Pukeiti

03/09/2026

Throwback Thursday: 75 years of Pukeiti 🤩

Before there was a garden, there was a vision.

In March 1950, William Douglas Cook returned to his hometown of New Plymouth looking for somewhere he could grow rhododendrons among native rainforest.

Together with Taranaki horticulturist Russell Matthews, who created Tūpare, he came across a 65-hectare bush block high on a saddle between Taranaki Maunga and the Kaitake Ranges.

Cook didn't need much convincing.

"One walk through is enough," he said.

That night, he tracked down the owner and bought the property.

And so, the story of Pukeiti began. 💚

Over the next few weeks, we'll be looking back at some of the people, moments and milestones that have shaped Pukeiti as we count down to its 75th birthday on 1 November.

We'll start right here, at the very beginning.

25/08/2026

Another Qualmark Gold for Pukeiti! Proud of our team and another great result. 🥇💚

Feeling extra proud of our gardens team today. 💚
Tūpare, Pukeiti and Hollard Gardens have all retained their Qualmark Gold Sustainable Tourism Award for another year. This award is the highest possible recognition for sustainability and visitor experience in the country!
A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to keep our three gardens looking their best and make them great places to visit, so it’s awesome to see that mahi recognised again.
Ka rawe, team! 👏

17/08/2026

How stunning are the big-leaf rhododendrons this time of year?! You can find these beauties in the Valley of the Giants where their pink, white and yellow blooms set off the lush green native bush perfectly.

It's well worth the trip to see these stunning plants in person. Walk the Valley of the Giants loop, enjoy the bird life and immerse yourself in nature, and finish off with a complimentary cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lodge.

12/08/2026

We had a blast at the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce business showcase. It was great to connect with so many local businesses and share what our regional gardens have to offer. 🌿

A big congratulations to Michelle Ramage, who won a free night’s stay in the Pīwakawaka Family Hut at Pukeiti! Please send us a message to claim your prize.

We’re already looking forward to doing it all again next year and showcasing our stunning venues across Pukeiti, Tūpare and Hollard Gardens!

09/08/2026

We're looking forward to being part of the 2026 Business Showcase on Wednesday evening. If you're interested in venue hire, events, weddings, functions or simply discovering more about our beautiful regional gardens, stop by and chat with the team.

📍 Business Showcase
🕔 5pm to 7.30pm

We'd love to see you there!

Pukeiti
Tūpare
Hollard Gardens

06/08/2026

Look who turned up at Pukeiti! 🥝

This kiwi was seen wandering the garden at 10pm on Wednesday night. We can live with a few holes in the garden. 💚

05/08/2026

It's an absolutely stunning morning at Pukeiti, with the heaviest frost of the winter so far! We recorded a low of -0.9 degrees in the garden - the lowest temperature we've had this year - and the clear skies and birdsong made for a beautiful early-morning wander.
It's a great day to pop up for a walk, admire the beautiful flowers of the big-leaf rhododendrons, and warm up in the Lodge with a complimentary cup of tea or coffee ❄💚

30/07/2026

It's starting...! 🌸

Rhodo season at Pukeiti is officially underway with the first of the large-leaf rhododendrons in bloom. Large-leaf rhodos are a group native to the mountains of southeast Asia, and some species in this group can grow up to 30 meters tall, with leaves up to 90cm long! These plants with their spectacular flower trusses kick off our flowering season, with lots more to come.

The magnificence of the large-leaf flowers is hard to capture in photos - partly because of their height and partly because the massive flower heads are most impressive up close. They're best viewed in person, so make sure to plan a visit while they're in the peak of their season.

Pictured here are Rhododendron protistum 'Pukeiti', R. calophytum, and R. grande.

17/07/2026

Our brand-new sculpture was installed in the Keiller Garden yesterday!

Buckets in Bloom was created by New Zealand artist John Ferguson and is inspired by his Blooming Buckets installation at the Sculptureum in Matakana. This new piece has been created from durable metal buckets and designed specifically to complement the garden setting at Pukeiti.

We're thrilled at the effect it has towering over the Keiller Garden, and it adds another unique feature for visitors to discover while exploring the gardens. It's best enjoyed in person - be sure to make the visit to see it for yourself this weekend!