Allerton Garden

Allerton Garden is a landscaped valley on the south shore, part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden. Laid out in the early 20th century by Robert Allerton and John Gregg Allerton, it combines tropical flora with formal garden rooms, statues, fountains and a stream. Guests visit by guided tour only, wandering paths past giant Moreton Bay fig trees with buttress roots that featured in a well-known adventure film. Hawaiian royalty once used the valley as a retreat. Tours begin at the visitor center and include a short shuttle. Reservations are strongly recommended, and the tour is a calm, inspiring complement to Poipu's beaches.

The garden's story begins with Queen Emma, who spent summers in Lawai in the 19th century. Later the land passed to the Allertons, who spent decades shaping it as a series of outdoor rooms connected by pathways and water. Statuary, fountains and pools sit among palms, orchids, bamboo and flowering trees. The most celebrated feature is a grove of Moreton Bay fig trees, whose enormous aerial roots form walls and arches. Film crews used them for a dinosaur scene, and guides share the trivia as you stand among them.

The guided tour ensures an informative visit. Guides explain the botany, the cultural history and the conservation mission of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, which also manages nearby McBryde Garden and others. They point out plants used for food and medicine, flowering seasonal highlights and wildlife. The route includes uneven paths and some steps, with plenty of time for photographs. The shuttle from the visitor center adds convenience, and the staff handles timing, so you do not rush.

Plan ahead, because tours sell out. Choose a morning slot for cooler weather, and wear walking shoes, sunscreen and a hat. Bring insect repellent and a rain jacket in case of showers. The visit takes about two to three hours, and the garden usually closes on certain days. Combine the tour with Spouting Horn, Poipu Beach or a meal in Koloa. For a different perspective on Hawaiian botany, consider also visiting Limahuli Garden on the north shore, which emphasizes native species and traditional agriculture.

Plan the rest of the day around the tour. The garden sits only a few minutes from Spouting Horn and from the shops and restaurants of Koloa, so a late-morning tour followed by lunch and an afternoon at the beach makes a classic south shore itinerary. The dress code is simple: comfortable clothes, closed-toe shoes and a camera.

Pace yourself on warm days, bring water and take advantage of the shaded benches along the way. If you are a keen gardener, ask guides about propagation, native restoration projects and the work of the botanical garden's scientists, who protect rare species from extinction.