Tupare Gardens - New Plymouth
Owned and managed by the Taranaki Regional Council Tupare Gardens is situated in the outskirts of New Plymouth and is a landscaped Garden of National Significance.
Consisting of 11 acres it was built in 1932 by Russell Matthews and his family. Over many years they developed these beautiful gardens situated in a valley and raised their children there.
The house is of the English style of James Chapman Taylor and is now used for tours and events.
It is a magical Arts and Crafts garden and there is a regular programme of public events during the summer season which caters for garden fairs and a series of horticultural workshops.
Lady Matthew’s legacy is a domestic glasshouse, a herbery and perennial cottage lawn borders.
Sir Russell planted stately trees which have given a pleasant atmosphere and framework for the property, they include redwoods, deciduous maples, copper beeches and many other flowering species.
There are garden rooms, a large glasshouse and a gardeners cottage, large lawn area’s, several water features one being a delightful fish pond with a small waterfall that trickles down into another small pond beside a winding path leading down to a large flat paddock.
There are free gas barbecues, seats
and a table for those who would like to picnic in this tranquil tree sheltered area and where the Waiwhakaiho River at the bottom flows past to the sea. This is also a popular swimming spot in the summer months.
This river flat area retains a pastoral area with plantings of specimen trees. There is also access down to the paddock area via several delightful little narrow rustic bush paths on either side of the house, both are steep and winding and if you are not confident best to use the main path to the left of the fish pond.
The beautiful little Gardeners Cottage is constructed from recycled material from the original home that was where the tennis court is now situated.
The Gardeners Cottage is now the information Centre and the meeting point for garden workshops.
The history is stored in this cottage and is well worth the time spent in there perusing through this most interesting era of early photos and the development of the land, gardens and housing quarters.
When walking through this charming English styled garden it is not unusual to spot the family of resident quails, tui’s in the trees busily feeding on nectar and little fantails flitting busily around collecting stirred up insects at certain times of different seasons.
Tupare is beautiful in all four seasons even in the winter months when growth has slowed and many plants are dormant there is a special charm in the bare branches, colourful winter plants, and fallen yellow leaves matted around