Garden Trails

The Trails for the 2014 Garden Discovery are still being finalised.

The last Garden Discovery was held in 2012 and here's what visitors found.

Self-drive trails led visitors to around 24 beautiful private gardens in coastal and country locations. Each garden had that something special, showcasing stunning subtropicals, which are at their best in late summer. The Whangarei district has a warm and humid climate making it a paradise for subtropical plants and lush growth.

Of the 24 gardens, more than half  were included in Garden Discovery for the first time. The hard-working and enthusiastic gardeners welcomed visitors at their gardens, which ranged from the artistry of Viv Papich to 4 ha of country splendour, including water features, massive rocks, sculptures, mass plantings – everything from bromeliads to roses, native trees and palms. Dramatic coastal gardens offered stunning views.

In keeping with the current trend and huge interest now in vegetable growing, gardens with wonderful areas dedicated to vegetables were included, following a "garden to table" philosophy. Visitors encountered some rare breeds of poultry and indulged in a wine and platter of tasty delights at another garden with its original underground wine cellar.

Refreshments were available and plants, art and crafts for sale at some of the gardens.