Reviews of Pukeiti. (Other) in New Plymouth (Taranaki).

Pukeiti

1034 Reviews

395 Comments

Other

Botanical garden

Tourist attraction

2290 Carrington Road, Pukeiti 4374, New Zealand

Description

Information of Pukeiti, Other in New Plymouth (Taranaki)

Here you can see the location, open hours, popular times, contact, photos and real reviews done by the users.

This place has good reviews, this means that they treat their customers well and you’ll feel great with their services, recommended 100%!

Map

Open hours of Pukeiti

Popular times

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Tuesday

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Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Reviews of Pukeiti

A. d. W.

A absolute most beautiful paradise. Many walks and well mapped and modern clean facilities. A MUST SEE for anyone in the region. Even the narrow winding road there was beautiful with three tops forming a tunnel in some.places. Many NZ pegioens to observe also.

M. S.

A morning visit for coffee and a short walk. Food, coffee and service were excellent. A daily sweep or vacuum of the floor (esp the conservatory) would make it more pleasant. Beautiful walk on a nice day.

J. S.

What an amazing place. Beautiful gardens, well maintained with fabulous walking tracks. The kids treehouse walk was so cool, perfect for 7-10 year olds with fun activities at each location. The cafe onsite was great (vaccine passes necessary) and they made high quality coffee. All of this adds up to an awesome day for the whole family!

D. R.

Very nice gardens and walks, plenty of rhododendrons. Walks of varying distances, Cafe etc. A surprise find in the bush. A bit of a twisty road ro get there but worth it

F. C.

The beautiful flowers from tiny jasmine flowers to beautiful nikau palm fronds are so impressive. Our kids loved running around finding all the different tree houses. There are easy walking and harder tracks. Grab a map when you arrive. The bird life is amazing due to the great trapping efforts. Relax in the cafe, great views, and yummy food. Or bring a picnic and have a run around the grassy spacious lawn. Enjoy!

C.

Nice botanical garden. Easy walks. We only did the kids activities on our visit and it was fun and educational. The cafe there is a bit pricy for what you get, so bring a packed lunch for the kids. Go visit the gardens, it is a scenic drive and something to do other than the beach.

R. E.

Beauty in seculded place away from noises . Place to relax and unwind a day with a beautiful coffee and good walk. Cafe was good and staff were excellent. Restroom were messy and not cleaned properly. Walk were good and map, information sheet are available on front of parking which is a good thing. Overall loved the place. A kudos to team who make garden a wonder .

H.

Nice spot, we cycle up here once a week to come and enjoy their delicious food and coffee!

A. H.

Its out of the way, and you start to wonder if it will be worth it... it is. Its an incredibly interesting contrast between our native flora being dull and generally small leafed and the rhododendron with pops of bright colour and large leaves in contrast to the natives. The food at the Cafe was really good. Such a present place to go for a stroll and I recommend heading to Keiller's garden, its a pleasant surprise and a nice resting spot.

D. B.

A good Cafe in a world class setting. Good coffee, all the usuals to choose from, off the menu board, the brunch menu and cabinet food and really good service. A fabulous place to visit, stroll through the gardens and enjoy the silence of the surrounding bushland, it makes you realise how much background noise we block out in city living.

A. O.

Amazing place for a nice walk! Very well kept plants and flowers. The cafe has lovely staff and great food and drinks. Me and my partner loved spotting all the different hidden sculptures and art pieces throughout the forest too.

l.

A great family outing. Grab & return the trail maps of Pukeiti @ entrance. Winter flowers blooming. 3 main trekking path with many sub divided path to meet any level of distance, time & interest. Plan a good day to spend the whole day there. Cafe & lounges are only open on Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Other days, do bring your own food/drinks/energy bars for an enjoyable trip. I saw an adult brown 🐇 hopping along the path. There are watch towers to enjoy 360 above flag round views & seats for tiring hikers. Toilet with sensors are open to welcome guests. NP council is recommended to install more signboards along road path to Pukeiti as 10km distance between signboard puts drivers doubting road direction there.

J. J.

We visited here in February after the summer holidays with our three primary school aged children. We loved everything about this place! We walked the children's hut track, walking through the covered garden and enjoying the pond and a quick tour to the lookout and waterwheel before we started. We needed at least two hours to do the kids track properly and there was still so much more to see. We will be back! The cafe closes at 4pm

T. P.

Quite a beautiful place to have a day out. Half an hour from NP - about 23km drive - be careful on the narrow winding stretch towards the end of the journey. Nice easy walking treks with lots of bushes and flowers around. Nice little wooden bridges, pebble tracks add more beauty. Don't forget to visit the hidden water wheel as well :). And a café with great food served by very friendly people is a bonus!

R. S.

Well worth the drive. Nice stroll through the forest. The long walk isn't as daunting as they make it out to be. We walked really slow and still did it in about 40 mins.

V. S.

What an amazing place, beautifully kept and worth a drive through the lovely native bushes. Wonderful asset to Taranaki, if you havent visited yet make it a must do.

E. Ö.

Lovely place for a hike in the bush & to admire the botanical atmosphere 🌿🌳 Loved the little library & the little treehouses everywhere! Really nice 👏🏻

S. H.

Beautiful place to visit. Amazing Bush walks and flower gardens, always something different to view around each corner. Very friendly staff.

