What you need to know
Backyards
Friday 31 OCT - Sunday 9 NOV 2025
Why go to a Backyard?
It's a great way to connect with gardeners and learn new skills to apply at home.
Pick up a wealth of tips on growing healthy gardens, natural pest control, increasing soil health, and how to care for animals that benefit your backyard. Whether your space is small, large, steep, or shady, we have a great selection of backyards, school and community gardens to choose from.
How it works
Turn up, sign in and pay at the entrance of properties, or register online for events.
When visiting properties on the Backyards Trail, one person signs in the group. Pay with cash or using a Backyard Bundle card (one per person).
Wear appropriate shoes and clothing for the weather. Keep an eye out for hosts in high-vis vests for an informative informal tour of the property.
New in 2025! Register, purchase tickets or change bookings for all events here—free, koha and ticketed.
What's the cost?
Just $3 cash or save by using a Backyard Bundle card, which comes with free seeds.
Entry to Backyards & school gardens is $3 cash (under 12 yrs free). Community gardens are free. Purchase a $12 Backyard Bundle card to visit 5 Backyards or schools (plus get a packet of seeds). Outlets for Bundle cards on the map.
Outlets for Bundle cards & booklets:
New Plymouth, Coastal & North
Trails Hub, 28 Brooklands Park Dr, Brooklands
Crazy Pumpkin CBD, 195 Courtenay St, CBD
Crazy Pumpkin East, 1 Katere Rd, Waiwhakaiho
Dawn Cafe, 1145 South Rd, Ōākura
Binn Inn, 61 McLean St, Waitara
East Taranaki
Crazy Pumpkin, 156 Broadway, Stratford
South Taranaki
Landscape Essentials, 15 Albert St, Hāwera
The Gathering Cafe, 121 High St, Hāwera
Events range in price, including many for free or koha (property entry fee is often required for koha or free events). If koha, bring cash on the day. Make reservations or purchase tickets here.
Making a plan
We've got lots on so use our schedules and map to make the most of your time.
Backyards, school and community gardens have select midweek hours, and all Backyards are open 10am-4pm weekends, see our map for indicative travel times.
Events have set times and require booking or tickets online via our website, see the events schedule for Backyards.
BUILDS & FARMS
Monday 10 NOV - Sunday 16 NOV 2025
Why tour a farm or build?
Hear from locals doing it differently—ways to build and farm by keeping the environment front of mind.
Builds Trail. Talks and tours of properties with environmental elements relating to design, materials, and construction including tiny builds, passive design, eco-tech, rammed earth and hemp, commercial new builds and renovations.
Farms Trail. Talks and tours of farms showcasing diverse pastures, kaitiakitanga and ecological innovation in dairy, regenerative beef farming, as well as an organic commercial feijoa orchard. Each property combines several notable elements for becoming increasingly future-focused.
How it works
Register for a tour or purchase an event ticket.
Peruse the range of tours available then register or purchase tickets for yourself, family or friends online. You’ll join a small group on the day to hear from owners and experts, ask questions and make connections.
What's the cost?
Many tours are free, or they come with freebies. If there's a cost, it's great value!
Tours range from free to $15, with a hot drink or snacks included if there's a charge. Events range from $15 to $60 per person, and you'll find goodies such as a tapas dinner, drinks or nibbles. The cost for all tours and events is on events schedule for builds & farms.
Making a plan
We've aligned tour times and locations to make the most of your time and travel.
Tours and events are at set times—choose a couple that pique your interest, then see what else is on before or after nearby to try something new. In most cases, you have time to travel to two or more tours in day.
Use the events schedule for builds & farms and map to see locations and work out travel times. When you know where you want to go, register or purchase tickets online, but don't leave it too late as spaces are limited.