Discover Taranaki: Explore the Beauty of North Taranaki’s Premier Gardens

Join renowned horticulturist and writer, Tony Barnes, for an exclusive guided tour of five spectacular gardens in North Taranaki. 

Before each visit, Tony will introduce the garden, sharing its history, design, and plant collections while offering fascinating insights into the plants and how they thrive in the region.

Your first stop is The Yews, a garden of timeless beauty featuring structured landscapes, majestic mature trees, and vibrant seasonal colour. Towering yews frame picturesque views, while winding paths lead through beautifully curated plantings.

Next is Pukemara, a garden of two contrasting areas. A colourful courtyard showcases annuals, perennials, vireyas, roses, and maples, while the woodland garden features rhododendrons, azaleas, viburnums, hydrangeas, and mature trees. Pukemara is also home to an impressive collection of hostas, many available for purchase.

The third garden is Waiongana, set beside the peaceful Waiongana Stream. Carefully designed to complement its natural surroundings, it combines mature trees, colourful seasonal plantings, meandering pathways, and tranquil water views. Here you can purchase lunch, with delicious savouries, cakes, tea, coffee, and cold drinks available.

After lunch, explore the historic Lepper Garden, now in its sixth generation of family ownership. Surrounding a century-old homestead, this one-hectare country garden features magnificent English trees, native bush, spacious lawns, curved beds, garden rooms, and colourful displays of clivias, hostas, ligularia, roses, and rhododendrons.

Your final destination is Tropics on Mangati, an island-inspired paradise filled with palms, cycads, bromeliads, lush tropical foliage, perennials, ferns, agaves, and rhododendrons. Water features, a fishpond, vertical gardens, and garden art complete this spectacular finale.

A wonderful opportunity to experience some of North Taranaki's finest gardens while learning from one of the region's most respected gardening experts.