J. E.

Such a lovely walk with lots of different paths. We were too late in the season to see many rhododendrons flowering, but it was still a really lovely walk. There's a nice cafe and some activity bags for the kids.

t.

wowww!!!!!!! love it sm 10/10. love the (ireland walk or something it was called maybe idk) that goes into the forest down by the river. thats where its mushroom and fungi and slimemold party time. we have been waiting for the rain for like two weeks to go look for fun fungus my boyfriend even dreamed about it 🤔😴💗🍄😂😂😂💖💖💖 it didnt disappoint tho it was really cool and fun and the rainforrrst and flowers and stuff all were super cool and pretty too. crazy road up there i cant beleive its a 100km road like whaaat its so windy omg. cool views of the rangers which is cool. love u guys keep up the good work!!!! ✌👍💖💗💓💕🍄🐞

C.

We went there on a rainy and foggy day. Not the best idea for this weather, but it turned out great! We were alone and everything was quiet and dreamy. Beautiful park with lots of different flowers to admire!

M. D. (.

Wonderful place, OMG I need to visit again when everything is in flower, such an awesome place to take the kids to, the cafe was stunningly cute & delicious food highly recommend & only requires donation!!!! So wonderful

M. H.

Beautiful gardens, very well set out. Well kept paths for easy walking. Most certainly worth the visit. Cafe is full of lovely staff.

A. C.

A stunning location. The gardens and walks are incredible. Make this Rain Forest garden a must visit on your next trip to New Plymouth

V. G.

Stunning garden with heaps of walks. Lovely café to eat or drink something. You can easily spend a day here. The rhododendron must be amazing when flowering.

X. B.

Amazing place in the middle of nowhere . So many tracks to wander on to enjoy the forest and the gardens. Nice lookouts. Many benches and shelters. Nice food in a fairly priced cafe. Tasty sausage roll, chips and salad for 10$. 15% surcharge on public holiday. Free high speed WiFi!

T. Y.

First time in ages (30 YEARS) we have visited. Amazing place and we can only imagine what it must look like in bloom. A very enjoyable few hours browsing and walking the gardens Signs of development taking place which will make it more and more amazing Cafe on site, great coffee and a great selection of food. We will be back when the Rhodos are in bloom.

J. D.

Was wet and misty which suits rhodos. Lush tropical area. Waterwheel on riverside path. Solid stairs! Cafe with great views.

G. E.

It's been a while since I was last here. What a transformation! An absolutely stunning outllook, beautiful gardens everywhere and walks to suit all ages and degrees of mobility, Very modern facilities and amenities, groups and gatherings can be catered for and a cafe with excellent food and coffee...Pukeiti is well worth making the effort to get there.

R. C.

Glorious large garden full of New Zealand natives interspersed with rhododendrons. Beautifully maintained with informative signs. So many surprises and a wonderful cafe.

C.

Great range of New Zealand souvenirs and fast service with tasty food. Great for kids with the Kids trail and Tree houses.

L. P.

This is a treasure for all New Zealanders. Such a treat to walk through this park and it's free. A donation would be appreciated. The large Rhododendrons were magnificent Azaleas wonderful. A very enjoyable day

j.

Beautiful gardens , modern visitor center with good food. , Not previously a rhododendron fan but hard to not be impressed

T. C.

Beautiful setting. Great entertainment included for kids as part of the walk around the gardens. Worth a visit especially whilst the trees are in blossum.

W. T.

The entrance is realy presented. I went into gardens and got lost. nice and green but track at time of visit were hard to navigate. GPS would be a problem in lower parks. Be prepared with maps.

J. R.

Lovely gardens to spend the morning strolling through. Clean and well maintained facilities and Cafe.

R. D.

Took a bit of getting there well worth it

R. W.

A lovely visit to Pukeiti.....gorgeous Giant Rhododendrons in flower. Hoping to have brunch but Cafe isn't open for the season till Sept 1st.

S. J.

Always a nice place to visit, no matter what time of year. Have to recommend coming in spring for all the flowers tho!

Á. L.

Beautiful and nicely presented garden, with many walks, tree houses for kids to explore and a cafe serving meals as well

P. H.

Beautiful gardens. Great features. Tranquil Bush walk. Friendly staff.

G. G.

Fantastic place to visit . Open year round well worth the drive to get there.

T. N.

Beautiful. So much great work going into this wonderful place, this beautiful garden will get better and better. The bird life and rhododendrons are amazing. Sensory overload.

s. s.

Beautiful, one of the best and well maintained gardens, rains were a bit of spoil sport but totally worth the drive. Also very scenic route to this place. Must visit

B.

Great scenery, well formed walkways. Café and toilets. Informative resources. Child and youth based interest

C. S.

Beautiful gardens. Easy walks and surprises around every corner. Must do.

M. R.

A most wonderful garden with walks to suit all. I was astounded by the beauty and variety of the rhododendrons.

J. L.

Great free family or solo walks. Different walks to suit all fitness types. Beautiful breath taking views. You enjoy this on a sunny day. Take water :)

J. D.

Whilst once again under development, Pukeiti is a pretty stunning location, with some great activities for kids. My son (5) loved the tree houses and the activity bags, and would have spent the whole day there. Working in Construction I also had an appreciation of just how much money has been invested in some of the structures and walkways which are now going in.

J. B.

Great walks they improve all the time. Some storm damage but always worth the visit. Fabulous facilities and the staff are awesome.

T. J.

Amazing! So well done, naki be very proud of this jewel.

S.

Huge beautiful place. Especially the way to swing bridge was hidden high level dungeon. We had to give up because of the wet way after heavy raining

C. P.

Lovely setting with well looked after grounds. You could spend hours looking around. We can in the winter time so basically no one else around. Only downside to the winter the cafe will be closed! So I will suggest bringing some food and drinks along If you are near go and visit

J.

Beautiful gardens, well worth a visit! Lovely cafe for lunch and a coffee after your walk.

