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Friday, April 9, 2010

Pukeiti Gardens, Taranaki




We visited Pukeiti in the wrong season - autumn. Nevertheless, one can not fail to recognize the beauty of this established garden setting. It took us an hour and fifteen minutes to go around part of the area.

Pukeiti Gardens - Taranaki, New Zealand

Pukeiti is a 360 hectare rain forest property located between Mount Egmont/Taranaki and the scenic west coast, just south of New Plymouth.Established in 1951, these beautiful gardens are an easy walk along mostly grassed tracks.

Pukeiti is open all year round, except Christmas Day, and is a popular destination for tourists, visitors and locals, with free admittance for school children. Refreshments are available from the Gatehouse Cafe overlooking the gardens and include morning and afternoon teas and light lunches.


Taranaki is a good 4 and a half hours from Auckland and 2 and half hours from Wanganui. Wanganui is another town where local and international tourists can marvel at spectacular gardens.