Established in the mid 1800’s.
The mature trees and curated pathways at Rototāwai allow visitors to enjoy the park, homestead gardens as they walk through the grounds.
Self guided walks are encouraged, maps of the walking paths and feature planting are available free for visitors.
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Accessed down an 800m long oak lined driveway – the Rototāwai estate consists of 8 hectares of magnificent gardens, historic trees and lake frontage.
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The park and gardens at Rototāwai have been re-developed by renowned landscape designer Ross Palmer. The Homestead gardens have been expanded and are designed to be sustainable – featuring informal beds of resilient planting with very low water needs.
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Enter the walk at the brick arch situated at the eastern side of the homestead. You’ll pass the new Bunya plantings and old farm buildings.
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.
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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.
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Self guided walks are encouraged, maps of the walking paths and feature planting are available free for visitors.
Bookings are by appointment only. Please complete the booking form to reserve your visit time at Rototawai.
Garden walks are guided using the Rototawai garden maps provided – which show feature planting and landmarks.
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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.
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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.
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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.