The Haven
★★★★
Tucked behind a 1964 Modernist courtyard house in Lyall Bay, The Haven is a richly layered retreat designed for colour, texture and year-round interest. The house, recognised for its architectural heritage, provides a strong design framework: courtyards and pergolas create sheltered outdoor rooms that connect seamlessly to the architecture.
The garden is best experienced as a sequence of spaces. Visitors enter through the modernist courtyard, paved with patterned tiles and dotted with succulents, pelagoniums, and a reflective pond. From here, a path leads to the Blue Pergola Garden — a long, narrow sanctuary where climbers, roses and passionfruit weave through a rhythm of painted pergolas.
At its heart, a bubbling urn and clusters of salvias create vibrant focal points, with seating placed for quiet contemplation. Planting is exuberant and varied. Salvias are a particular passion, with numerous species and cultivars providing strong seasonal display and a resource for bees and other pollinators.
These are interwoven with perennials, annuals and fruiting plants, including dwarf citrus, apple and loganberry. Bold colour choices and sculptural accents punctuate the garden, creating a contemporary feel within its heritage frame. A separate compact veggie plot adds another layer of interest, producing fresh herbs, tomatoes and seasonal greens.
Though small in scale, the garden offers a surprising sense of depth and discovery. With no lawn, every corner is intensively planted, making it a tranquil destination for those who enjoy design-led, plant-rich gardens. Visitors are welcome to sit, relax, and enjoy herbal tea while exploring a space where architecture, plantsmanship and creativity combine.
Facilities and Amenities
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Sundays 11-3 in January, February, March.
$20 - please book via this link: https://secretgardens.co.nz/garden/the-haven/#book-your-visit
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Liane Cox
210 Sutherland Road Wellington Lyall Bay 6022 New Zealand
Phone: 021 777 198
