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Kotare

As you approach the stone-walled entrance, the name ‘Kotare’ warmly welcomes you to a sprawling, beautifully designed garden where the balance of informal and formal elements feels effortless. Named after the sacred kingfisher in Māori, the kotare has long been revered by the Māori people for its watchful, sentry-like presence. For many years, a family of kotare has lovingly watched over this special place, making it their home and adding to its unique charm.

119 Riversdale Road, Parkvale

Refreshments Sales available Toilet available Wheelchair accessibleBus
The current owners embrace their role as kaitiaki (caretakers) of this well-established garden, nurturing it with care while savouring its beauty, harvest, and the peaceful sound of birdsong that fills the air. Over the past five years, the garden has flourished, evolving as they carefully removed aging trees and replaced them with vibrant new plants, shrubs, and trees, all of which enhance the garden’s serene and ever-growing charm.

Scattered throughout the open spaces of Kotare Garden in Parkvale are striking sculptures, each thoughtfully positioned to complement the beauty of their natural surroundings. Many of these captivating pieces have been crafted by local artist Sean Crawford, adding a unique artistic touch to the garden’s serene landscape.

Approaching its 20th year, Kotare Garden began with the vision of its original owners and designers, the Perhams, and is now lovingly cared for by the Goodalls. Over the years, the garden’s structural borders have naturally evolved, with the changing seasons revealing what thrives best in each area. The vibrant colours, symmetrical layers, and thoughtfully repeated plantings of peonies, lilies, roses, maples, and hydrangeas create a harmonious and striking display. Buxus hedges also play a prominent role, adding a classic touch throughout the property.

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In autumn, the changing season is beautifully reflected in the vibrant leaves of the garden’s many deciduous trees. The golden hues of ginkgo leaves and the rich, rusty reds from the oak-lined driveway create a stunning tapestry of colour, capturing the essence of this magical time of year.

The garden is not just beautiful—it’s also wonderfully productive. Every year, an abundance of feijoas is harvested for local sale, while strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries thrive in berry cages. Stone fruit, grapes, quince, and citrus trees, along with a bountiful vegetable garden, provide a year-round supply of fresh produce for the family and their friends to enjoy.

The Goodalls embrace an eco-friendly, sustainable gardening philosophy. They keep hens for fresh eggs, practice companion planting, and create their own mulch and compost. An efficient worm farm also plays a key role in their commitment to nurturing the garden in harmony with nature.

The expansive front lawn, shaded by mature specimen trees, offers a perfect spot for a relaxing picnic. During your visit, “The Kitchen Fairies” will be serving locally grown scrumptious salads and delicious homemade treats in support of their charity, and coffee will be readily available. Kotare is also hosting a spring flower arranging workshop with Bron Wood, and you can explore artist, Lizzie Pannell at work in the garden. Clivias and pottery will be for sale as well, so be sure to bring cash for plenty of treats and treasures at Kotare!

GALLERY

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