The Best Lavender Farms Around New Zealand

There's never been a better time to be a lover of lavender. Farms across Aotearoa are cropping up left and right, swigning open their barn doors to welcome us into their purple haze.

More than a mere frolic, from November through to early March, New Zealand's lavendar farms are home to impossibly good real-fruit lavender icecream, rustic tea rooms, pick-your-own adventures, and even mid-field yoga. 

Get ready for a fun day in the fields—plus a great nights sleep at the tail end. Here's New Zealands' best lavender farms. 

Wānaka Lavender Farm

36 Morris Road, Wānaka, Otago

Image Credit: Wānaka Lavender Farm | Website

The *cutest* little tea room is yours to settle into in Wānaka Lavender Farm’s picturesque cottage. There's a well-manicured lavender garden—among other plants—to stroll around after your lavender sugar loaf and tea. Or, grab a ticket to explore the endless rows of purple plants and petting zoo (donkeys in tow) on the other side of the cottage. 

Time on your side? Visitors in Spring through to Autumn can book in for The Picnic Experience. Gibston Valley cheeses, fresh fruits, lavender macarons, lavender chocolate truffles, nibbles and thirst-quenchers are all bundled—beautifully—in their hampers. Plus, it’s yours to devour anywhere you like on the farm. Glassware, the picnic mat, et. al. taken care of. 

P.s. You simply must snoop around their well-stocked gift shop. Chocolates, lavender-infused honey, beauty products, and—as our own research shows—the best culinary lavender ever, is found here.

Waihi Lavender Farm

118 Landlyst Road, Waihi, Hauraki

Image Credit: Waihi Lavender Farm | Website

Thought Waihi was all baches and beaches? Nope, lather up your sunscreen and enjoy a full day in the sun, cocooned by buzzing lavender plants at Waihi Lavender Farm. 

One of the few places with a full-blown kitchen (all vegetarian, might we add,) they serve up generational Taiwanese recipes with produce directly sourced from the farm. Think portobello burgers, rustic pizzas, gua bao and crispy lions-mane nuggets.The sweet offering us just as good, with lavender blueberry real-fruit ice cream and—get ready for this one—Crispy Rolled Lavender Waffle Cookies. Visit from early december to late january, from 10-5pm, 7 days a week, or look our for bonsai meet-ups or jazz shows. A national treasure, for sure.

CCT Lavender Farm

242 Urquhart Road, Karaka, Auckland

Image Credit: CCT Lavender Farm | Website

Invigorate your senses at CCT Lavender Farm in Karaka—a picturesque car ride away from the big smoke. The cafe here (currently closed but usually open 8.30-4pm, Tuesday to Sunday) is chic, in an industrial-rustic high-ceiling setting—with a playground for the sprogs and a direct view of the farm for those whol love a good day dream. Food-wise, the all-day cafe menu boasts pulled pork to slow cooked lamb, smoothies to homely eggs bene. Rest assured that the certified organic farm is yours wandering while you’re here.

Lauren’s Lavender Farm

1381 River Road, Forgotten Highway, Aukopae, Taumarunui

Image credit: Lauren’s Lavender Farm | Facebook

Demolish a freshly-baked scone while marvelling at a meadow of purple at Lauren’s Lavender Farm. Purple haze aside, it’s a seriously pretty affair here: There’s views of the Whanganui River river, Taumarunui’s rolling hills, and a charming cafe and boutique nestled inside a converted wooden homestead. You won’t leave empty-handed from this family business: If it's not a handful of bath bombs, it’ll be a freshly-baked slice of cake. The cafe is open 9-3pm, seven days a week, during open season (end of October until April). Special occasion coming up? The farmstead also plays host to beautiful private events—maybe even yours.

Lavender Abbey 

Carterton, North Island

Image credit: Lavender Abbey | supplied

A stunning lavender farm located in the heart of the Wairarapa, Lavender Abbey has been cultivating its spray-free plants on seven glorious hectares for 13 years so they really know their stuff—and have the awards to prove it. At the height of the lavender season in January, Lavender Abbey throws open its gates so you can pick your own bunch or two in the most tranquil (and fragrant) of settings. At just an hour’s drive north of Wellington, pack a picnic, leave the big city behind and enjoy a sun-filled day in the tranquil lavender fields. Sounds like the perfect day out to us. The rest of the year you can catch them selling their beautiful products locally in the Wairarapa and throughout the Wellington region so you can get your lavender fix year-round.

Lavender Creek Farm

Kapiti, North Island

Image credit: Lavender Creek Farm | supplied

“There are 330 different types of lavender at the collection garden,” says Vaughan, who owns Lavender Creek Farm with his wife, Susi. As well as lavender, there are grapevines and olive trees at the property, and if you’re looking for a romantic weekend away, there’s a B&B on site. Lavender Creek Farm is an hour away north of Wellington and is $5 for adults to enter—kids are free. Be sure to take home one of their award-winning oils. 

