Darts Hill Garden Park

Darts Hill Garden Park is a beautiful garden in Surrey that’s open to the public only on special occasions including weekends in April, May and June.

Surrey’s Darts Hill Garden

Darts Hill Garden Park is a 22.5 acre property located at 1633-170th Street in South Surrey just a 10-minute drive from White Rock. It’s a beautiful spot with paths winding through densely vegetated forested-style gardens.

Admission is by donation when the garden is open to visitors. Annual membership is available for purchase for $25 per person. The garden usually opens in April and remains open from Friday to Sunday for a few months in the spring and early summer on those days from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Darts Hill Opening Times

Darts Hill is open to the public only at designated times and dates. This includes open houses and special plant sale days.

Garden Strolls are available Fridays. Saturdays and Sundays from early April to the end of July and from end of the summer to the fall (September to October).

Admission is by donation and recommended at $5 per person.

Open house times are available on the Darts Hill Calendar of Events, as can plant sale dates, special member-only events and details on when the City of Surrey’s Sounds of Summer Music Concert Series takes place on the property.

Summer Concert at Darts Hill — Sounds concert at Darts Hill Garden Park

Garden Stroll Times

In addition to other designated times listed in the property’s event calendar, Darts Hill Garden Park is open rain or shine most years for Garden Strolls on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between 10 am and 4 pm in April, May, June, July, September and October.

Open Houses in 2023

Darts Hill Garden Park also hosts a number of open houses each year. The schedule for these in 2023 was still pending when we checked in February. Open houses are excellent value for money as plant sales are held.

Sounds of Summer Music Concert Series

The Sounds of Summer Music Concert Series is a series of free outdoor concerts in Surrey Parks. A concert takes place at a different place each week in July and August. The concert dates and details for 2023 are to be confirmed.

About the Gardens

What’s remarkable about Darts Hill Garden Park, in addition to its attractiveness and the occasional rare biological specimen, is the fact that the plants are very well-marked and categorized. Look closely and you’ll notice that a surprising number of the botanical specimens have been labelled with their names. Even the smallest of lichen in one area get their recognition.

Darts Hill isn’t the best park for children as it’s not the type with swings and a play area. However, it’s definitely a good one for plant enthusiasts.

Note: Dogs are not permitted in the gardens. Also, wheelchair access is limited and the gravel pathways are not suitable for motorized scooters.

Gravel Roadway at Darts Hill Garden — Entrance to Darts Hill Garden Park

Best Times to Visit

In addition to in the summer when there’s music at the garden, the end of April is probably the absolute best time to visit as that’s when the rhododendrons are in full bloom.

May is also beautiful. Because the trails are so densely vegetated it’s nice and shady on hot summer days. Darts Hill Garden Park is also beautiful in mid-fall with all its autumn colours. Go on a sunny day if you can.

Darts Hill Plant Sale

History of the Garden

Darts Hill Garden Park is the creation of Francisca and Edwin Darts who donated their private 7.5 acre garden to the city as part of a 999-year agreement to open the property to the public.

The donation of Darts Hill Garden was made in 1994, during the lifetime of Mr. and Mrs. Darts. At that time the City of Surrey purchased an additional 15 acres of neighbouring land to make the place what it is today.

Presently there is still a private residence on the property and the garden remains semi-private, opening only on designated days.

Donated for the purpose of serving as a horticultural centre for the development, enhancement and preservation of plants, Darts Hill Garden Park is a beautiful and unique facility within the City of Surrey. Check it out if you can!