I. H.

As a tour operator, always great to show tourist what Taranaki has to offer, especially out gardens, and Pukeiti is special

J. K. M.

I love the place. I have been coming here for 40 plus years. Great see so many new developments and improvements. Great to see families enjoying themselves here. So if you are reading this, come and enjoy. Thanks TRC and the founders of the trust.

L. R.

Absolutely a must to visit. Nicely set out gardens and walks. Wheelchair friendly. Nice selection of food too.

R. B.

Great trails with much to see, even when the rhododendrons are not in bloom.

F.

Absolutely gardens you have to see they are beautiful in a fantastic setting

M.

Friendly, Accommodating and awesome. Had a fun time with the whole family and good coffee.

J. J.

Beautiful gardens, well worth a visit! Lovely cafe for lunch and a coffee after your walk.

A.

Looking better than it was a couple of years ago when it was more of a construction site

c. h.

Beautifl garden. Cant wait to go back when the giant rhododendrons are in bloom!

G. M.

Even in the middle of winter. Lots to see and of course it's free entry. Drive out to the coast road, great views.

S. M.

Amazing place! Beautiful and serene. Can't wait to come back and explore more!

P. B.

Stopped at the Cafe for a mid cycle Coffee fix. Very impressed with the new fitout definitely recommend!!👍

N. W.

Loved this place. We can't in late September and the larger Rhodos were still great, dinner Magnolias still going and the smaller Rhodos just coming out.

A. J.

You could spend an hour to half a day or more here. Depends which track you choose. Well maintained and great spot for families!

J. R.

A wonderful magical place..beautifully landscaped..well worth visiting..

D. S.

Beautiful gardens with a variety of walks for differet ability levels

K. “. B.

What an amazing resource for NP! So many lovely walks to choose from & most are suitable for any fitness level. Well maintained & being updated all the time. Cafe is only open Thurs-Sun except school holidays when it's open every day. Indoor & outdoor seating overlooking the gardens. There's a special trail of treehouses for the kids to discover (also fun for adults but watch your head!) We loved the Walk of the Giants & the amazing array of Rhododendrons- especially the giant ones! Even on rainy days it is very picturesque & though early in the season the Rhododendrons were blooming. Highly recommend putting it on your list of must-do things 😊

b.

Perfect for the kids heaps of treehouses to find and very nice gardens

R. T.

The gardens are up high in the maunga, fresh air and look out in October for Rodedenron flowering. Amazingly beautiful. Ohh and there's a huge stone carving in process, great vibes.

K.

Beautiful place to walk around. Views are stunning!

D.

Lots of grounds to explore, see as much or as little as you wish. Well labeled plant specimens.

J. O.

This place feels like it's in the middle of nowhere but its amazing. Beautiful gardens set amongst native bush. Some very large Rhododendron trees. Well cared for. Great cafe. But the road in is very narrow and scary in a motorhome.

B.

A wonderful park with a profusion of giant rhododens set amidst the native bush

K. H.

✅ Child friendly. ✅ Free. Great adventure for the whole family. Easy walking. Pram friendly.

H.

Amazing at the moment as everything is in full bloom, great restaurant there as well.

R. R.

Excellent gardens and walks, would be stunning when Rhododendrons are in bloom 🙂

B. B.

Visiting family & friends in Taranaki. Taking a night out for us. Staying in the Pukeiti Lodge Studio having had lunch at the Cafe. Wow, this has got to be the best value for money anywhere in the country, it's fantastic, looking forward to waking in Paradise tomorrow. The food at the Cafe was amazingly great value for money, with the friendliest of staff. Have already decided we'll be back.

M. E.

Just a very beautiful place to be .. wonderful array of Rhodes and other species, but the layout, explanatory signage and helpful staff make the walking experience at Pukeiti quite enchanting. The cafe service and food was excellent. Well done to all the staff, and to Taranaki District Council.

M.

Great place for a family walk and a good coffee!

S. W.

Beautiful garden, great cafe!

J. B.

Such lovely gardens with a lot of time and effort gone into them. A fair amount of renovation going on, but it didn't affect us or the trails we did. Loads of walks within the gardens, and leaflets which details these walks. Loads of information and story boards around the park as well, everyone we bumped into offered a smile and a hello and the cafe is great. The service was excellent, everyone was super nice and the food was just incredible. If I have to recommend anything it would be the rhubarb and custard tart- delicious!

c. b.

Lots of great walks for all abilities. Has a motorised tour option if you cannot walk. Good coffee at the Cafe

J. H.

Beautiful Gardens - amazing drive up - well worth the journey

R. N.

A chance conversation with the chef as friends and I were running past the cafe as to whether scones were on the menu resulted in getting our own scones specially made. Not being able to eat onions the chef (I wish I had asked his name) kindly said he would make some minus the onion. Sure enough after an18km run and arriving back at the cafe, there were three beautiful cheese scones - minus the onion - set aside for us, which were delicious. Absolutely doesn’t get better than that.🥳 To top it off the staff were all very friendly and helpful- and the cabinet food looked delicious. We will definitely be back.

B. M.

What a hidden gem... most amazing cafe with great service and delicious food. Dine while looking out over incredible rhododendron gardens that are nestled amongst the native bush and the ocean in the distance. While we visited they also had art classes running in the down stairs studio. Simply stunning...

G.

A great place to wander on a warm autumn day, very photogenic, a world class facility that is only going to get better!

A. M.

Absolutely wonderful place to have a leisurely stroll around. Amazing Rhododendrons and lots of other plants in flower as well. Definitely need a map of the layout/paths. Well sign posted. Also has a Lodge, which is a great place for functions. Beautiful bush and lots of native birds. Well worth a visit.

