Appreciate the flora at Eastwoodhill Arboretum
Douglas Cook, the visionary behind Eastwoodhill Arboretum, was once romantically described by a writer as a “plantsman with the soul of a poet and the vision of a philosopher”. It was that vision which turned a 131-hectare farm into Eastwoodhill, the National Arboretum of New Zealand and the biggest collection of northern hemisphere trees in the southern hemisphere. Inspired by the gardens of England, where he spent time recuperating from a World War I injury, Douglas dedicated his life to the creation of Eastwoodhill, which now has more than 25,000 varieties of flora and fauna and five stars from the New Zealand Garden Trust. There are 25 kilometres of walking trails for all abilities, a playground for all ages and accommodation for those wishing for more time to explore. Book ahead for guided tours. Fun fact: Douglas was also the founder of the rhododendron garden, Pukeiti, on the slopes of Mt Taranaki. 2392 Wharekopae Road, Ngatapa, (06) 863 9003, eastwoodhill.org.nz