Taranaki Garden Festival

Itinerary

Taranaki Garden 1
30th October - 4th November 2025
Day One:  Auckland to New Plymouth
Dinner
From Auckland we travel south to Hamilton Gardens. Explore the stunning collection of enclosed gardens showcasing the cultural meaning and context of each from ancient Egypt to the modern garden—a journey through 4,000 years of garden history and creativity.
Devon Hotel New Plymouth    3 nights
 
Day Two:  Town Gardens & Pukeiti
Breakfast & Dinner
Visiting New Plymouth’s town gardens, we discover how even the smallest spaces can be transformed into charming, peaceful retreats—each garden is unique in size, layout, and landscape.
Later we travel to Pukeiti one of the worlds biggest and most diverse rhododendron collections developed over eight decades along with other exotics amidst the native rainforest.

Day Three:    Country Gardens
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today we visit some of the regions most beautiful and outstanding country gardens including Cairnhill - a vibrant, colourful garden framed by a canopy of deciduous trees underplanted with hosts and heuchera, and Stanleigh with views to both the coast and mountain on fine days. Enjoy a picnic lunch in one of the gardens.
Day Four: New Plymouth to Palmerston North
Breakfast & Dinner
Today we travel south and stop at a variety of small and large gardens, all with interesting plantings and some unique design features. Late afternoon we arrive in Palmerston North for our overnight stay.
Distinction Hotel Palmerston North   1 night
 
Day Five: Palmerston North to Taupo
Breakfast & Dinner
This morning we travel to Kimbolton, north of Feilding where we visit Cross Hills Gardens, which are ablaze with colour. Explore the 7 hectares of gardens featuring New Zealand's largest and most comprehensive collection of flowering rhododendrons and azaleas.
Overnight on the shores of Taupo
Suncourt Hotel Taupo  1 night
 
Day Six:  New Plymouth to Auckland
Breakfast & Lunch
Leaving Taupo we travel to Gordonton and Zealong Tea Estate for a tour, tea experience and delicous High Tea before arriving back in Auckland at approximately 5.00pm.

General Information
  • The festival programme is released late July and as such some gardens mentioned in the itinerary may not be participating in this year's festival. Gardens will be substituted with a similar style garden.
  • Twilight Travel reserves the right to alter the itinerary and gardens due to operational and logistical requirements.
  • Gardens, tours and sightseeing may involve walking over uneven ground  and steps. This tour is not suitable for wheelchairs and walking frames. 
  • Passengers joining from Wellington or Palmerston North will travel by Intercity Coach scheduled service to New Plymouth.
About Us

Twilight Travel & Tours is a New Zealand owned boutique tour operator providing small group tours within New Zealand since 2005.
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