From October 31 to November 9 Taranaki will be celebrating the 21st birthday of its Rhododendron and Garden Festival. Forty-nine diverse gardens will be participating, including 18 gardens of significance and six gardens of national significance. Associated events include a temporary landscape design by a leading designer, guestspeakers, workshops, guided walks, bus tours and children and family events.
East Coast treasures Gisborne's Tairawhiti Museum is a combined museum and art gallery which houses intriguing permanent and temporary exhibitions.
The Te Moana Maritime Gallery covers East Coast maritime stories, including shipwrecks, surfing, fishing and surf life saving. Other exhibits include Wyllie Cottage, the oldest European house still standing in Gisborne, a tribute to C Company of the Maori Battalion and an extensive collection of Maori taonga. It's open daily.
Luxury in the wild Add a touch of luxury to your winter at Treetops Lodge & Wilderness Experience. The Wild Food & Wine Winter Retreat package includes two nights' accommodation with breakfast, pre-dinner cocktails, two sumptuous dinners, a guided walk on the estate's indigenous food trail and other special treats. It costs $995 + GST per person and conditions apply.
Go with the Governor Celebrate the centenary of the North Island Main Trunk line on board the Governor's Special between Auckland and Paekakariki from August 9-11. Beautifully restored vintage carriages will be hauled by a steam locomotive for most of the journey, with overnight stops at Taumarunui and Taihape. Halts will be made at significant sites like the Last Spike Memorial and there'll be plenty of photo stops. The three-day pass costs $450 per person, plus $190 per person for twin-share accommodation and a meal package. Limited one-day passes are available.