D. G.

Very nice experience People need to allow plenty of time to see the splendor

C. L.

Perfect place for people of all ages. Have to visit it to experience what Pukeiti has to offer. The council has put huge resources in to it in the last few years.

M. L.

Always a great family time at Pukeiti

J.

Very good botanical gardens

B. M.

Probably the best garden I've ever visited in the entire North Island. In terms of size and variations of plants and bird life, this is the big one. Worth the drive out if your staying nearby New Plymouth, Stratford.

D. H.

Great place to visit. Has a lovely cafe with wonderful staff as well that closes at 4pm. #plants

L.

A beautiful place! Well worth the trip we'll definitely return in high season to see the rhododendrons in full bloom. Great tea rooms too!

R. R.

-Drive was good -nice place quiet and peaceful -all options are good for KIDS TO GO TREKKING AROUND /treasure hunt -Food / coffee is reasonably expensive

M.

Very tranquil place, so lovely to walk through

S.

Great place to visit had a good walk around

R. R.

Wonderful gardens and facilities.

C. R.

Visited for the Kiwi Guardians event and another great visit, despite the weather not being great. Pukeiti Gardens are a large, well maintained set of gardens with lots of different paths clearly marked to suit all ages and fitness levels. Beautiful flowers and plants mingle with large trees, native Bush and tree houses to make this a great outdoor place for the kids as well. Winding road to get there but well worth the effort.

S. P.

Superb area of managed gardens set in a bush environment. Great cafe with sound coffee and delicious snacks.

M.

Great food beautiful setting.

T. K.

So quiet and peaceful, I could only hear the birds with lots of tuis and fat Kererus to see! The native bush and 'Rhodies' are amazing!... well worth the drive. I walked for 45 minutes and felt I only walked a third of the trails, if that.

M. V.

What a beautiful peaceful, fresh, exciting time had at the garden. The walk is just breathtaking... and we enjoyed every bit of our day here. The children were equally mesmerised by it all and especially the map reading, the mossy covered water wheel , and playing hide n seek with those curious Kereru birds....we were equally surprised to see that some edible tropical plants grow here..... wowww. Thank you Pukeiti! We will come back in summer.

V. F.

Wow.... Wow. Such a worthwhile place to visit. Prepare yourself and take a map with😅 or it can be a little confusing. Great food. Lots to see in the gardens.

G. R.

Very nice birthday lunch thank you.

V. B.

I guess you do not go there without some idea of what is there. We wandered for about 90 minutes and didn't see it all let alone actually take notice of all there is to see. Cafe there. They had a vehicle taking those who could not walk around easily. Recommended by me.

I. T.

A great place to take the kids the tree houses are a big hit,

K.

My favorite place so far! In the middle of nowhere, peaceful, friendly staff .

S. M.

What a stunning place. The weather was poor but it didn't detract from the stunning displays of flowers. This is must see if you are in the area. Not sure what it would be like if the Rhododendrons aren't in flower. The whole place is laid our like a magical mystery tour with new delights around every corner.... and then there is the cafe, wow, the food and especially the cakes were just gorgeous.

M. M.

Much improved since last visited 8 years ago. Nice walks, views, spaces, info and cafe. Would recommend - any age groups.

D. C.

awesome place to visit for gardeners so much to see and do 2hr is a good time to see the whole garden walking trail throughout the pukeiti garden, awesome cafe to relax food at a reasonable price, 25 minutes drive from town farm are a lush green grass, worth a visit if you visiting taranaki.

C. M.

Beautiful gardens, various walkways and great cafe. Toilets are easily accessible and so clean. Very friendly staff too! Will be back to do the kids activity trail next.

W.

Paths definitely need maintenance but generally great

I. T.

A wonderful natural National Park on the shoulder of Mount Taranaki, the dormant volcano at New Plymouth. There are easy, well maintained, walking paths. It is especially beautiful in October when the Rhododendrons are in flower. There's a long winding road of 20km to reach the Park but the reward is this natural rainforest (bring a brolly on case!). There's a good cafe there too.

S. J.

Lots of space for the kids to run around. Nice walking tracks. Modern facilities. A very scenic area with plenty of nature all around. The Cafe is great.

s. a.

Pukeiti is always growing and changing. The new additions compliment the existing gardens. Also remember to take good footwear and take one of the Bush walks that start at the edge of garden.

A. J.

Did the treehouse trail with the kids and it was really fun. Well thought out and interesting too. My 5yo twins loved the activities. Beautiful grounds and lots of native birds flying and singing overhead. Will definitely go back again.

C. R.

Loved this place! Our children did too. There ages are 9, 8, and 3. Such a beautiful place. Highly recommend Pukeiti!

P.

Love the elevated walkway over the bush and the impressive trees which despite not being in flowering season was a delight to see

N.

A wonderful guided walk. Informative, cheerful and invigorating. Thank you.

L. C.

We went on the kids tree house trail. My 3.5 year old loved it but I found it a bit hard with the double stroller. You can take a detour on the main paths to still get to all the tree houses if you have a stroller, but you have to skip small sections of the trail. The adventure bag (from the cafe) is more suited to a group of children. Otherwise lovely wide ramps for accessibility, clean toilets and a nice café. There was no phone signal for me so make sure to warn anyone who might have wanted a message that you arrived there safely.

P. A.

Nestled on the mountainside of Taranaki, Pukeiti is a fantastic garden of rhododendrons, azealias and native bush linked by well tended paths. There is a visitors centre and cafe, wheelchair accessible ramps and viewing platforms over thebush and gardens.

