Taranaki Garden Festival

Itinerary

Taranaki Garden 1
31st October - 6th November 2024
Day One:  Auckland to Taupo   
Lunch, Dinner

Departing from Auckland, our first stop is at Woodlands Historic Homestead and Gardens on the outskirts of Gordonton.
From Woodlands we head to Zealong Tea Estate for a tea tasting experience followed by a delicious High Tea. Our first night is on the shores of Lake Taupo.
Suncourt Hotel Taupo    1 night

Day Two:  Taupo to Palmerston North
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

This morning we continue south to Kimbolton, north of Feilding where we visit Cross Hills Gardens. Cross Hills are ablaze with colour from October to November. Explore the 7 hectares of gardens featuring New Zealand's largest and most comprehensive collections of flowering rhododendrons and azaleas. Tonight we stay at Palmerston North.
Distinction Hotel Palmerston North   1 night

Day Three:  Palmerston North to New Plymouth
Breakfast, Dinner

Today we travel north to the Taranaki region via Whanganui and Hawera. We stop at a variety of small and large gardens, all with interesting plantings and some unique design features. Late afternoon we arrive in New Plymouth for our 4 night stay.
Devon Hotel, New Plymouth   4 nights
Day Four:  Town Gardens
Breakfast, Dinner

Visiting New Plymouth's town gardens we see just how a small space can be transformed into a delightful and peaceful little garden. The town gardens all vary in size, layout and contour.
 
Day Five:  Country Gardens
Breakfast, 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.
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Day Five:  Pukeiti & Country Gardens
Breakfast, Dinner
This morning we head out 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 Seven:  New Plymouth to Auckland
Breakfast
Leaving New Plymouth we head north to Hamilton Gardens. Explore the collection of gardens that showcase some of the greatest gardens of history. From ancient Egypt to the modern day, you will enter a world of beautiful and inspiring gardens on a unique journey through 4000 years of culture and creativity.
We then return to Auckland, arriving approximately 5.30pm.

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 return on an Intercity Coach scheduled service from New Plymouth on the last day of the tour.
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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