Te Puka Estate
and Avocado Grove
Rarotonga is known for its great beaches and tourist
attractions around its beautiful coastline, but if you venture
just a few hundred meters off the main road, you will be
surprised what you will find!
Just off the main road in Turangi/Ngatangiia there is Te Puka
Estate &
Avocado
Grove. It’s
a growers
paradise with
Plantations
of Taro/
Maniota/Paw
Paw/Kumara
and now
Avocados.
“Te Puka
Estate &
Avocado
Grove is
a lifestyle
retreat of the
Oberg-Nordt family of Ngatangiia, Rarotonga, its tranquil and
enchanting, set amongst the avocados, paw paw and bananas
with delightful views into the magnificent Turangi Valley and
onto the mountain peaks above, with great sunsets into the
Valley and only 5 minutes to Muri Lagoon.
The avocado varieties are Hanz, Reed, Hass, Pinkerton and
were grafted onto hardy Suntana stock. The idea was to use
this avocado grove as grafting stock to grow hundreds and
thousands more trees in association with ROGA (Rarotonga
Organic Growers Association). The trees are now full in fruit
and grafting can begin after the harvest. Avocados grow into
very large trees and careful pruning shall keep them at around
5-6 meters height for easy harvest. Each tree carries around
100 fruit and when we are planting in association with ROGA
there will be enough fruit to actually press organic avocado oil
for local consumption and export.
72 • Escape Magazine
The Estate was designed by Phillip and he started planting long
before the house was built. The colour scheme was chosen to
make it virtually disappear into the hillside with all plantings
matching the natural colours of the house and only the large
quartz finished swimming pool shining through with its bright
turquoise colours. A yearly avocado festival is planned starting
in April
2020 to
showcase the
versatility
of the fruit
and the
importance
of growing
more
avocados in
the Cook
Islands.
Te Puka
Estate
serves also
as a family
residence,
outings and holiday gatherings. When the family is absent,
parts of the various apartments and rooms are rented on a short
term basis either as individual 4 x 2 bedroom apartments or as
a group & function venue through its FB page or popular sites
like Airbnb. It is also popular with weddings and important
birthdays. Francie & Phillip also own OTB Restaurant & Bar
at Manuia Beach Resort in Arorangi and operate Cook Islands
Gourmet Ltd with catering facilities to accommodate high level
functions from 40 to 100 persons on the premises or at any
other chosen location.
Te Puka Estate, Ngati Au Rd, Turangi Valley,
P.O.Box 3322, Avarua, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS
Phone: 682+ 73410
Email: [email protected]
www.otbrarotonga.com