Rotorua
14 Mar
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Community Garden Festival Day – Rotorua
Join us as community gardens across the Bay of Plenty, Whakatane & Rotorua open their gates for a celebration of local growing, learning, and connection. Explore one garden or make a day of it, by visiting several. Each space is bursting with hands-on workshops, gardening advice, produce and seedlings, ready to inspire your next growing project.
Each garden is different, expect a mixture of activities including everything from seed bomb making to kids’ scavenger hunts, live food demos, tea making sessions, food forest tours, Q&A sessions with seasoned growers, and garden-made refreshments.
This day is all about celebrating the vital role community gardens play in creating a sustainable future through growing food, sharing knowledge, and nurturing connection. Whether you're an experienced gardener, a curious beginner, or just looking for a day out checking out all the lovely gardens, you’ll find something to dig into.
Come see how local gardens are blooming with ideas, community spirit, and kai resilience and be part of the movement for a stronger, greener region.
Entry and activities are FREE!
Kai Rotorua
540 Kaharoa Road, Hamurana, Rotorua
- Enjoy a tour of this amazing community garden including recent additions of a new greenhouse and Food Forest.
Linton Park Community Centre
16 Kamahi Place, Pukehangi, Rotorua
- Experience live performances, activities & workshops by Rotorua HipHop/Dance
- Aunty Chef Romelyn Fernandez Ybanez Garde, Matua Aljun, and PCRI volunteers will be cooking up a storm! There'll be free tastings, and if you want more, meal-sized portions at affordable prices.
All proceeds go towards the kitchen development of our Philippine Community of Rotorua Initiatives (PCRI).
Ngāti Kahu Māra Kai
69 Carmichael Road, Bethlehem, Tauranga
- Join Kane from 'Lets Grow Home' and Billy Roy (permaculture teacher) for a tour of the beautiful food forest recently planted and raised bed tours.
Merivale Community Garden
1 Alverstoke Road, Parkvale, Tauranga
- Kids scavenger hunt
- Seed bomb making demo
- Cornhole games & prizes
- Free rat traps and Predator Free information
- A hands-on, interactive demo exploring all things Hue.
Otūmoetai Railway Community Garden
516 Otūmoetai Road, Matua, Tauranga
- Kids garden scavenger hunt – a fun activity exploring the garden
- Make your own mini greenhouse – drop in and learn how to turn a plastic bottle into a tiny greenhouse you can easily grow seedlings in at home
The Rock Papamoa Community Garden
51C Hartford Avenue, Papamoa Beach, Papamoa
- Live cooking demo with chef James Broad with chargrilled garden produce and gourmet dips
- Tea-making demo using fresh and dried ingredients from the garden (free to join in)
- Seed bomb making demo (free to make and take home)
- Kids garden scavenger hunt
- Slip ’n slide (bring togs for the kids!)
Giggles Childcare Centre Te Puke
Cnr Commerce Lane and King St, Te Puke
- Linda Mary will be inviting you in for a tour of their beautiful garden.
- BONUS - Linda Mary from @wildemagic is an expert forager and will be on hand help identify useful plants growing around us
- Bring along a weed from your own garden and Linda can help identify whether it’s edible or useful!
Sustainable Backyards