Type: Large Country
Owners: Doff Tombleson
Address: 488 Tapuwae Road
Te Kuiti King Country
Mail: R D 7 Te Kuiti
Phone: 07 878 4837
Fax: 07 878 4837
Contact: as above
Description
Tapuwae is a Maori name meaning ‘sacred footstep’.
The garden has grown to be 8 acres (3.25 hectares) needing 1.5 to 2 hours to walk around. Many pea fowl – including white peafowl – which are lovely in spring dislaying wonderful tails! Many lovely trees – magnolias in August/September a speciality. Rhododendrons by the 100′s from September to February – main flush of flowering October to December. Flowering trees and shrubs, bulbs and the rare and unusual plants. Be prepared for cold weather as we are 1650 ft(502 metres) above sea level and within sight of Mt Ruapehu!
Guided tours by arrangement. Snacks & meals available by arrangement. Wide extensive farm & country views well beyond the fences of the garden. We began the garden in 1965 with 4 small children and a very busy farm life breaking in a new farm.
The garden is on undulating hills with creeks and ponds – the wide grassed walkways follow the sheep tracks, giving easy walking. The garden fences have been extended bit by bit over the 41 years, with a stock track fenced off in the centre. We have an exceptional collection of trees, rhododendrons, magnolias, conifers, camellias; spring, summer & autumn colour and we love to show people around to share out hobby.
Brochures available with 10 lovely gardens of the King Country.
Viewed by Maggie Barry show and aired 1997.
Other Information
Snacks and Meals by prior arrangement.
Open: 9am-5pm all year – groups please book – casual car loads welcome, but accept us as we are! Brochure available for 10 gardens to visit in the King Country.
Admission: $5 per person School age children free
Directions: We are 40kms south east of Te Kuiti (35 minutes) off Highway 30. Branch off HW 30 (halfway between Mangapehi and Benneydale) on to Waimiha Road (follow the garden signs) for 5kms, onto the Tapuwae Road, 5kms to garden on both sides of the road.
Parking: Large parking area by woolshed suitable for buses and large mobile homes. OPO welcome.