As I have now visited the port of Nassau in the Bahamas several times in the last few years whilst on different cruises, I was recently looking online for something different to do on my next trip when I discovered Ardastra Gardens and Wildlife Conservation Centre. Ardastra Gardens is located 1.5 miles from Nassau Cruise Port and visiting the park by yourself is very easy to do so there is no need to pay for an expensive and overpriced organised tour as there really is no need.

During my trip I took a lot of photos whilst visiting Ardastra Gardens and Nassau to help me write this blog and travel guide which includes up to date information, directions and how to get there, what to expect, tips, advice and all you need to know to make the most of your visit.

Getting to Ardastra Gardens is so simple as well as you can easily walk there from the port (the route is completely flat) or you can also take a taxi or even one of the local buses if needed. A slow walk from the cruise pier will take approximately thirty minutes and it is completely safe and offers some incredible views of the harbour along the way. In fact you can also combine a trip to Ardastra Gardens with my Free Walking Tour of Nassau so you are able to see a lot of things in a very short space of time.

The route to Ardastra Gardens is very straight forward and after leaving Nassau Cruise Port, walk past all of the vendors and taxi drivers and continue along Woodes Rodgers Walk towards Señor Frogs and follow the road around onto Bay Street towards the Margaritaville Resort as if you were heading to Junkanoo Beach. Walk past Junkanoo Beach (which will be on your right) towards the Nassau Fish Fry and Arawak Cay and this is where you will get one of the best views of the harbour, the beach as well as all of the ships that are docked in Nassau that day – there are also several benches along this path where you can just sit and watch the world go by.

If you need to access mobile data whilst visiting the Bahamas, you can purchase a travel E-Sim through Airalo. If you would like to use my referral code NIKKI8866 when signing up, you will receive £2.50 / US$3 off your first purchase.

Once at the Nassau Fish Fry, you will need to turn left onto Chippingham Road (Ardastra is clearly signposted) for the final part of the walk which will only take a few minutes. If you take the local bus you will also need to do this last part of the walk as the closest bus stop is on Bay Street opposite the Nassau Fish Fry.

Ardastra Gardens usually opens at 10:00am each day and you can check up to date opening times, schedules and prices on their website. The prices have increased since my visit earlier this year and as of July 2023, tickets for Ardastra Gardens will cost:

Adults – $30
Children (Aged 4-12) – $15
Children (Aged 3 and Under) – Free

It was very quiet when we arrived at Ardastra just after it opened which was perfect for us as I always prefer to visit places early in the day when they are much less crowded – it was also nice to be able to do the walk there in the morning before it got too hot.

Before our trip to Nassau I had contacted Ardastra to ask them if it would be easy to avoid seeing the handful of snakes that they have (as I am terrified of them) when we visited and they sent me a really nice email back to let me know that they are all in one small area of the property and to ask one of the staff when I arrived who would let me know which location in the park to avoid which I was very grateful for. All of the staff that we met at Ardastra Gardens were incredible, knowledgeable and so friendly and explained everything I needed to know.

Ardastra Gardens originally opened in 1937 as a nature reserve before developing a successful breeding program for the endangered Caribbean flamingo (the national bird of the Bahamas) and is the only wildlife conservation centre in the Bahamas.

We had timed our visit to Ardastra Gardens to arrive ready for the first flamingo show which was due to start at 10:30am – these shows usually take place three times each day and the schedule is posted online so make sure to time your visit so you can watch one. As it was so quiet at this time, we had no problem finding a seat in the shade at the Flamingo Arena and the show started with one of the staff talking all about the history of Ardastra before telling us information and facts about the flamingos themselves.

The flamingos arrive and march along with their keeper and stop in front of each group of people in the arena and they are so elegant and beautiful to see up close! At the end of the presentation which lasts approximately fifteen minutes, audience members can get a photo standing with all the flamingoes – the only condition is you have to pose exactly like a flamingo would which was great fun!

Once the show had finished, we left the Flamingo Arena and took some more photos of all of the flamingos as they are free to wander wherever they want around the entire park before exploring the rest of Ardastra Gardens for ourselves.

Once inside Ardastra you are free to go wherever you want so you can simply follow the shaded paths through the palm trees and the tropical gardens full of flora and fauna on a self guided tour to see all of the different birds and animals that call Ardastra Gardens home. I loved spotting the turtles sitting on the rocks next to the water enjoying the Bahamian sunshine.

There is also a small “Petting Zoo” area where you can interact and get up close to animals such as goats, pigs, turkeys, chickens and rabbits.

Along with the flamingos, my other favourite part of visiting Ardastra Gardens was being able to get up close to all of the beautiful parrots that they have in all colours throughout the entire park. I have always loved parrots since I was little and could not stop taking photos!

We spent just over an hour and a half exploring Ardastra Gardens which was a perfect amount of time. It really is such a great way to spend some of your day in Nassau and I truly wish more people knew about it as it really is a hidden gem. It does not take long to get to and it is perfect for families of all ages to visit and as we walked there, it was something that was very easy and affordable to do.

The best things come in small sizes and I absolutely loved our morning at Ardastra and was so glad that we had decided to visit here during our port day in Nassau. It was such a lovely little park full of beautiful animals and wonderful people and it was so calm and peaceful and a world away from the hustle and bustle of Downtown Nassau which is the only thing that a lot of people see when visiting on a cruise – that is if they even get off the ship. Make sure to visit on your next trip to Nassau and you will not regret it!

Since this blog post was written back in 2023, some of the information may no longer be accurate or up to date. Be sure to do your own research and check official websites for the latest details before making any of your own travel plans.

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