Pihama Lavender Farm

Taranaki, North Island

Image credit: Pihama Lavender Farm

Wander through luscious lavender fields at Pihama Lavender Farm, located 70km from New Plymouth. The two-hectare lavender farm is laced with historic charm, situated at the old Pihama Dairy Factory.  Pihama Lavender Farm also has boutique accommodation options, perfect for those in need of a peaceful weekend escape. Every third Sunday of the month there is a Growers and Makers market, so support local and indulge in some fresh produce and homegrown products on offer. All this makes it a worthy addition to our list of New Zealand’s best lavender farms.

New Zealand Alpine Lavender

657 Mt Cook Road, Ben Ohau, Twizel, South Island

Image credit: New Zealand Alpine Lavender | Facebook

Three words: Fresh lavender icecream. It exists, muddled with honeycomb and petals, and is jolly good. Not just any ol’ farm, New Zealand Alpine Lavender is the biggest organic farm of its kind in the whole Southern Hemisphere. 

It’s very much a case of journey and destination—the drive out here is beautiful and it’s one of the only places you’ll see snow-capped mountains while frolicking through the field. Plus, their apothecary-like boutique has more spritzes and oils than you can shake a sprig at. 

Lavender Backyard Garden

398 Marshmeadow Rd, RD6, Hamilton, Waikato

Image credit: Lavender Backyard Garden | Facebook

Pick your own lavender and plump blueberries at the Lavender Backyard Garden, the only farm of its kind in New Zealand. They’re open across a select few weekends starting in December, but boy oh boy is it worth marking in your calendar. Prices for PYO fruits and sprigs vary by time of year, but assured, it’s all *very pretty* and a wonderful day trip. Can’t wait until then? They’re online boutique—teeming with dried blooms and gift sets—is open year round. Guasha girlies, you’ll love their lavender, aloe vera and kale massage and exfoliation gel. 

Lavender Row

616 Outram-Mosgiel Road, Riverside 9073, Otago

Image credit: Lavender Row | Facebook

Dunedin has its very own Lavender Destination: Lavender Row. It hits a home run with the myriad ways you can enjoy our favourite purple flower: you can book in for a special photoshoot on the farm, enjoy the odd lavender field yoga (just keen and eye out on Facebook) enjoy visits from 10-3 each weekend during summer (or a handful of other open days), or simply stock up on your lavender favourites.

Lavender Hill Farm

11 Beacon Road, Riverhead, Auckland

Image credit: Lavender Hill Farm | Website

Yes, Lavender Hill is as pretty as it sounds. Drive through north-west Auckland’s bucolic hills, olive groves and wishlist-level lifestyle blocks and pull up to this cute cottage on a hill. It’s a working farm, so expect it to be abuzz with action. Pre-book a tour of the farm and distillery for an up-close look at distilling oils and gins (that includes meeting the alpacas) or a night in their fully-contained barn, complete with continental breakkie. It’s important to take home the literal fruits of Lavender Hill’s labour, their lavender-infused gin and limoncello are iconic. 

Lavendyl Lavender Farm

268 Postmans Road, Kaikoura, Canterbury

Image credit: Lavendyl Lavender Farm | Facebook

Afternoon tea and lavender farms is a *chef’s kiss* level pairing. Kaikoura’s tranquil Lavendyl Lavender Farm Kaikoura hosts a gorgeous Devonshire cream tea—and if you sk nicely (and early)—a homemade continental breakfast, high tea or picnic lunch in the gardens. Sweet treats don’t end there, they’re one of the original makers of lavender ice cream, with plenty of flavours including a vegan sorbet. 

Oh, and speaking of planning ahead: They have a couple of bed and breakfast style cottages to stay in. Fancy a simple frolic? Year round, a crisp $5 covers your entry to the sights and scents of Myra’s stunning lavender fields.

Alphra Lavender 

169 Brotherhood Road, Te Awamutu

Image credit: Aphra Lavender | Website

Meet Alphra Lavender, the lavender farm based in Kihikihi that has continued to grow its incredible fields for over 25 years. You can drop by unnanouced (within open times, don't be silly) during the open season in November to Mid-February—but a pre-booked tour is really where it's at. You'll 1) see why they're so passionate about this plant and 2) how they perfectly distill their oil and whip their products up. 

Ben Lomond Lavender Farm

101 Malaghans Road, Coronet Peak, Queenstown

Image credit: Ben Lomond Lavender Farm | Website

Need another reason to put Grabaseat Queenstown flight notifcations on full volume? From December to April you can see lavender in bloom at the Ben Lomond Lavender Farm in the Wakatipu Valley—a 10-minute drive from Queenstown. The Manners Wood family own the property and has been growing lavender here since 1998. They make their own essential oils too—all organic—and guaranteed to have you reminiscing about this trip with every drop.

While we're on the wellness tip, why not visit one of NZ's and Auckland's best float studios?

Hero Image credit: Wānaka Lavender Farm