The Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival is now open, running through to Sunday 9 November, marking the event’s 38th year with 43 gardens and 30-plus talks, tours, and workshops across the region. The festival was named New Zealand’s Favourite Event by the NZEA in 2023.
Visitors can explore everything from grand country estates to inner-city tropical retreats, food forests, and native sanctuaries. Close to half of the festival gardens carry New Zealand Gardens Trust recognition. Garden entry tickets are available at local ticket outlets and at garden gates during the festival.
The Festival Hub is based at the Plymouth International Hotel and is open 8.30am–11.30am during the festival, including the “Fabulously Floral” installation celebrating 70 years of the New Plymouth Floral Art Club.
Free learning sessions return via the Mitre 10 Speaker Series, alongside a full programme of paid and free events.
Details
- When: Fri 31 Oct – Sun 9 Nov 2025.
- Where: Gardens across Taranaki; Festival Hub at Plymouth International Hotel.
- What’s on: 43 gardens and 30+ events, including free speaker sessions.
- Tickets: Garden entry available from local outlets and at garden gates.
- Learn more: Visit https://gardenfestnz.co.nz
Companion Events
Running alongside the main programme are three companion events:
Taranaki Fringe Garden Festival: “Real Gardens for Real People,” featuring around 40 private and public gardens across the region, with entry just $2 per person at each gate. Open daily 31 October–9 November, generally 9am–5pm.
Taranaki Arts Trail: open-studio visits across two weekends (31 Oct–2 Nov and 7–9 Nov), giving a behind-the-scenes look at local artists’ workspaces around the Maunga.
The Sustainable Backyards Trail: Aotearoa’s longest-running sustainable garden festival, is now followed by a week of exploring innovative and sustainable builds and farms.
