Salt River Gardens

Salt River Gardens is a botanical delight, full of edible and ornamental plants.

In 1987, John Prince* and Rosemary Steele bought the property, then called Nestlebrae. They chose the largely-bare land for the soil and proceeded to follow their planting passions for the next 25 years. John’s focus was on fruits, palms and subtropicals; Rosemary’s botanical interests were wide and general. Their interest in plant collection extended to having a quarantine station on site for several years through the period when New Zealand had an exploratory and open attitude to extending flora. This, coupled with their connections to other plant enthusiasts, led to an amazing garden.

Now called Salt River Gardens, a nod to the many salt river estuaries on the Kaipara Harbour, Tim and Helen are adding to the collection.

* John runs a nursery at his new place in Kerikeri and continues to grow new seedling hibiscus and other treasures. www.nestlebraeexotics.co.nz