After a hearty cooked breakfast, we start our last day’s journey by heading around the southern shores of Lake Taupo. We pass the impressive Tokaanu Dam which, together with two other power stations, comprise the Tongariro Power Scheme completed in the 1960s. An ambitious scheme and a controversial one at the time but now it seems is accepted as a valuable asset to our renewable energy resources programme.
We drive on through quite a large stand of regenerating bush, a southern extension of the now Pureora Forest Park, that had been cutover for the prized rimu timber tree in the 1950s and 60s.
Passing through the towns of Taumarunui and Te Kuiti our next stop is at the Parkwood Garden near Otorohanga. In this rural, hilltop garden Ailsa and Carey Sanson have planted around sweeping lawns, an amazing range of species ranging from rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and roses accompanied by ground cover plants including hostas, lamium and pulmonarias. In an enclosed formal garden there are climbing roses, clematis, delphiniums, aquilegias, and lilies bordered by a lavender hedge.
It is nearly time for lunch so we drive through the township of Otorohanga and find our way up a quiet country road to Crosshills Garden at Kiokio. The homestead is a surprise the first time you visit. It is set in green, Waikato pastures but suggests a French country house with grey stone walls, dormer windows, and exposed timber beams and framing. Our hosts, Debbie and Fraser Robertson, put on a delicious home-cooked lunch. The group relax with a glass of wine and take a stroll in the English-style garden with hedging and alcoves designed by Fraser’s mother Elizabeth.
Before we return to Auckland, we drive to Ohaupo where, down a quiet country road, we visit the TreeChurch. This extraordinary creation was built by Barry Cox in 2011 who, inspired by church architecture, has created a living, breathing chapel set in 3 hectares of distinctive gardens. Trees used in the construction of the Church are cut leaf alder for the roof canopy and for the walls, native purple akeake, camelia, acer and thuja. The chapel provides a quiet place for contemplation as to admire the unique character of its construction.
The gardens include a labyrinth, European and English inspired collections, a Monet-style pond, perennial flower gardens and a selection of mature trees including maples, oaks, alders, ginkgos, beech, poplars and taxodium.
In mid-2020, Chris and Bev Gatenby bought the TreeChurch and are carrying on Barry’s legacy of this unusual and beautiful place.
But the clock is ticking and it’s time to return my travellers to Auckland. From parting comments, it seems the group greatly enjoyed their garden visits of the Wairarapa and Manawatu, some say they will be booking another tour with MoaTours soon. Now there’s a vote of confidence for you.