Aramatai Garden

Stu and Trisha Donaldson bought and lived on the property for nearly 32 years.

From bare paddocks in they started planting the 2.2 hectares in 1992 that would grow over time to be one of New Zealand’s most impressive gardens.

In 2012 Stu and Trisha sold the property, but the new owners were only there for a short period of time before moving on.  Jill and Leo Mouat saw an opportunity although the garden had become overgrown. With hard work they knocked it back into shape reopening it for the public to enjoy.

 The Mouat’s are as passionate about the property as the Donaldson’s were. Today they stay in touch, discussing the garden and Sue has even come back to give Jill a hand on occasions.

Aramatai Garden is set among the 50 hectare working sheep and beef farm. The garden is situated in a beautiful basin on the property surrounded by undulating hills providing interesting contours for the planting.

The garden consists of beautiful mature trees including cyprus, natives, magnolias, cooper beech, elms, blue redwoods and many rhododendrons, camellias, roses irises and lilies. There are also two large natural ponds with water lilies and natural rock formations.

The garden also features a vegetable garden, sunken garden, fruit and nut orchard and extensive lawns. It is tranquil with wonderful panoramic rural views and several rustic seats placed around in the garden to encourage restfulness and the opportunity to relax and take in the surroundings.

Like many things in life there was no great plan when Stu and Trisha started planting their garden, it just evolved. They loved exotic and weeping trees, rhododendrons, camellias, roses, clematis and natives which is very evident in their planting as well as conifers, Stu was particularly interested in.

Since 2012 when Jill and Leo bought the 50 -hectare property they have not needed to do any significant planting. Jill says she spends most of her time maintaining the garden and needs an arborist annually to prune and tame the large tree specimens.

When Jill is not tendering the garden she is working on the farm feeding out in the winter and docking lambs in the spring.

Jill’s husband Leo, while interested in the garden is also busy driving milk tankers. However, Ann, Jill’s mother lives on the property and is very capable at 85 years old. She loves the garden and is keen to pitch in and help.

Jill and Trisha have maintained a close relationship both sharing the love of the garden. Trisha helps out when she can and was an invaluable aid when Jill broke her ankle recently, taking over the pruning of the roses.

Jill attributes a large part of the success of the garden to a regular rainfall in the King Country. She says it rains often. If there is no rain for a fortnight we think there is a drought she says.

The soil is largely volcanic from the Central Plateau region with a significant rock bed. The rainfall is important because with a combination of rock and the shallow rooting system of rhododendrons and other plants, regular rainfall is critical to the survival of the plants

Aramatai Garden is about 40 kilometres south of Te Kuiti.

It is 12 kilometres from SH 3 on the way to Mount Ruapehu on State Highway 4. The drive entrance is about 120 metres long.

Address :12 Mapara North Road, RD 3, Te Kuiti 3983

Phone: 07 8788 683

Email: tallangatta@farmside.co.nz

Jill and Leo’s garden can be visited all year by appointment. Allow 2-3 hours for your visit.

Adults $5

Parking and toilets are available.

Morning and afternoon teas and lunches are available by arrangement.

Please feel free to bring your own picnic.

There is also a 15-minute walk through the sheep and beef farm to a large picturesque hidden waterfall and native bush area.