Utopia Orchid Park

April 10th 2014

If you’ve been to Israel before and you’re looking for something a little different that will have you appreciating the wonders of Mother Nature, consider a visit to Utopia Orchid Park. The park, located in the heart of the Sharon region on Kibbutz Bahan, just east of the coastal city of Netanya, spans nearly 10 acres, including indoor and outdoor attractions.

You’ve likely never seen a botanical-ecological garden like this one. There’s plenty to do at Utopia Orchid Park. Nearly 20,000 orchids from all over the world, including some that are quite rare, are on display in the indoor tropical rain forest. Waterfalls, lush plant life, pools of fish, birds and animals whose natural habitat is in the rain forest, are all part of the scenery. The pathways throughout the rain forest are smoothly paved and include railings and fencing for safety.

There’s a special swamp area designed to nurture and display the park’s distinctive collection of carnivorous plants that reach out and trap insects, arachnids and crustaceans. The swamp environment allows them to thrive and allows visitors to learn how they grow and are cared for. While visiting the carnivorous plant attraction, you can even watch them snag their prey.

Utopia Park cultivates two entertaining plant mazes. The first is a traditional, English-style maze with imposing greenery. The other plant maze was designed for the more daring among the park’s visitors. It’s a two-story maze constructed of ficus plants and was constructed specifically to challenge the adventuresome.

There’s so much more to see at the park, including a display of topiary sculpture, musical fountains, an amphitheater and more. Walk among a variety of animals such as spotted deer, Moroccan sheep, peacocks and parakeets. There are hills, but benches are placed throughout the park for those who would like a comfortable place to rest amidst gorgeous scenery.

Café Utopia, offering light, dairy meals including pizza, pasta, toasted sandwiches, pastries, salads and more, is climate-controlled and designed to complement the natural surroundings with wooden decks and plush sofas. The entire park is totally accessible for those in wheelchairs and strollers and ample free parking is available.