A spring display of around 450 cherry trees has drawn more than 30,000 visitors to Aston Norwood Gardens in Upper Hutt, with its owner describing the blossom season as the best in...
A spring display of around 450 cherry trees has drawn more than 30,000 visitors to Aston Norwood Gardens in Upper Hutt, with its owner describing the blossom season as the best in years.
The gardens at Kaitoke host the annual Blossom Valley festival. Owner Mark Rammell told RNZ that heavy flowering across the trees had made this year’s display particularly impressive.
For visitors, the gardens have provided a setting for family photographs, gatherings and moments of remembrance. For the owners, the festival’s growing popularity has brought a practical challenge: finding enough room for everyone to park.
A garden that grew into a spring attraction
Rammell began developing Aston Norwood Gardens about 30 years ago, initially planting 250 cherry trees. He estimates the collection now numbers around 450.
Public interest gathered pace after a local Chinese newspaper featured the gardens in 2019. About 3,000 people visited that year, followed by roughly 6,000 the next year and 12,000 the year after, he told RNZ.
This season’s attendance exceeded 30,000, although Rammell said visitor numbers were slightly below last year’s despite the stronger blossom display.
The attraction now draws visitors from a wide range of communities. Rammell estimated that local Indian families, including those bringing relatives visiting from India, accounted for around 35 to 40 percent of visitors.
He also described welcoming people across generations. On one occasion, a centenarian and a baby just one day old visited on the same day.
Peak weekends put pressure on parking
At the busiest times, the festival offers bookings for 1,000 visitors every three hours, with those sessions generally selling out, according to Rammell.
He said hundreds of cars could be turned away on busy days when visitors arrived without bookings.
Parking, rather than interest in the blossoms, is the main constraint on attendance. In previous years, vehicles parked too close to State Highway 2 caused traffic to stop on two occasions, he said.
The experience highlights the importance of checking booking arrangements before travelling, particularly during peak flowering weekends.
Predicting the blossoms remains difficult
Knowing exactly when the trees will reach their best is less straightforward.
Rammell described the timing as “a million-dollar question”.
His guide is the appearance of the first green bud, with peak flowering generally following about three weeks later. September is usually the key month, although the precise timing remains difficult to predict.
That uncertainty means a calendar date alone cannot guarantee visitors will see the gardens at their fullest bloom.
More than a photo opportunity
For some families, this year’s visit carried a deeper meaning.
Janell Redding told RNZ her family came to remember their mother on the first anniversary of her death. Their mother had loved gardens, making the cherry blossoms a fitting backdrop for the occasion.
Another family arranged a professional photograph to celebrate its newest addition, bringing along their dog, Zeplin.
Those visits reflect the appeal of Blossom Valley beyond its seasonal colour: a place where families gather, mark milestones and remember people they love.
Source: Reporting by Anya Fielding, RNZ, published 4 October 2026.
