Victoria Esplanade’s camellia collection achieves international honour
Published on 10 November 2025
Palmerston North’s much-loved Camellia Collection and Loop Walk at the Victoria Esplanade has received a top international honour. It’s now officially recognised as an International Camellia Garden of Excellence.
This means our city’s gardens are now ranked among just 62 of the best camellia gardens in the world, and one of only four in New Zealand, alongside Whangārei, Auckland, and Dunedin.
The award comes from the International Camellia Society, which recognises gardens that show exceptional plant care, variety, design, and community involvement. The process to achieve this title is no small feat, involving a detailed application and voting from camellia experts around the world.
Mayor Grant Smith says the award is a testament to nearly 60 years of careful planning, dedication, and collaboration.
“This recognition is something the whole city can be proud of, and my special congratulations to the Manawatū branch members of the New Zealand Camellia Society on this international recognition. It reflects not just the horticultural beauty of the Esplanade, but the way this space is loved and used by our community every day, from families young and old, through to dog walkers and thousands of visitors from overseas. It’s great to see our local efforts recognised on the world stage.”
The Camellia Collection features around 300 different types of camellias from all over the world, with 75 bred in New Zealand and five right here in the Manawatū. In total, there are more than 1,100 plants, many of them mature trees planted between 1968 and today.
Just last year, the Loop Walk was also upgraded from a gravel track to a wider, smoother concrete path, making it more welcoming for everyone, especially those with prams, scooters and wheelchairs.
Vince Neall from the Camellia Society Manawatū Branch, who helped prepare the application, says the award is the result of decades of passion and care.
“I have huge respect for the foresight of the team who made the original plantings at the Esplanade. They chose such a wide range of popular and unusual camellias, which we can now enjoy from autumn through spring. Gaining this award is a wonderful tribute to everyone involved. It’s taken seven years to identify and label the plants, but the result has been well worth it.”
Robyn Tillman, also from the Manawatū branch, says the recognition highlights a strong community partnership.
“Working alongside the Council’s enthusiastic and supportive staff over the past eight years has been a real pleasure. It’s been a true collaboration, transforming the existing collection into a world-class asset. The new path has made it easier for young and old alike to enjoy the blooms and the educational storyboards.”
Explore the Camellia Loop Walk