C. E.

A must do when visiting New Plymouth. Just the ride there is a lovely trip. The gardens are very well set out and maintained with helpful and knowledgeable staff. The rhodos are set perfectly amongst native bush. There is a good cafe too. Best of all, the park is free. Good parking even for large motorhomes.

M. B.

There was a good variety of food and drinks at the Cafe. There lots of walking trails to suit all ages.

l. m.

Misty rain when we visit great park

B. M.

Fantastic. Enjoy a sumptuous open steak sandwich and milkshake then a refreshing stroll through the gardens. See the granddad rata tree and maybe take in a fresh coffee before making your way back to New Plymouth. Great idea for a lunch and walk.

W. C.

Wonderful gardens, with so much to see, especially when it's flowering ! Lots of panels explaining stuff about fauna and flora, history too, for a self-guided tour. And this HUGE garden hidden in the Taranaki Park is FREE ! (Please make a donation)

R.

Beautiful experience

P. R.

Wow! I haven't been here for over 20 years, so the developments are astounding. Immersion into the mountain bush is accentuated with world class plantings and walking tracks. The collection of plants and placards telling the history of plant taxonomy enhances the educational opportunities for those even marginally inclined to read. We can all be thankful for those visionaries who worked so diligently to create this space. Respect!

D.

Hadn’t been to Pukeiti for decades. Although the cafe had closed sign on door they saw us wandering around and opened the door and invited us in and said they would do coffees and cakes. Lovely welcoming cafe owners. Very knowledgeable of Pukeiti and future plans. We had a lovely peaceful stroll around some of the walks and made a vow to visit when the rhododendrons are in bloom. Fabulous asset to Taranaki.

K. W.

Amazing walks, beautiful scenery and just perfect!

K. W.

What a fantastic place to visit. So quiet and peaceful. Very good food supplied by some lovely people

N. S.

A wonderful hidden gem. The walks are easy and well maintained. Very nice little cafe with very nice and knowledgeable wait staff. They also have activity bags for children to carry and complete on the tree house walk.

A. R.

Lovely place and loads of well formed walks that anyone can do. There is also a proper bush walk to the summit if you have good shoes. And it's free. Recommended.

R. S.

Exquisite native Bush, rhododendrums, and extensive walking tracks keep you in touch with the magnificent wildlife.

S.

Douglas Cook. Eastwood hill Gisborne and these gardens. What a garden he was.

S. C.

Great coffee and brunch at a decent price. Such a beautiful spot, 2 hours of ambling around with friends flew by. It's awesome to think that even more money is being spent on Pukeitis development. Drive carefully.

M.

Beautifully maintained gardens

I.

One of NZ's hidden treasures. A beautiful rambling garden park with everything from NZ natives and rhododendrons of every size and hue. Magic.

D. C.

A lovely setting. Waited half an hour for a coffee and slice. Watched others that came after us get their meals from the menu ,and half way throught their meals before we even got our coffee's etc , we actually had ask for our order. Even though the service was not up to scratch for a coffee and slice order, the coffee was good and the slice nice.

H. P.

You have to go to the cafe and try a pie the custard and rhubarb is my favorite. Not to sweet and not to sour just right. Make sure you take good walking shoes not really a place for jandles. Gardens are so pretty and kids will love the activity packs you get next to the cafe.

V. M.

Walks were beautiful. Cafe had awesome merchandise but the overpriced food looked great but wasn't quite as good as I expected.

I. 4. H.

Greatest treasure hidden away. Beautiful scenery, fantastic Cafe - coffee is 👌spot on. Walk or run around the tracks and enjoy the nature offerings of Taranaki!

B. M.

Simply amazing, take good gear for walking in all weather and enjoy, 900 acres of rain forest with masses of very old rhododendrons. Cafe serves good food and drinks to keep you going.

H. W.

Great place to take the kids- all ages. Walks easy and interesting enough for the walkers and tracks well maintained so most prams can handle them.

R.

Can't wait till it's in full flowering season

S. S.

Great place to visit that has a wide range of walkways to suit the casual stroll to a more intensive hike. The birdlife and flora was spectacular, visitor information detailed and interesting. My only gripe would be the selection of food at the cafe was rather limited and lacked imagination, but what you paid for was exactly what you go i.e. wedges is a large bowel of wedges with cheese and sauce, very filling bit a bit boring. The road to Pukeiti is quite narrow and the winding road requires care and patience, there isn't alot of places to go when those tourist buses are coming towards you.

B. S.

The gardens are a lovely spot to visit. My only criticism is that they had built a new structure/viewing platform, where sadly the head clearance was very low, and had no warning signs of such a fact . I'm barely 5'10" and hit my head, leaving me with a bad headache for much of the remainder of the day. Based on my complaint to management I believe warning signs have been installed... but seriously..in this day and age to have such a low head clearance ...they are begging for a lawsuit.

T. J.

Worth a visit. Beautiful walks.

L. F.

Brilliant place to visit. Make sure you give your self plenty of time to enjoy the sites. Especially with all the Rhododendrons in flower. Awesome sight to see.

M. N.

Beautiful place for buffet lunch with delicious food then a quick tour of the gardens learning the history of Pukeiti and the tree life there and it's future plans. I had so much fun and learnt a lot from the Matt Damon look-a-like tour guide

H. A.

Amazing gardens and a wonderful place for the kids to play and explore! The insect themed tree hurts were a huge hit. Loved these gardens. A must see if in Taranaki.

