Anticipation is growing amongst garden and art enthusiasts at the thought of viewing some of the Bay of Plenty’s most stunning residential properties.

An incredible 80 stops feature in November’s four-day Bay of Plenty Garden and Art Festival trail, spanning from Katikati to Te Puke.

“Ten are art studios, and the rest are gardens,” says festival director Marc Anderson. “The festival gardeners spend so much time in their gardens and it is their passion and hard work that help makes the festival special.”

Matching artists with gardens is one of the outstanding features of the unique garden trail. This year there has been more opportunity for ‘hoers’ and growers to while away self-isolating daylight hours planting, cultivating and propagating.

The diverse range of gardens extends from oriental, formal, roomy and organical through to country, native, woodland, and botanical.

E-Bike hire and a bus shuttle service will both be available to festival patrons.

“One E-Bike trail goes around Tauranga, and another from Te Puna to Omokoroa,” says Marc. “And people can book a seat or hire a complete shuttle for a group tour.”

Gardens to be explored include large sprawling country delights, courtyards, city, rural and rustic gardens. Wandering through rambling cottage gardens, urban freestyle, coastal, forest, subtropical and floral extravagance is sure to enrapture all festival fans.

“We have introduced a sustainable garden element,” says Marc. “And there will be micro-gardens showing you what you can do in a very small space.”

New to this year’s festival is The Weekend Sun Emerging Artist Award. All finalists will have their work exhibited at Bloom in the Bay, the festival hub at the Tauranga Racecourse.

The Bay of Plenty Garden & Art Festival runs from November 19-22. Tickets are now on sale, and available at Palmers Bethlehem, eventfinda.co.nz or gardenandartfestival.co.nz