Day 1 : Auckland - Piopio - New Plymouth
We travel through the Waikato farmlands and stop for lunch with Rachel and Denzil Anselmi at Carmel Farm in Piopio. Continuing through the limestone country of the Awakino Gorge we drive out to the Tasman coast. Reaching New Plymouth we visit John Wilmshurst & Diana Montgomery's Waiongana Gardens. Your home for two nights, The Waterfront Hotel, is just across from Len Lye’s Wind Wand kinetic sculpture and the waterfront boardwalk. We dine in at the hotel's Salt restaurant.
Accommodation: New Plymouth - The Waterfront Hotel
Day 2 : New Plymouth Gardens
We meet Judi Gopperth at sweet Hirst Cottage, built in 1862, where the garden features a green and white theme and Valda Poletti at renowned Te Kainga Marire, a native garden of Global Significance.
We visit Tupare House and its beautiful garden then lunch at Monica's Eatery and visit the adjacent Len Lye Centre.
At Pukeiti wander the enchanted landscape of one of the world’s greatest collections of rhododendrons growing in lush rainforest on the slopes of Mt Taranaki.
Accommodation: New Plymouth - The Waterfront Hotel
Day 3 : Taranaki Farmhouse Gardens - Hikurangi - Openlands
Travelling the picturesque country roads on the seaward slopes of Mt Taranaki we visit expansive farmhouse gardens.
Maureen Brophy's Hikurangi and gardens created by Maria van der Poel, Elaine Sanderson and Marie Mills at Openlands where we are hosted for lunch.
Accommodation: New Plymouth - The Waterfront Hotel
Day 4 : New Plymouth - Cairnhill Garden - Hawera Gardens - Whanganui
We stroll in city treasure, Pukekura Park then drive to the start of the Forgotten World Highway to Cairnhill Garden to meet June and Colin Lees and enjoy their large rhododendron and vibernum garden. In Hawera we visit Jenny and John Pease's Gravetye Garden, with sweeping lawns, hedges and topiary.
We visit Jennifer and Ken Horner's country garden, Puketarata set high on a hill with magnificent views then continue on to Whanganui. We tour the city's landmarks and dine out this evening.
Accommodation: Whanganui - Aotea Lodge
Day 5 : Whanganui - Cross Hills Garden - Taihape - Ruapehu
We drive over to Kimbolton in the Manawatu region to discover another gem on our New Zealand garden tour. The Wilson family's Cross Hills garden boasts 7 hectares of park like grounds with a renowned collection of over 2000 rhododendrons and azaleas. Further colour is added by tree paeonies, candelabra primulas and perennials.
Continuing north to the Central Plateau we skirt around the slopes of Mount Ruapehu to Whakapapa village and The Chateau Tongariro Hotel in Tongariro National Park.
Accommodation: Tongariro National Park - Chateau Tongariro
Day 6 : The Chateau Tongariro - Aramatai Gardens - Crosshills - Auckland
If the weather is kind we drive up the mountain road to the Top of the Bruce for a close up view of Mt Ruapehu and panoramic views of the region.
Then we’re bound for Taumarunui and Jill Mouat's lovely Aramatai gardens set around a lake. We continue north on to Crosshills Farm, near Otorohanga where our private lunch is hosted by Debbie and Fraser Robertson.
After lunch we drive north through the Waikato to Auckland.
What you’ll love
- Travel the scenic Awakino Gorge to the Tasman coast
- John Wilmshurst & Diana Montgomery's Waiongana Gardens
- Pukeiti is a 360-hectare rainforest located between Mount Taranaki and the scenic west coast
- The outstanding Len Lye Centre
- Hikurangi 7 acre parklike garden, richly planted and beautifully manicured
- Private hosted lunch at Openlands, a large country garden with views to Mt Taranaki
- Enjoy morning tea with June and Colin at Cairnhill Garden
- Pukekura Park and Puketarata, both iconic Taranaki gardens
- Cross Hills Gardens' rhododendron and azalea collection
- At the Chateau Tongariro enjoy the stunning views
- We drive up to the Top of the Bruce for views of Mount Ruapehu and the Central Plateau
- In Kio Kio we lunch with Debbie Robertson at her Crosshills garden
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