What do you do?

The mature trees and curated pathways at Rototawai allow visitors to enjoy the park, homestead gardens and walk through the grounds. Self guided walks are encouraged, maps of the walking paths and feature planting are available free for visitors. 

  • The property is accessed down an 800m long oak lined driveway and incorporates frontage to the Lake. The Rototawai Homestead estate consists of 8 hectares of magnificent gardens and historic trees.

  • Established trees are marked for visitors and new planting includes the return of a number of Araucaria bidwillii. Birdlife in the park is abundant – the lake has ducks in season, and a resident bevy of black swans. Newly developed garden areas have been created for low to no water usage.

  • New planting includes the return of a number of Araucaria bidwillii in the Bunya lawn. Significant trees that were established in the mid 1800’s include the Californian Coastal Redwoods, Stone Pine, Deodar Cedar and Fallen Macrocarpa trees (which have managed to grow on past the trauma inflicted by the Wahine storm of 10 April, 1968.

  • Bookings are by appointment only. Please complete the booking form to reserve your visit time at Rototawai.

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Garden walks are guided using the Rototawai garden maps provided – which show feature planting and landmarks.

  • The Garden walk passes through a number of areas of interest, starting at the formal gardens adjacent to the homestead, then following a path past the Bunya Meadow, through the Bamboo glade, the Holm oak dell, past fallen Macrocarpa that survived the Wahine storm, to the Pinetum (Redwood grove) and the Olive lawn at the Lake front.

  • Around the Homestead and following paths down to the lake frontage, the homestead garden has an abundance of both native and exotic garden planting. At the rear of there Homestead, the vegetable gardens are being reinstated, and the drying lawn is being upgraded.

  • Surrounding the Homestead and Gallery, Rototawai retains and has restored a number of buildings and architectural features, including the water tower – the egg, milk and meat rooms – the laundry, garages, chicken coop and other smaller farm buildings.