UCSC Arboretum
UCSC Arboretum
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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  • johnmodesto
    Modesto, California670 contributions
    Beautiful collection of Australian and South African plants
    Large arboretum with excellent display of Australian and South African plants. The arboretum has its own entrance off of Empire Grade/High Street. There is a large free parking area. You can buy admission tickets online or at the gift shop, if it happens to be open. If not you can stuff money into a metal tube, which is what we did. The gardens for Australia and South Africa are large, with many diverse trees, bushes, succulents, and other plants. The setting is beautiful, though casual--nobody would accuse UC Santa Cruz of having formal gardens. Squirrels and rabbits wander here and there, and useful signage tells you about the plants and their normal environment. There is a New Zealand section, we didn't visit that but looking through the fence it appeared to be a picturesque meadow with wooden sculptures.
    Visited February 2023
    Written February 13, 2023
  • JackandBetty
    Bristol, Connecticut192 contributions
    Something different to do!
    My daughter-in-law and I stopped at this tranquil place while our husbands were golfing something different to do . and very interesting I enjoy the succulent garden the most and I’m sure there are things that blossom during different seasons of the year. Most plants were labeled but it would’ve been nice to have a guided tour - it was a very hot day and you could stay as long as you’d like. we liked the little gift shop as well
    Visited June 2022
    Traveled with friends
    Written June 23, 2022
  • mini
    Fremont, California176,137 contributions
    Wonderful Gardens, Very Well Taken Care of, Diverse: UCSC Arboretum, Santa Cruz
    We went to the UCSC Arboretum in Santa Cruz. This is a very diverse garden area. In particular we liked the cactus gardens and the New Zealand Garden. There is an arboretum store. There is lots of parking. Price to see the arboretum is five dollars.
    Visited March 2020
    Written March 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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Gardengel-IoW
West Sussex, UK690 contributions
Feb 2020
A large area and some shrubs labled, but the whole site looked as if it needed some care.
Payment is made by putting money in the post as you go in the carpark area, if no one in the kiosk.
The most exciting part of the visit was the student demonstration that went past!
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

oldjgw
Berkeley150 contributions
Jan 2022
We are big arboretum fans and check out public gardens wherever we go. This is a well laid out facility with interesting specimen and good signage. Stop in the gift shop and nursery for some very special garden plants.
Written January 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MermaidUndertheOcean
Stockton, CA30 contributions
Jun 2012 • Solo
Well, I guess I am spoiled by the arboretum at Golden Gate park where almost everything is labeled and the paths clearly marked. Here at the UCSC Arboretum you are basically meandering through bushes and trees, hoping you are not totally lost. I enjoyed myself despite of the rough, natural conditions, but it was not as informational with clear trails as I had hoped. Beware of ticks, I found one on the back of my neck!
Written July 9, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

airport2015
Tel Aviv District, Israel1,011 contributions
Aug 2021
On the fence of the University
Divided to geographical areas
Very nice New Zealand garden
Good exhibits of South Africa
and Australia
Written September 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

aclementb
17 contributions
Sep 2011
Families will enjoy the UCSC Arboretum. Energetic and curious youngsters will find plenty to keep them busy. Our two, 7 and 5, happily examined the many lizards, gleefully spotting rabbits and tiny toads. Of special interest are the South Africa and Australia botanical gardens, which have regional plants most of us have never seen before. Paths make for easy walking, easy viewing. The gift shop, staffed by volunteers, is one of the nicest I've been in. There is no entry fee, although donations are welcome.
Written September 20, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

HealthyEating29
Santa Rosa, CA220 contributions
Aug 2019
Introduced the arboretum to family visiting from Australia. The gardens here are broken up into sections that feature plants from different countries as well as California that all grow well in our California environment. My relatives were amazed at the variety of Australian plants they new and those that were new to them. Interesting to anyone who has a green thumb or just wants a pleasant afternoon walk.
There is a wonderful gift shop with plants, jewelry, clothing, books and gifts that are all nature or plant themed.
Well organized and the gardens are thoughtfully laid out for an overall pleasant experience.
There is an admission fee of $5.00 per person that goes to there upkeep of the gardens. Also there are restrooms in several locations.
Written August 11, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marco Tulio A
Turrialba, Costa Rica264 contributions
Aug 2018 • Friends
It is quite a nice place to learn about the plants from dry areas around the world great for saving water and how nice they may be for your garden, each one is labeled, many are for sale and their shop has plenty of nice souvenirs and literature. Bring sun protection on sunny hot days.
Written August 10, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dewitthouse
San Diego, CA152 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
We wanted to drive around UCSC, and saw that the arboretum was highly ranked on TripAdvisor, had some time so we thought what the heck. Great call on our part!
Feels small when you get there, but it is huge, with great variety, split into geographic areas. Staff was very helpful- go to South Africa section because everything is in bloom right now.

Ended up wandering for more than an hour and learning about some things. Our trip was about getting some nature and peace, and the arboretum surprisingly contributed both.
Written July 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Radrap
Santa Cruz, CA44 contributions
Jun 2016 • Friends
Relax your mind and body with a stress free stroll through the arboretum. Regardless of the season, you'll always see something new and different. Divided into several areas, the arboretum is large enough to feel like you've experienced something new and different, yet small enough to take a reasonable walk and cover the entire expanse. If you're there later in the afternoon, you might see bunnies scurry through the low ground cover. And, if you visit when the protea bloom you will be a fan forever. Humming birds soar through the skies and small alligator lizards bask in the sun. Although not totally wheelchair accessible, there are some paths that are accessible. Suggest bringing some water and wearing comfortable walking shoes. Some plants are for sale at the gift shop if you are there before it closes.
Written June 15, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Digashapa
Capitola, CA15 contributions
Nov 2015 • Family
Want to share the day with hummingbirds and lizards? Enjoy the drama of hawks' flight overhead while you drink in the joys of slowing down and listening, and seeing the minutae of nature.
Written March 15, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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