An architecturally designed and sustainable garden centre, complete with cafe and homewares, is a brilliant day out
If you’re interested in gardening, the country’s most sustainable garden centre is a must-visit. Even if you’re not and just like going to a decent cafe with a good selection of gifts and homewares, you’ll still find plenty to enjoy at the newest Kings Plant Barn in Stonefields, Auckland – it takes garden centres to the next level.
The garden centre was master planned by award-winning Cheshire Architects, who say the site provides Kings a platform for experimentation and innovation. Shoppers can check out a series of display zones to see how their favourite leafy greens look in living, dining and office spaces; get plants expertly potted in-store; or consult with Kings’ very own Plant Doctor for insider tips and tricks. Our guilty pleasure is the DIY terrarium bar, which serves up everything you need to take home and make your own miniature wonderland.
Sustainability is the beating heart of the immersive shopping experience, which boasts solar panels, locally made fixtures from sustainable timber and new plastic recycling initiatives. “Kings Plant Barn is committed to helping cultivate a greener future for New Zealand. From the building design to our operations, we have looked at all areas of this store through a sustainability lens to make it the most sustainable garden centre in the country,” says Kings Plant Barn general manager Chris Hall.
The Garden Kitchen cafe is a reason to visit in itself, with a seasonal menu focusing on locally grown produce and root-to-stem dishes. Sticky pulled jackfruit burger and mimosa anyone? Or enjoy a coffee under the swathes of greenery as the kids play nearby on an all-weather playground, proudly made from sustainable and recycled materials.
Swing by the NZ Designer Showcase section, run in partnership with General Collective, which features a different Kiwi designer each month, with 100 percent of the profit returned to the designer. And make sure to check out the recycling station where customers can swap old plant pots, recycle plant labels and return soft plastics to be made into garden beds and fence posts.
But if it’s garden essentials in a hurry you want, try whipping through the drive-thru service where staff will load mixes into your car for you. You can always stop and smell the roses on another trip to the centre.
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