The Garden

Landsendt is a long established subtropical garden created by the Endt family. It was purchased in 1960 by Dick and Annemarie Endt. It was a  20 acre run down dairy farm with 5 acres of native bush and the rest pasture. Dick and Annemarie chose this land because it is frost free and they wanted to grow Tamarillos. Over the years the orchard expanded to include many subtropical fruit crops including kiwifruit, feijoas, macadamias, bananas, cherimoyas, and babacos. Dick was a pioneer in new crop development, travelling to South America in search of new plants and ideas. These trips led to collecting not just fruiting plants but also palms. He was a founding member of the NZ palm and Cycad society and introduced many new species.

Around 2000 they wanted to retire so 2 of their children, Gerald and Carolyn took over and changed the focus to subtropical landscaping and a garden centre. The gardens started to form as Dick’s plant collection grew. The idea to create a garden with all these amazing plants seemed a logical progression. This was when Maggie’s garden Show and Ellerslie Flower Show were popular. Exciting times for subtropical gardens. Auckland has the perfect climate to grow whatever we want. There are not many places in the world where you can grow apples, bananas and pineapples in the same garden.

During the turbulent financial crisis the business took another turn. Gerald and his wife left to start an organic orchard on Great Barrier Island while Carolyn and her husband continued the business at Landsendt. They have created the gardens and popular function venue. A visit to Landsendt is like entering another world.

Landsendt is a creatively laid out garden with many rare/endangered and unusual plants. It is botanically significant for it’s palm and cycad collection, bamboo collection and reference to new and unusual fruit crop introductions.

Landsendt also has the oldest homestead in West Auckland. Sunnydale is on it’s original site and was built in the early 1860’s from locally milled kauri. A notorious and sad murder happened in 1892.

Garden Visits

Garden visits are popular with garden groups, probus groups and international garden tours. Whether you are a plant enthusiast or want inspiration or just love visiting gardens then Landsendt is a must see.

Garden visits are by appointment only. $10.00 per person. Guided group tours are welcome and morning tea (minimum 20 people) can be arranged. (extra $8 per person).