Ayrlies was created by Beverley McConnell and her late husband Malcolm, co-founder of New Zealand engineering and construction company McConnell Dowell.

The New Zealand Gardens Trust has ranked Ayrlies as a Garden of International Significance.

The Wetlands walk includes a one hour loop walk around the lake and offers the chance to see some of New Zealand’s wetland birds and aquatic life including New Zealand Scaup, Pukeko, New Zealand Dabchick and the Grey Teal which is a protected species here in New Zealand.