I’m not sure there are many towns that have more than three tea pots per head of population, but Owaka in the Catlins area does, its population is around 303. In summer, there are more than 1200 tea pots in the garden at Teapot Land on Main Road.

Vegetable tea pots at Teapot Land in Owaka

The owner of Teapot Land is actually a coffee drinker, I’m not sure whether the unusual collection started with a tea pot, a coffee pot, or a kettle, but Teapot Land it is.

Teapot Land in Owaka

Visitors are invited to put a koha (donation) in the kettle and take photos. It seems like everything you can think of can be turned into a tea pot – a cow, a cabbage, a washing machine, and a woman in a bubble bath.

Drop a koha in the kettle at Teapot Land

Woman in bubbles – Teapot Land

If you visit Owaka in winter it’s likely you’ll only see sturdy tea pots in the garden, the more delicate pots are packed up and put away until summer starts again.

Sewing machine tea pot at Teapot Land

At your service in Owaka

One tea pot always on display is the big tea pot letter box (it features in our In the Kitchen letter box series).

Tea pot letter box at Teapot Land

PS. If you’re a travelling tea pot collector, take a look at potter Marion Mewburn’s wonderful creations.