Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival

17/06/2026

Soft Spots… all over Taranaki, you’ll find sourdough bread from Baked By Blanche – made with help from Simon. That’s the name baker Andrew Blanche has given to his sourdough starter and that personal touch has turned into an abundance of bread.

You can find loaves at the Good Score General Store in Hāwera, Dawn at Ōakura, and in New Plymouth at Wild Pear Kitchen, Ottimo Food Store, The Silo Crop & Brew, Buttercup, and the Farmers Market Taranaki in the Huatoki Plaza on a Sunday morning.

Fun fact: Sourdough bread scores 54 on the glycemic index, which means it doesn’t raise blood sugar levels like other breads.

NB: This is part of a series of top spots around Taranaki for visitors to enjoy during the Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival (Oct 30 to Nov 8).

07/06/2026

Hot Spot... After a day wandering through festival gardens, some visitors may be ready to put their feet up – or into a mineral pool.
Taranaki Thermal Spa in Moturoa is home to the historic Tarawhata Mineral Baths, discovered in 1909 when drillers searching for oil struck warm mineral water instead.
Public baths opened in 1914, but these closed in the mid-60s, although Taranaki swimmers trained there before the pools were re-established and remodelled in 1999.
Today, visitors can slip into private and public mineral pools, and also book massages, beauty treatments and an aromatherapy infrared sauna.
Taranaki Thermal Spa is at 8 Bonithon Ave, New Plymouth, phone: 06 7591666 or email: [email protected]
NB: This is part of a series of top spots around Taranaki for visitors to enjoy during the Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival (30 Oct to 8 Nov).

24/05/2026

Rock spot… If you’re enjoying New Plymouth’s Coastal Walkway head from the Wind Wand towards Fitzroy and just along the first stretch look right and up. There on the hill is a voluptuous sculpture by Renate Verbrugge called “Mothers and Daughters”. The work, made from Taranaki andesite on corten steel stone, has graced this space since 2020. If you’re visiting the region during the upcoming Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival (30 Oct – 8 Nov), take a moment to enjoy the welcoming work and sit in the space waiting for you. “Mothers and Daughters” can also be accessed from Molesworth St at the end of Liardet St.

17/05/2026

Sweet Spot… if you’re a lolly lover, call into the Patea Bridge Dairy for your own pick-and-mix treat during the Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival (30 Oct to 8 Nov).
Orlena Hauwaho says the dairy is a big drawcard to travellers, some from outside New Zealand who head to South Taranaki for family visits.
“They have to come through every year, at least once a year. They bring their families in, not only our locals,” she says.
She says customers who are drawn to the huge line-up of jars span generations.
“With our lollies, you’d be surprised, adults are just as bad. They’re for everyone, all ages.”
People leave this sweet spot feeling happy. “We make sure,” she says.
Everyone has their favourites – for Orlena that’s “peaches and cream” – and for many, you're certain to find a sugar hit that taps into childhood memories.
The Patea Bridge Dairy at 17 Bedford St is open every day from 6am to 9pm.
NB: This is the first in a series of top spots around Taranaki for garden festival visitors - and locals - to explore and enjoy.

29/04/2026

Tūpare in its autumn-blazing glory right now...

28/04/2026

Garden festival assessor Chris Paul has been creating landscape designs for 35 years, shaping Taranaki and other far-flung places. Enjoy his story.

Every time Chris Paul drives past a row of healthy kauri on Courtenay St, he thinks: “Wow, I planted those.”

02/03/2026

As we head towards our 40th anniversary in 2027, we’re calling on past festival gardens and new bloomers to be part of the celebration 🌿 If you’ve got a special space or know someone who does, now’s the time to put your hand up! 🌷

Organisers want past and new green thumbs to step up as Taranaki’s oldest garden festival eyes its 2027 milestone.

25/02/2026

Already dreaming about your next Taranaki garden escape 🌷 Pre-order your 2026 festival printed programme and we’ll send it straight to your mailbox when the full programme is revealed in July.

Simply head to our website and click the link on our home page. See you in the gardens! 🌸 https://gardenfestnz.co.nz/

19/12/2025

Another proud moment for Taranaki gardens 💚 Huge congratulations to Pukeiti on being awarded five stars by the New Zealand Gardens Trust. Such a deserved acknowledgement of the dedication and care poured into this remarkable garden. Congratulations! 🎉

19/12/2025

Big congratulations to the team at Tūpare🌟

Six stars in the latest New Zealand Gardens Trust assessments is a huge achievement and such a well-deserved nod to the care, passion and mahi that goes into this special place. Taranaki is lucky to have you!