Pukeiti Garden, Botanical garden in Taranaki Region, New Zealand.
Pukeiti Garden is a 360-hectare botanical garden on the slopes of Mount Taranaki with extensive rhododendron collections. The plantings blend into the native rainforest that covers the entire property.
William Douglas Cook founded the garden in 1951 after buying a forest parcel, which he later donated to the Pukeiti Rhododendron Trust. This gift ensured the garden's long-term development and protection.
The name comes from a nearby lava dome and ties the place to the Maori heritage of the region. You can feel this local connection as you walk through the gardens today.
The property has 21 kilometers of walking tracks through the gardens and rainforest at different levels of difficulty. A visitor center provides orientation help, and a café offers refreshments during your visit.
The garden holds one of the largest rhododendron collections in the Southern Hemisphere, with flowers blooming from July through December. This seasonal rhythm means each visit offers a different experience depending on when you come.
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