The three-day Rotorua Festival of Gardens broke all records - selling more than 1000 tickets and promoting more gardens than in previous years to help put the city's "best foot forward", said festival chairman Paul Shaw.
The biennial festival, held this year from November 15-17, raised $15,000 for the BayTrust rescue helicopter service.
Around 1100 people, including 400 visitors from outside the region, visited 42 gardens - 21 of which were new gardens to the festival - in Rotorua, Waikite Valley, Reporoa, Ngongotaha and Ngakuru during the three days, Mr Shaw said.
The economic impact of the festival on the local economy was estimated to be around $250,000, he said.
"It really does help to put Rotorua's best foot forward to promote the best of what the city has to offer in gardens."