Events

Come and join us down under in New Zealand 2025 for some great kiwi hospitality, great scenery, nursery visits and more! 

Long Tour: 27th April to 11th May. Start Sunday April 27th in Auckland
Short Tour: 4th May - 11th May. Start Sunday May 4th in Rotorua

The IPPS  New Zealand Region Conference in New Plymouth is included in both the Long and Short Tour. No additional event and hotel booking required!

Note: Both the long and short tours finish in New Plymouth so please book your return home from New Plymouth.  See registration form for van transport from New Plymouth to Auckland Airport - limited numbers

Tour costs are in New Zealand dollars and include GST
Long Tour
Double/Twin $7300 per person
Single $9000 per person

Short Tour
Double/Twin $4550 per person
Single $5400 per person

What is included: Accommodation – Long tour 14 nights, Short tour 8 nights. Travel in Coach. Full registration to IPPS New Zealand Conference, All meals/drinks specified, Any special activities/entrance fees, transfers if applicable at start and end of tours.

What is not included: Items of a personal nature e.g. internet use, minibar, laundry. Activities in Taupo on Sunday 4^th May other than van transport. Transfers from Auckland/Rotorua airports outside designated pick-ups. End of tour transport to New Plymouth Airport.

Questions:
International tour program - Grant Hayman - grant.whitehorseenterprises@gmail.com
Anyone wishing to extend their stay in New Zealand can also contact Grant for suggestions.

International tour registration - Hayden Foulds - haydenfoulds@gmail.com
Tour registration closes 1st February 2025

Registration now open - click here to register online

Itinerary as of November 5th 2024

Day 1 Sunday 27^th April 2025 Auckland – Long Tour begins.
- Meet and Greet, Happy Hour and Evening 5pm
Accommodation: M Social Hotel.    Meals: D

Day 2 Monday 28^th April 2025 Auckland – Waiheke Island return. Host: Eddie Welsh
- Ferry ride to Waiheke Island
- Christie Ralphs Nourish Gardens – flower farm, food forest, edible and medicinal gardens
- Allpress Olives and Tasting Room
- Lunch and wine tasting at The Batch
- Walk through forest of Nikau Palms and along Onetangi Beach
- Have a beer/coffee at Charlie Farleys before departing on the ferry back to Auckland.
- Evening meal will be on the Waterfront Precinct a short walk from the hotel
Accommodation: M Social Hotel.    Meals: B L D

Day 3 Tuesday 29^th April West Auckland. Host: Antony Toledo
- Drive up Mount Eden, the tallest of the 49 dormant volcanoes in the Auckland area to get your bearings and for spectacular views of the city
- Scott Base Nurseries. Growing on line nursery growing for the wholesale nursery and landscape markets
- Nga Rakau Nurseries. Specialist plug/cell tray nursery growing vegetable, flower, revegetation, native and forestry lines.
- Van Lier Nurseries. Leading grower of cut flowers and house plant range.
- Muriwai Beach. Wild west coast iron sand beach
-Evening meal at Allely Estate out west before returning to Hotel
Accommodation: M Social Hotel.   Meals: B L D

Day 4 Wednesday 30^th April Auckland – Hamilton.  Host: Clayton Hart
- Visit and tour Auckland Botanic Gardens.
- Icon Trees. Growers of specimen trees and advanced hedging
- Ardmore Nurseries. Wholesale open ground and container nursery
- The Red Shed. Lunch will be here
- Rainbow Park Nurseries. Leading grower of potted colour, houseplants, perennials, vegetable, fruit trees and specimen tress
- Travel south to Hamilton
Accommodation: Novotel Hamilton.  Meals: B L D

Day 5 Thursday 1^st May Hamilton – Tauranga.  Host: Scott Bromwich
- Visit and tour the famous Hamilton Gardens.
- Daltons. World class growing media manufacturer and supplier.
- Tour the world renown Hobbiton Movie set at Matamata.
- Travel over the Kaimai Ranges to Tauranga
Accommodation: Trinity Wharf Hotel.        Meals: B L D

Day 6 Friday 2^nd May Tauranga Host: Ian Duncalf
- Palmers Garden Centre, an award winning garden centre
- DMS Packhouse. Avocado/Kiwifruit orchard and packhouse
- Tharfield Nursery/Incredible Edibles. Specialist grower of edible plants
- Another nursery visit to be confirmed
- Visit Mount Manganui where you can walk up the Mount or stroll along the beach. The evening meal will be at The Mount before returning to the Hotel
Accommodation: Trinity Wharf Hotel.        Meals: B L D

Day 7 Saturday 3^rd May Tauranga – Taupo.
- Treeline Native Nursery. Specialist New Zealand native nursery
- Timberlands Nursery. Open ground forestry nursery
- Walk through the Redwood Forest and the tour Whakarewarewa, an iconic Maori village and geothermal area
- Visit the Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland, a colourful geothermal area before heading through to Taupo.

