The Omaka Gardens forms part of the 10-acre Omaka Lodge property, home to Scott and Christopher Riches. Over three acres have been transformed into beautifully crafted gardens that have featured in NZ House & Garden magazine and are recognised as a 5-star Garden of National Significance by the NZ Gardens Trust.
The experience unfolds through a series of spaces, including The Champagne Lawn, The Water Garden, The Wedding Garden, The Dell, The Woodland and The Secret Garden. Many other garden spaces connect these areas, each with its own distinct character.
Large mature trees surround the main house, providing a structural backdrop to the gardens. Numerous varieties of Rhododendron, Camellia, Azalea and Maple abound, alongside many other ornamental trees and shrubs, including a rare Fern-leaved Beech and a magnificent century-old Kalmia.
Garden beds are filled with hundreds of plant species, while carefully clipped Loropetalum and Star Jasmine add sculptural form throughout the gardens. This remarkable diversity ensures colour and interest in every season—from Hellebores in winter and Bluebells in spring to fragrant Jasmine and Lilies in summer, before the fiery reds and golds of the Maples and Liquidambars transform the gardens each autumn.
