Hellisgerdi Park

Hellisgerdi was made in 1923 by a local society who took a piece of the lava flow in the middle of Hafnarfjordur and planted it rather than clearing it, so the paths wind between outcrops and hollows with trees and shrubs growing out of the rock. It was one of the earliest public parks of its kind in Iceland. A bonsai collection is displayed in the garden in summer. The park also sits at the centre of the town's hidden people tradition - certain rocks here are named as dwellings, and the elf walks that Hafnarfjordur is known for usually pass through it. A small cafe operates in the season.

What you'll find

• A garden planted in lava - laid out in 1923 around the rock.
• Paths between outcrops - the flow left in place, not cleared.
• A summer bonsai display - shown in the garden.
• Named elf rocks - the town's tradition, centred here.

When to go

June to September for the planting and the cafe. An hour.

What to expect

It is small and takes half an hour to walk. Outside summer it is bare and the cafe is shut. Paths on lava are uneven. The elf material is folklore turned into a walking tour, not a claim anyone is asking you to believe.

Nearby

Hafnarfjordur harbour is minutes away; Reykjavik is fifteen minutes north.

Key facts