Gardens on tourism trail

A new tourism venture in Kaikoura will give visitors a chance to smell the roses.

A group of green-fingered locals have banded together to create a garden trail made up of seven properties and hope the land-based activity will fill a void in Kaikoura's tourism market.

Local garden enthusiasts Margaret Woodill, Lynette Snushall, Myra and Harry Higgs, Craig and Ingrid Mackle, Lynne and Gerald Nolan, Mike and Maureen Morris and Lynn and David Robinson have named the tour Coastal Gardens of Kaikoura and opened their plots of paradise up to the public last week.

Mrs Robinson, whose two acre garden overlooks the surf at Mangamaunu, had no idea how the venture would go and said the trail was about a group of people sharing what they loved with others.

"It's not about making money. We love gardens and want to add something to Kaikoura and get people to stay in the town longer. Plus, it's really nice to share your garden with people."

Mrs Robinson and Mrs Woodill came up with the trail idea after going to a garden tour in Marlborough last year and realising there was nothing remotely similar available in Kaikoura. It would fill a void for women whose husbands might be playing golf or fishing for the day, they agreed.

Mrs Woodill, who is in her 70s, runs a bed and breakfast and looks after an acre garden complete with a rockery, fernery, raised vegetable beds, fruit trees and a green house with nearly 100 tomato plants.

She said she was looking forward to having people visit her garden.

She will offer a cup of tea and muffins to her visitors on the deck and had employed a gardener to help out her out with the property for a few hours per week.

"I think it's time to ease off a bit."

On Hastings St, Lynette Snushall's secluded cottage garden was once a pony paddock and is now a mass of trees and bright hues.

Mrs Snushall said she would like to donate the garden fee for her property to the Cancer Society and was looking forward to being part of the new venture.

Kaikoura i-site manager Mandy Fissenden said the centre was often asked abut garden tours by visitors.

She said there were many benefits in having more land based activities available in Kaikoura, as they not only helped to increase the length of visitor stays, but also increased people's options when the seas were rough and showcased other aspects of the region.

The trail will be open during the summer and visits can only be made by appointment.

Fees for each garden differ and local shuttle company Designer Tours and Travel will be available to take visitors to and from the gardens.