Choose Hoya House for a closer look at hoyas and related plants. Choose Sun Garden if you want to compare succulents and plants adapted to dry conditions. NParks groups both among its displays highlighting the dogbane or milkweed plant family, Apocynaceae.
Check the Gardens map before you pick a gate. Hoya House has listed hours of 7 am to 7 pm. Use NParks’ current information and any posted notices for each display. You can visit one collection or compare a feature across both.
- Hoya House: Look for hoyas, foliage and climbing growth.
- Sun Garden: Compare water-storing forms and plants suited to dry conditions.
- Plan: Use the official map for the gate and walking route.
- Activity: Compare one visible feature and check the label.
Start at Hoya House for leaf and growth patterns
NParks describes Hoya House as a collection of more than 70 lowland species and cultivars. The number describes the collection, so check the current labels to see which plants are on display. Look for how a plant grows or uses nearby support.
Choose one plant and look at how its leaves are arranged. Ask a child what they can tell from the plant itself and what they would need to learn from a label. A short observation works even if flowers are absent.
Back to contents · Next section
Use Sun Garden to compare dry-condition plant forms
In Sun Garden, look at how the plants differ in shape, thickness and surface. Thick leaves or stems can be a starting point for talking about water storage. Check the label before deciding what a feature does for a particular plant.
Compare two plants without touching them. A child can sketch the shape or describe what changed between the examples. If it is hot, keep the stop short and choose a suitable place to pause afterward.
NParks’ collection page groups Sun Garden and Hoya House with Frangipani Garden under Apocynaceae highlights. Use that connection as a question about how related plants can look different, while recognising that a display can contain other plants too.
Back to contents · Next section
Decide how much to see in one visit
For a short outing, choose one collection and return through a gate that suits your onward journey. For a two-stop visit, use the official map and decide what you will compare before starting. Leave time to read the signs rather than trying to cover several nearby collections.
Check opening arrangements separately. The main Gardens, Hoya House and other attractions can have different hours. If a path or display is unavailable, choose a nearby open collection and keep the same observation question.
Back to contents · Next section
Frequently asked questions
Which stop is for hoyas?
Choose Hoya House.
Which stop is better for comparing succulents?
Start with Sun Garden.
What are Hoya House’s listed hours?
NParks lists 7 am to 7 pm. Check current notices.
Can I visit both on one outing?
Use the official map to plan both stops if the group has time and the paths are open.