C. R.

One of the few gardens I continuously go back to. Fantastic place to bring the kids. Well maintained. Pukeiti is the only gardens I recommend as a "must explore". From the interesting steel platforms at the entrance (genius whoever thought of that) to the brilliant hidden gems scattered throughout. It certainly doesn't disappoint. A point to note, although the drive out is unique and adds to the adventure, there are far too many Muppet drivers that don't understand how to share a very narrow road. Caution is needed and expect the unexpected around every corner (the road is in desperate need of widening in places for safety's sake).

A.

Beautiful gardens, a must see for all ages. Great accessibility features

L. L.

Pukeiti is a beautiful, peaceful place. Recent landscaping has made it even more visitor-friendly. We did part of the Valley of the Giants walk, then switched to the Rhododendron Stroll. Flowers abounded amongst tall ponga, rata and many other native trees. Strangely lacking was the birdlife. I recommend visiting if you want an easy, relaxing walk in beautiful native bush.

R. P.

Sadly the weather wasn't kind so we couldn't enjoy the gardens, but the friendly cafe staff made up for it. Nice food. Nice coffee. Highly recommend.

C. J. (.

Nice gardens and freshly refurbished cafe. Wheelchair access has been established to the main gardens. This is a great place to get out of the city to.

G.

Was warned that the bait to protect the wildlife, so keep an eye on your dog.

S. C.

Credit to all involved. My wife and I found a quite spot near the valley of giants walk so we could enjoy the bird life. Massive improvement in bird activity over last time we visited. There was an old connifer tree near by and it had Tuis , Bellbirds all going for it. Next tree over had a pair of Kereru and then some rifleman ( or maybe waxeye ) flew in. It was as close to heaven as one could get! Keep up the trapping, it's working.

E.

Great garden! Nice and quiet. A little out of the way but worth the drive.

a. r. k. u.

Nice place for a walk close to nature. Heaps of flowers and able to walk through rainforest

H.

Beautiful range of gardens and quirky shelters. Blue path needs attention, signage not obvious.

B.

Lovely walks and lots of things to see and do for children like tunnels and tree houses.

S. L.

Amazing gardens. Great array of trees/flowers & 'stories' about them. Pity cafe not open.

T. M.

Nice place and tasty food. Only could be better organised. Had to sit at the table wit someones ledtovers for 30 min until someone came to clean it, and food took 30- 40 min also.

M.

Lovely venue. Lots to see. Treehouse hunt was good fun and an easy stroll with children

m. m.

Lived here in Taranaki for 14 years but this is my first time at Pukeiti. This is such a vibrant atmosphere with majestic scenery. Great for family walks and picnics.

L.

Taranaki you have many jewels in your crown. Pukeiti sure shines out. The grounds are magnificent

P. W.

We loved it here so tranquil even when it rained gorgeous lay out stunning plants and trees. As a landscaper I could happily work here. Paul and Ann from United Kingdom

R. C.

Absolutely beautiful gardens with so much diversity! A very large area to explore and there are public toilets and facilities to use.

V. D.

A special must go. Place. Wear walk shoes. A treasure in the bush between. Mountain and ranges. Delightful place to lunch. On terrace. Overlooking. Trees gardens and bush .

R.

Pukeiti is a natural wonder. A must go to.

M. S.

Fantastic.Walk is spectacular.Cafe does yummy food.

M.

Breathtakingly beautiful. Bring sunscreen though or an umbrella, the main track is fairly exposed

S.

Lovely place for short or longer walks. Great for children with a special kids tree house walk.

A. V. S.

No wonder if someone says that this is the place to have the best wallpaper pictures. The views are beautiful with the pelton wheel adding beauty as you move deep inside

K. L.

Cafe had great food and great service. Amazing amount of work has been done to create a fantastic adventurous place for young and old.

I. M.

Beautiful garden with jungle drive through the forest leading to it. Although not all buildings are finished it is already worth to visit if you are in New Plymouth.

R.

Lovely place to visit, the plants and scenery are amazing. The food and service was great. I highly recommend a visit.

g.

A magic walk...missed the big flower show because of the season...finished with a tasty lunch and coffee in the cafe!

K. H.

You can spend alot of time wandering along the various walkways and paths. At this time of year the flowering rhododendrons are stunning

H. A.

Amazing gardens, great tracks to walk on. Beautiful place. Cafe has great food

J. C.

Amazing garden and beautiful place. Would’ve loved to spend more time walking in the rain forest.

C. B.

World class facility. Beautiful gardens and walks. I would recommend to anyone how enjoys nature, you don't have to be a garden enthusiast.

C. M.

This is a most wonderful garden experience. Great buildings. Lovely walkways. This place is such a gift to us all.

J. F.

Amazing location. Fantastic walks and plants. Beautifully cared for.

T.

Awesome place to visit, kids enjoyed the tree hut walk.

A. A.

Beautiful gardens with long walking trails.

M.

Awesome gardens and bush walks, and great food & coffee which were served hot!

R.

Great spot, beautiful gardens. Delicious eggs benny!

D.

The Rhododendrons were finished flowering.But there's still plants & views to see.The restaurant looks amazing.

C. P.

Absolutely stunning, great walk and very enjoyable. A must see for all and even for the not so fit, works out well.

A.

Great food and coffee! A lovely place to stop to break your travel.

L.

Hmmmmm .... Lots of construction work going on

E. W.

Wonderful hosts at the cafe and beautiful gardens. We were fortunate enough to see Reuben Patterson's #glittertree installed too!

B. P.

This was one of the great surprises of my trip. A must see. Great gardens and awesome Cafe/restaurant.

J.

The most beautiful Rododgardens. Impeccable facilities, wonderful food and the best service. The staff show that they are proud of what they do, totally.

P. R.

Most beautiful rain forest rhododendron walk with easy access and hospitality at cafe.

