Wallingford Homestead
★★★★
Wallingford Homestead, established in 1853, is set within a magnificent heritage garden that celebrates timeless beauty, botanical history, and the relaxed abundance of the cottage garden tradition. Rebuilt after a fire in 1895 and lovingly restored in the early 2000s, the estate blends classical grandeur with informal charm, making it one of Central Hawke’s Bay’s most captivating garden destinations.
Visitors are greeted by a sweeping elm- and oak-lined driveway, which opens to expansive lawns and a grand single-level homestead—once the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. The garden showcases many trees dating back to the 19th century, including scarlet and English oaks, Parrotia persica, and a stately avenue of plane trees leading to a productive truffière of Holm oaks.
The planting ethos draws from cottage garden principles—layered, generous, and seasonally expressive. Heirloom roses spill over clipped Viburnum tinus hedges, while self-seeding annuals, tulips, santolina, rhododendrons, camellias, and perennials create a painterly progression of colour and texture from spring to late autumn. Brick pathways, terraced lawns, and informal borders encourage exploration and lingering, with Iceberg roses and ajuga framing tranquil walking routes.
A restored swimming pool complex with a fireplace and open-air kitchen complements the garden’s versatility, offering spaces equally suited to entertaining or quiet reflection.
Wallingford’s gardens are an ever-evolving reflection of the land’s rich legacy and its owners’ commitment to beauty, sustainability, and hospitality. For lovers of historic gardens and romantic, rural landscapes, Wallingford Homestead offers a deeply authentic and memorable experience.
Facilities and Amenities
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Accommodation Available
Conference/Function Facilities
Picnics allowed on request
Tour Guide available on request
Lunches available on request
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Open by appointment
Charges apply.
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Physical Address: 2914 Porangahau Road, Wallingford, Waipukurau, Hawkes Bay
Phone: 06 8554701
Email: info@wallingford.co.nz
Website: www.wallingford.co.nz
