FEATURED GARDENS

This rural Carterton garden beneath the Tararuas benefits from a high annual rainfall and has to stand up to strong winds. Over 13 years, Anna and Malcolm have transformed a bare paddock into a lush oasis of native bush.

Nestled beneath the Remutaka ranges is the enchanting and historic 1868 homestead of Mary and Peter Biggs, Te Puhi.

Kotare (kingfisher) have flitted about the gardens of Amanda and John Perham wherever they have lived, and the couple have become very attached to this sweet little blue and green bird.

Twenty years ago Liz Stringer and Rob Morrison purchased the property and began an ambitious project to establish a series of formal and informal gardens, with a sweeping cherry tree-lined lawn, croquet lawn with herbaceous borders, a sunken garden, orchard, and picking garden.

Perched on the Eastern hills behind Carterton with panoramic views is Tikara Country Gardens. Converting two hectares of farmland over the last nine years has been a labour of love for owners Mary and Bruce McCallum.