Short tour participants should fly into Rotorua where they will be picked up to join with the tour depending on their arrival times. Alternatively, they can fly into Taupo and make their own  way the short distance to the Hotel. 
Accommodation: Millennium Hotel and Resort Taupo. Meals: B L D

Day 8 Sunday 4^th May Taupo
There will be an International Board meeting in the morning otherwise the day is free to explore Taupo and its surrounds at your own cost. Options include Huka Falls, Natural Hot Pools, Jet Boat ride, Bungy Jumping and more. There will be a van available for transport to attractions.

From mid afternoon, there will be a boat trip on Lake Taupo to try your hand at fishing and take in the scenary of New Zealand’s largest lake before an evening meal.
Accommodation: Millennium Hotel and Resort Taupo. Meals: B D

Day 9 Monday 5^th May Taupo – Palmerston North Host: Philip Smith
- Tongariro National Park, a World Heritage site and New Zealand’s oldest National Park. Enjoy the scenary including the volcanic peaks of Mount Ruapehu, Mount Ngaruahoe and Mount Tongariro
- Enjoy a ride up the Sky Waka Gondola over waterfall and ancient lava flows
- Visit the National Army Museum at Waiouru
- Enjoy a spot of shopping at the Wool Shop in Taihape
Accommodation: Distinction Coachman Hotel, Palmerston North. Meals: B L D

Day 10 Tuesday 6^th May Palmerston North Host: Hayden Foulds
- Kilmarnock Nurseries. Wholesale grower of Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Boronias, Pieris, Leucadendrons and Camellias.
- Totara Glen Nurseries. Specialist New Zealand native plant nursery.
There will be a workshop session during our visit to Totara Glen organised by Professor Paul Fisher from the University of Florida who is facilitating several US researchers to attend the annual conference and also pre-conference grower workshops in New Zealand.
- Travel south to the capital of New Zealand, Wellington, where we will visit Te Papa, the National Museum of New Zealand.
Accommodation: QT Hotel, Wellington. Meals: B L D

Day 10 Wednesday 7^th May Wellington – New Plymouth
- Otari – Wilton’s Bush. New Zealand’s only botanic garden dedicated solely to native plants.
- Te Horo Ornamentals. A specialist grower of Proteaceae.
- Harrisons Garden World. A leading and award winning independent garden centre
- Travel to Whanganui for a rest break then onto New Plymouth, the venue for the New Zealand Region Conference
- The Formal Tour Dinner will be held tonight at our accommodation
Accommodation: Plymouth International Hotel, New Plymouth. Meals: B L D

Day 11 Thursday 8^th May
- Visit the Waitara Marae for a formal Maori welcome and powhiri. This will give you the chance to understand and embrace the Maori culture.
- Visit Pukeiti, a garden of international significance set in native rainforest on the slopes of Mount Taranaki.
-The New Zealand Regions conference will start in the evening with a Meet and Greet, light meal and entertainment
Accommodation: Plymouth International Hotel, New Plymouth. Meals: B L D

Day 12 Friday 9^th May
The conference will be formally opened by the Chairperson of Taranaki Regional Council. There will be presentations in the morning followed by afternoon visits to nurseries. The evening will see the formal night of the conference with awards presented.
Accommodation: Plymouth International Hotel, New Plymouth. Meals: B L D

Day 13 Saturday 10^th May
The conference will continue with presentations in the morning and afternoon visits to nurseries. The evening will be the informal night of the conference with a live band and a dress up theme of ‘Team Colours’
Accommodation: Plymouth International Hotel, New Plymouth. Meals: B L D

Day 14 Sunday 11^th May
The conference will conclude with presentations before lunch brings conference and the tour to a close. There will be a minivan leaving the conference venue at 12 noon that can take 17 people back to Auckland Airport for flights departing that night. Otherwise New Plymouth Airport has flights to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch for those wishing to fly out or carry on their time in New Zealand.
Meals B L

End of tour