A gardeners dream day out

Ōmāio is open by appointment throughout the year to Individuals and Tour Groups. Please get in touch if you’d like to book a garden visit and we can organise a day and time to do so. I look forward to welcoming you to my garden.

Individual Visits

Admission: There is an admission charge for the garden to be paid in cash on arrival. Regretfully there is no credit card or eftpos facility

Parking: There is limited car parking space at the garden entry but ample parking at the top of the drive in the coach park. Access from there down to the garden is via “Totara Trail” – a short bush walk with 34 steps.

Picnics permitted
Seating – outdoor and under cover
Toilets

Tour Groups

Admission: Group tour bookings are to be made by prior arrangement. We can cater for large groups so please get in touch and let us know your group size and requirements for your visit and we will organise a price for you accordingly. Maximum group size is 40 pax.

Picnics permitted
Seating – outdoor and under cover
Toilets
Tour guide
Morning tea and afternoon tea – available by prior arrangement

Parking for Tour Group Leaders

Coaches park in front of the black garage where indicated by Coach Park signage – There is ample room for coach parking and turning. Do not go down the sealed driveway.

Mini vans and cars continue on down the sealed driveway to the garden entrance and park in the lower park that is sign posted ‘Visitor Parking’.

Driving Directions

Ōmāio is located only 10 minutes from magical Matakana and 1 hour north of the Auckland Harbour bridge.

Once you reach Matakana go straight through the roundabout and over the bridge.
Travel about 1 kilometer and turn right at intersection which has a sign to Omaha and Point Wells. Turn right at the next roundabout into Takatu Road and take first road on right which is Whitmore Road with a sign to Buckletons Beach. Drive for 4.5 km. Slow down here as you are nearly there.

Kereru Lane is the only road on the left.  Drive to the end and turn sharp right. Ōmāio is then the first driveway on the left and signposted.

Cars park at bottom of steep sealed drive where indicated by “Visitor Parking” and “Garden Entry” signs. Do not park at the black shed….that is where coaches park.

NOTE: Ōmāio is not suitable for wheelchairs or people requiring support of any kind. Sensible footwear is advised for all seasons, walking/sports shoes. No dogs or pets allowed. No smoking/vaping.
Omaio is closed on public holidays.

  • Thank you for a very special day. Your garden is so peaceful and inspiring. We could just feel the love you have put into making this a little bit of New Zealand paradise. I found it quite an emotional experience to sit in your beautiful garden and just enjoy being there.

    Jill Ensor - Mt Hobson Ladies Friendship Club

  • I loved your garden. It has a soul. Your garden has a sense of place of where it is and what it is. Therefore it is unique. All a unity and a garden that is like no other and which could not be anywhere else in the whole world. Of course, it is well-groomed too.

    Margaret Barker - Founding Director - Larnach Castle

  • I first saw Ōmāio many years ago when on a lecture tour to New Zealand from the UK. It really is the most amazing and special place with a collection of plants superbly well placed together. A true plantsman’s paradise, Very well worth a visit, notebook and camera in hand.

    Rosemary Alexander - Principal at the English Gardening School - UK

  • I thought your garden was fantastic, your location and setting stunning, your flora and fauna full of great combinations of native and exotic plants and then the beautifully planned walks (fearless back-breaking natural beauty) And then everywhere its resourceful complementing design elements, that made your garden a NZ wondrous coastal native experience.

    Elaine Roberts - Waiheke Garden Club