Te Puna Quarry Park is a genuine community labour of love. The site was a working rock quarry until it closed in the late 1970s, and from the early 1990s a dedicated group of volunteers began reclaiming the scarred ground, planting gardens and carving out tracks. Decades on, it has become an extraordinary park where terraced gardens, subtropical plantings and sculptures fill the old quarry benches.
It is free to enter and endlessly explorable, threaded with native bush tracks, themed garden rooms, public artworks around every corner, a much-loved fairy garden and plenty of quiet picnic spots. A short climb leads to a lookout with views over the Te Puna valley and out toward the harbour, and the park hums with butterflies and birdsong in the warmer months.
It is about a 10-minute drive from Coastal Cottage, heading out of Matua towards Te Puna. Entry is free, but the park is run entirely by volunteers, so leaving a koha in the donation box is a kind way to help keep it going.
Highlights
Themed gardens and sculptures
Wander through distinct garden areas dotted with artworks around every corner.
The fairy garden
A whimsical favourite that keeps younger visitors enchanted.
Bush walks and lookout
Native tracks climb to a viewpoint over the Te Puna valley.
Picnic spots
Plenty of shaded, grassy corners to stop and eat.
Tips for your visit
- Entry is free, but the park is volunteer-run so leave a koha if you can.
- Wear walking shoes, the paths climb and can be uneven.
- It is a great rainy-cleared-up morning out for families.
Getting there from the cottage
Roughly 10 minutes from the cottage towards Te Puna.
Best time to visit
Spring and summer when the gardens are in full bloom.