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Gardens of the Forgotten World

The Gardener’s Folly is perfectly placed for garden lovers. Wander through the beautifully landscaped Omaka Gardens  near the cottage, then discover the creativity, colour and character of To Whenua Gardens, another remarkable garden destination just a kilometre away in New Zealand’s Forgotten World.

A tale of two gardens

Along New Zealand’s iconic Forgotten World Highway, two remarkable country gardens sit just one kilometre apart: The Omaka Gardens and To Whenua Gardens.

Although located just one kilometre apart at the northern end of the Forgotten World Highway, the two gardens offer distinctly different landscapes and plant collections, ensuring a unique experience at each stop.

The Omaka Gardens has earned the prestigious 5-Star Garden of National Significance rating from the New Zealand Gardens Trust.  Meanwhile To Whenua was created by a landscape designer and past judge of the Registered Master Landscapers NZ’s Landscape of Distinction Awards.

While The Omaka Gardens are known for mature trees, sweeping lawns and refined planting, To Whenua delights visitors with artistic creativity, character and distinctive landscape design.

Together, the two gardens offer contrasting styles and planting palettes, creating a rewarding experience to explore during your stay.

The Omaka Gardens 

Developed over many years, The Omaka Gardens combines mature trees, layered planting and carefully shaped forms to create a landscape of enduring beauty.

A tapestry of planting brings continual colour and texture, with rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas and maples setting the tone.  In the courtyard, a striking golden Gleditsia takes centre stage, while nearby stands the garden’s oldest tree – a 70-year-old Kalmia, carefully transplanted from the site of the original farmhouse.

Across the garden, richly planted beds and carefully shaped forms – spirals, pillars and soft cloud-like silhouettes – create a sense of quiet artistry and enduring beauty.

To Whenua Gardens

Set high above the Whanganui River, To Whenua Gardens reflects the creativity and vision of landscape designer Elle Anderson and her husband, John.

Unlike the structured elegance of The Omaka Gardens, To Whenua is a garden of discovery.  Winding paths connect a series of intimate spaces, each with its own character, planting palette and views across the surrounding countryside.  Native and exotic plantings sit alongside artistic design elements, creating a garden rich in texture, colour and surprise.

Together, these elements make To Whenua a distinctive destination and a rewarding complement to The Omaka Gardens.