Join the renowned Alan Jellyman, horticulturist and author for a guided tour of 6 premier gardens around Mt Taranaki. Alan will give you an outline about each garden prior to your visit and then guide you around sharing his indepth knowledge of the plants and their significance in the location.  

Leaving at 8.30am the first stop will be at Toko.  Cairnhill, a rural garden with all year round interest and colour. Rhododendron, Roses, Clematis and mature trees flourish. Peonies, Hosta, Heuchera and Iris feature strongly amongst the many perennials that nestle in and around the beds of this ‘one level’ garden.

Following morning tea your next visit will be at Puketarata Garden, a country garden that folds around a hilltop site with spectacular views. Herbaceous plantings, lawn tennis court, vegetable garden and a parterre are enhanced by the landscape.

The next stop will be Gravetye, a formal garden that celebrates the simplicity of mass green planting, with a perennial border, sunken vegetable garden, reflection pool, pleached limes and a laburnum arch.

A delicious sit down catered lunch along with the opportunity to browse through the garden at Tairoa Lodge is the next stop on the tour.

Oakley garden the third stop of the tour, close to the coast, has a thriving garden made possible by towering shelter belt hedges. Here cottage style plantings, a thriving vegetable potager and Jenny’s renowned hanging baskets are all features.

Next is Hollard Gardens, which features not only rhododendrons and azaleas but also a range of native and exotic plants not commonly seen. There is also a comprehensive food garden. 

The last stop for the day is the Goodin Country Garden, set amidst old coastal lahars and large volcanic rocks. Mature trees are surrounded by lush plantings of clivia, roses and rhododendrons.