Gardens To Visit New Zealand

Ivy Cottage & the Enchanted Garden

Address	39a Churchouse Road, Greenhithe, North Shore. * Please note that the new SH18 motorway is now open which cuts straight through Greenhithe. Take the Tauhinu Road exit if coming from West or Greenhithe Road exit if coming from East.
Region	Auckland - North
Privately owned or public	Private
Email
Phone	(09) 413-8468 or 021-35-77-55
Fax	No
Contact Person	Lisa Ritchie
Website	www.ivycottage.co.nz
Hours	Open 9am-6pm - 7 days a week * Bookings are essential as Ivy Cottage is also a party & function venue.
Garden Size	approx 1/4 acre.
Price	$10 per person for a relaxing 2 hr Devonshire Tea (tea & scones) garden visit Mon-Fri. Minimum 10 people & maximum 40. Party & function prices are diifferent & can be viewed on our website.
Brochure Available?	Yes - via email or post.
Parking	Plenty of parking for buses & cars is available 50 metres past Ivy Cottage - on the right in Wainoni Reserve. Please don’t park on the narrow road or in our neighbour's private driveway.
Toilets	Yes.
Food Available	We provide delicious food for kids and adults. We also provide Devonshire Teas (tea & scones) & amazing birthday cakes. You're also welcome to bring your own. Our catered food must be booked with us 1 week before your visit.
Cafe/Restaurant available?	Yes
Seating	Our indoor table seats 10 adults + outdoor “café style" seating for 10 on the undercover deck. There is plenty of standing room.
Picnics	You can picnic at a number of tranquil spots within the Enchanted Garden. You can also sit around the magnificent wooden table and feast... while drinking out of ancient goblets and precious china tea cups. Magical!
Wheelchair Access	We have wheelchair access. Please specify that this is needed before you arrive at Ivy Cottage.
Dogs Allowed	Yes - only on a lead as we have cats.
Children Allowed	Yes.
Accommodation	No
Weddings	Ceremonies & small weddings for up to 40 guests.
Plant/Other Sales	No
Guided Tours	No
Function center?	No
Winery?	No
Other Facilities	Ivy Cottage is a truly relaxing and inspiring cottage & garden location. Themed Kids Parties & Visits + Christmas Parties: Available 7 days a week... Let us weave a wonderous spell of happiness & joy to make your party or visit an unforgettable experience. Fairies, pirates, dinosaurs, pixies, princesses, teddy bear picnics. We have a costume room, craft room, provide yummy tea party food & adults food, delicious birthday cakes, comfortable undercover adults’ area + complimentary tea & coffee. Adult Functions: Available 7 days a week for short visits or half & full day bookings... Peaceful venue with a difference. Relax & let us do the organising! A truly relaxing and inspiring cottage & garden location. * Coffee groups * Group or business meetings * Team building * Offsite meetings * Social occasions * Workshops * Small corporate functions & events * Devonshire teas (tea & scones) * Christmas functions * Hens Parties * Adults birthday get-togethers * Ceremonies, small weddings, etc * Pamper parties
Map
The Garden Ivy Cottage and the Enchanted Garden was originally named Omahanui Gardens - one of Auckland’s first privately owned public gardens. The gardens were developed approx 30 years ago by the famous rose specialists, Toni and Ron Sylvester (clothing designer Kate Sylvester's parents). At the time the gardens set the scene for the garden tour industry, attracting many coach-loads of visitors and also featuring in magazines and on several occasions on the Garden Show. The cottage itself was originally named Ivy Cottage and was built for Toni Sylvester’s mother - who lived here and set up a pottery studio inside. The owners of Omahanui Gardens changed over the years, until Childrens Theme Parties Ltd was created in 2000 by Robyn Cunliffe. Her vision was to create a unique, safe environment for children, their families and friends and bring nature to the forefront of childrens’ imaginations. Although most of the gardens have now vanished due to the previous owners subdividing the property, we continue to share the well-established “Brazen Garden” (Enchanted Garden) with many children and their families. Approximately 2,000 children visit Ivy Cottage every year and experience the wonderful surroundings. The fact that the gardens have always been shared with others, and also that a 110+ year old oak tree grows in the centre of the garden, explains the magical and enchanting atmosphere.
The Gardener Lisa Ritchie purchased Children’s Theme Parties Ltd in 2003 and extended the business to include the opportunity for anyone to hire or visit Ivy Cottage and experience the wonderful surroundings. Lisa's parents maintain the garden. The garden is an old well-established and very wild "fairy garden" so we are able to let it grow quite freely.

Map

The Garden

The Gardener