HikurangiOkato, Taranaki
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| Owners: |
Barbara Williams |
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| Address: |
143 Newall Road, Okato, R D 37, New Plymouth |
| Phone: |
+ 64-6-752 4058 |
| Fax: |
+ 64-6-752 4058 |
| Email: |
barbarawilliams@xtra.co.nz |
| Open: |
Mid October to May, daily, 10am - 8pm or dark |
| Groups: |
By appointment |
| Fee: |
$3 per adult |
| Size: |
Large - 2.8ha (7 acres) |
| Terrain: |
Varied - hills & vales |
| Functions: |
Wedding venue |
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Hikurangi, meaning “tall mountain”, is an extensive park-like garden with a wonderful backdrop of Mt Taranaki. Pioneered in 1904 from virgin bush, this diverse garden is still being established by Barbara, who has lived here since the early 1950s. Hikurangi comprises a drier area in the older part, with historic points of interest, and newer areas including water gardens. Barbara likes to take her visitors on a tour beginning in the historic 1906 woolshed, which houses a small museum, then walking through the large developing native plantings which include lancewood, pohutukawa and many rare named species. Pathways wind down around the expansive lake which features views of Mt Taranaki, ducks and smaller pond areas. Walkways then continue up past the stream to an old tunnel where a mill supplied electric power in 1906. Glow-worms are an evening attraction along the banks leading to the tunnel. Paths lead up through an alpine rockery to the old garden around the house, then down again to a popular wedding venue with wide grassed walkways between beds of perennials, with azaleas, rhododendrons and a ponga pergola. Colours change with the seasons, camellias and daffodils announcing spring, then lilies, dahlias and annuals flowering in summer, followed by autumn chrysanthemums. A woodland area with tall tree ferns is underplanted with bog plants. |
Directions:
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Travel south of New Plymouth to west of Mt Taranaki, on SH 45. Turn left at Okato into Oxford Rd, then right into Saunders Rd. Turn right again into Wiremu Rd, then left into Newall Rd. Hikurangi on left. |
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