G.

A really awesome and amazing place, well worth the out there 😀

N. T.

Can't believe this place is free. We cycled here and had a lovely wander. Cafe offer lovely food, coffee and service.

A.

We missed the best time by a few weeks, but it was still very beautiful. A bit of a drive to get to though, but worth it.

M. J.

Most wonderful gardens great for a family day out

P.

This park is second to none, if you like rhododendrons they have a massive collection, absolutely beautiful plus lovely native bush.

E.

great destination for families to spend a whole day enjoy the natural rain forest walking track and lpts of fun acitivies for kids to do

D.

Bit of a hidden gem,(if you're into gardens) good location, helpful staff, give the cafe a try as well!😋

P.

Great cafe, Garden would be best when rhododendrons are out, but still pretty amazing.

Y.

Beautiful and secluded garden. Lots of paths to get lost in.

M.

Excellent, lovely walks thru the gardens and very good cafe there.

S. H.

Beautiful trails and great food at a great price. I have been here a few times and still find new and exciting places.

K.

If you havent been to Pukeiti, then you haven't been to Taranaki and dont wait till the Rhododenrean Festival . Anytime of the year, is the right time of the year to visit these gardens.

B.

Beautiful gardens, always a magical place

L.

An amazing place to visit when the rhododendrons and azaleas are in full flower..October

J.

Superb garden with excellent range of walks.

J.

Lovely gardens, and the Treehouse Trail was excellent for our 4yo. Highly recommended!

A.

So good. Great cafe. The views are pretty good too. Pity about the overhead drone that someone had disturbing the peace

a. s.

Such a nice beautiful place, quite n so tidy also

F.

It's a calm place with lot of greenery, but wasn't very interesting for me and my wife.

E.

Pretty pink petals fast water wheel extra looking gardens 10/10

G.

Open 24 hours 7 day per week. Wow. If you like gardens you need to view this one.

G.

Awesome Rain Forest , Rock Carvings and Great Cafe.

u.

This place is amazing! Recently upgradred facilities fit beautifully into this paradise setting and ad Zeitgeist to this ethernal space. (not exaggerating)

N.

Lovely. Nice with cafe there now. Great walks

M.

Wow this place is amazing. There are plenty of walks with so much to see and the elevated walkways are very cool.

m.

Better to visit it in sping during Rhododendron flowering, but interesting anyway. Many gardens under developing.

M.

Beautiful Gardens Lovely cafe

P.

Beautiful grounds to explore, awesome guided tour and a great cafe to finish the day

A.

Love love these gardens. A real bonus to park up the campervan and stay the night. Will definitely revist

B.

Must see gardens and forest walks

P.

Lovely gardens. Good bike ride from New Plymouth up, coffee and back!

B. W.

Amazing! So much work has gone into this place and it shows. Stunning scenery and great for kids!

J.

Great place to walk around and admire the vast variety of rhododendrons and other fauna.

L.

Another time when colourfull

C.

So lovely!

D.

Small place, but good for walking.

J.

Great place to relax and enjoy the magnificent gardens and food

G.

Free entry plus good maps to guide you with plenty of seating along the way to sit & enjoy the scenery

D.

A world class park constantly reinventing itself while losing none of it's historical appeal and beauty

R.

Lunch was nice followed by a pleasant walk

T.

amazing place to go. Cafe is great place to go. staff are amazing food is amazing. Beautiful place

C.

What a great place!! Free entry everything is clean and facilities are brilliant

R.

Super Gardens. Super place and facility. Freedom camping a bonus.

S.

Had a lovely visit beautiful gardens lovely walk ways great food and service

J.

Complex for wedding was excellent. Unfortunately surroundings were under development. Staff very helpful

K.

The recent improvements are awesome. Such a beautiful place to visit.

R.

Amazing native trees and birds, could've stayed forever listening to the tuis talking

P.

impressive Rhododendrons from Himalaya and elsewhere. a lot of trails to discover different aspects

D.

Beautiful and serene, a must to see when visiting New Plymouth.

E.

There was quite a bit of construction when we visited. The water was a bit swampy. But basically good.

R.

I rate Pukekura Park at 9-10 Then Pukeiti was 5-6

A.

A real must see. Beautiful Rhodos, tranquility and exercise. Great lunch at the cafe

J.

Outstanding gift to NZ. A very unique and special place.

B.

The mobility service is awesome for elderly parents. They had a ball thank you!

q. z.

Good food. Lovely walks. Great for families

J.

Lovely gardens, nice cafe. Would have appreciated more interpretative plant boards though.

E.

Beautiful peaceful surroundings. Giant rhododendrons spectacular.

D.

Cool location, stumning native forest and plantings. Kids loved the treasure hunt esque activities

J.

Great place to visit for all the fauna

L.

Fantastic , lovely colours , plenty of parking and great food

D.

Nice Cafe ,would have been even better when the rhododendrons are in flower

L.

Beautiful place love sitting up there with a coffee after a bike ride awesome

H.

Fabulous gardens, great coffee , lovely staff😊

M.

beautiful garden secluded with modern amenities and cafe.

K.

Beautiful garden walks lovely drive from new plymouth very nice food at the cafe

C.

Lots of walking trails, kids had a blast!

D.

Great loved the bush walks and the activity satchels for the kids.

H.

EXCELLENT VISIT JUST FOR LITE LUNCH. GREAT COFFEE TOO. BUT SO MUCH MORE TO SEE THERE.

L.

Kids enjoyed a good walk and cafe there was good for refreshments

J.

Was wet so didn't get a view but lovely walk

A.

Lovely gardens and in a relaxing bush scene

R.

