai Road in Poipu. Stay on Lawai Road until you arrive at the South Shore Visitor Center, where a shuttle transports guests into the grounds.

Public transportation

From Lihue, you can catch the Kauai bus 200 to Lawai, then switch to the 30 shuttle toward Poipu. From there, a rideshare can get you the rest of the way.

Best times to visit

Arrive for the first tours of the day, usually midmorning, to allow time to also explore Allerton Garden next door.

Best days to visit

Schedule your visit for days with guided tours, typically Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Best months to visit

June is an ideal month to visit—the beginning of the high season offers warm, dry weather, perfect for exploring the botanical gardens.

Special events

See botanical illustrations of plants from the National Tropical Botanical Garden at the Florilegium Art Show, held annually in March at the South Shore Visitor Center.