Beautiful. Well worth the 30min trip from NP. Free admittance too.

W.

Wonderful stunning place to visit. Top class facilities

D.

Wow what a beautiful garden. Great for all ages

G.

Love the store , wish we had one in South Africa, nice new Plymouth, will miss the store when I go back home

R.

Awesome place and a tribute to the efforts of all those who have given there time and $

K.

Spectacular place - well worth the visit.

V.

Lovely garden with beautiful flowers, shrubs and trees.

G.

A bit of a drive but well worth the effort.

M.

amazing and interactive

T.

Not as close to new plymouth as it looks, but worth the drive

A.

Excellent walks

T.

Amazing walks a must if you are in Taranaki .Rain forest at its best

L.

Nice and clean. Beautiful gardens and walks.

S.

Enjoyed our visit here...didnt mind the narrow road getting there

D.

Great place.Lots of walking tracks

L.

I love this place the food is excellent and the staff and couple who run the restaurant are so friendly and helpful

J.

We visit when ever we are in the Naki and we have enjoyed the constant improvements over recent years

R.

Great place. Free. I want to be back to explore all loops

g.

Nature at it's finest!

C.

Beautiful gardens well worth a visit

S.

Amazing place, good activities for kids

J.

A lovely place to spend some time nice cafe a great place to spend some time..

M.

A wonderful experience the staff were helpful and friendly.

B.

Great for taking photos

J.

Beautiful gardens. A must see in New Plymouth.

P.

wonderful garden i recomment come to see from octorber to january

W.

Great iced chocolate, and very relaxing setting

R.

Great

K.

Past its best for viewing. Early October would be great

O.

What an amazing garden! Highly recommended

M.

Great place to take the kids and chill out for parents

Y.

Awesome place. Will revisit in Spring n Summer.👍

J.

The best garden in Taranaki.

m.

Under redeveloped so will be outstanding in time. Worth a look now to compare to future .

H.

Special garden of world class collection of rhododendrons.

J.

Nice place great walk for kids aswell

G.

Lovely Park with lots of interest for plant lovers

M.

Fantastic gardens. Well worth the trip!

M.

Amazing place and awesome hosts at the cafe

A.

Beautiful. Just beautiful.

K.

Amazing place definitely want to go back.

S.

Very nice place to have a picnic

S.

Amazing place to visit, especially when the rhododendrons are flowering.

H.

A must if you live in taranaki or are visiting.

G.

This is a beautiful place. Love it

M.

Amazing place, a shame it has taken 23 years of being in Taranaki for me to finally go

B.

A big improvement on what it was like,well worth a visit

A.

Lovely Place even on wet day Great Hosts

M.

The best alpine garden in the world

s.

Beautifully place on the mountain

T.

Beautiful and can be used for leisure and fitness training...

W.

Beautiful!

B.

A must see for anybody who enjoys the beauty of the outdoors.

B.

Good walks narrow road to get there

L.

Great range of walks and plants

T.

Beautiful setting, lovely cafe

L.

Nice peaceful walk amongst trees/flowers.

H.

Wonderful. Np lucky to have such a garden

A.

Serene

T.

Visit in spring for the Rhododendron flowering. This place is famous for it!

J.

Nice walk :) Go in july for the rhododendrons

B.

Lovely place also awesome cafe 😆😆

B.

Lunch overlooking the bush is cool

D.

Next level..... A must visit

G.

Attractive gardens and native bush area.

L.

May be the most beautiful park in the world.

P.

Brilliant gardens, great galvanizing!

M.

A surprise in the middle of nowhere.

W.

Beautiful place. Changes everytime I go.

K.

Just go...Pukeiti is a jewel in the crown of Taranaki gardens.

B.

Fantastic new work done on the cafe and walkways.

I.

A gem. Garden walks of longer walks in the rainforest, an option for everyone.

L.

Fantastic. Cant wait to go back next year.

J.

Beautiful views and walks

J.

World class gardens, very many rhodo's!

J.

Great development. A treasure on a fine day.

R.

Good food good service nice atmosphere

D.

Lovely place to visit

S.

Another great place to visit in the Naki.

O.

nice garden great staff

M.

ALL GOOD

K.

Awesome scenery and loved the trails

R.

Amazing... Will definitely come back in Rhododendron season

B.

Lovely gardens. Beautiful

D.

Excellent. Lots of variety and caters for everyone.

J.

Great place and getting better all the time.

B.

Great place for a family outing.

L.

Brilliant both for adults and kids =)

J.

Great meal and views

C.

Peaceful and refreshing

C.

Lovely park pity about the lodge seems totally unnecessary.

L.

Very nice place will be going back again.

C.

Nice walk

L.

Love this place

G.

Great upgrade of facilities.

J.

Great food and service.

R.

Stunning property

J.

Wonderful wonderful wonderful. Can't say that enough.

P.

Great place to work and listen to the birds

B.

Must visit place in the Taranaki region

p.

Top venue for events.

r.

Total greenery .. amazing country

R.

Great visit made some good changes

C.

This public garden is amazing.

L.

What a magical place even in the rain!!

B.

What a wonderful place to find

A.

Great food and coffee at the café

J.

Rhododendrons were past there best

R.

Blossom everywhere set within native rainforest trees

D.

Quiet and vibrant a hidden gem

D.

Nice walks.

J.

Stunning.

R.

Beautiful garden

A.

Lovely place

l.

An eyeful of rhododendrons and azalias

이.

Great place for family!

J.

Lovely place to visit.

H.

Excellent upgrade

J.

Well done

C.

Fabulous

D.

Amazing

H.

Good to visit

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