Garden Tours
The Canterbury Horticultural Society have the pleasure in showcasing a selection of the Garden City and Canterbury’s award winning and nationally significant gardens in these specially planned tours. Make your choice from half-day or full-day tours. Experience the hospitality of the garden owners and be inspired by the sheer beauty and creativity of these wonderful gardens.
- Most tours provide morning tea and some have lunch and afternoon tea. These are included in the price of the tour.
- An experienced guide will host each tour.
- All tours will depart at the designated time from the bus stop in Worcester Street between Oxford
Please select from any of the eight garden tours listed below, to find out how to book click here
CITY COURTYARDS
Half-day morning tour
Four of the city’s most beautiful small gardens that nestle in city central. Be amazed at the diversity of these special gardens.
Tranquil evergreen garden full of ferns, trees and native flora plus a courtyard with an elegant pavilion centrepiece.
An historic cottage and garden. This tiny gem has no lawn and is designed as a series of courtyards.
A connoisseur’s garden designed to compliment the modern home. The choice of and use of plant material is outstanding.
A courtyard with a real difference. Native trees, shrubs and ground covers are incorporated to create thought provoking ideas.
Cost $72 (service fees apply). Includes transport, guide, all fees and morning tea. Book Now
Departs Worcester Street tourist bus area 8.30am returns 12.30pm. Wednesday 10 March and Friday 12 March
PREMIER GARDEN TOUR
Half day morning tour
Includes the famous Ohinetahi Garden. Three superlative gardens where you will experience stunning landscapes also spectacular views of the Canterbury Plains and Lyttelton Harbour.
A recently redesigned garden to suit the family’s needs. Impressive hedges are a feature at the entrance and rose garden.
A hillside garden designed and created as an all seasons garden, which is full of exciting colour and texture.
Ohinetahi recognised as one of the very best gardens in New Zealand has a strong structure and is created as a series of rooms including a walled red garden, formal rose garden and an herbaceous border leading to a gazebo. There are numerous stone and metal sculptures.
Cost $68 (service fees apply) Includes transport, guide, all fees and morning tea. Book Now
Departs Worcester Street tourist bus area 8.45am returns 12.45pm. Thursday 11 March and Sunday 14
HIGH COUNTRY
Full day tour
Just one hour from the city you will enjoy history, heritage and hospitality with three station owners in the High Country.
One of Canterbury’s early high country runs, hear the history and view their large garden plus a glimpse into the historic homestead.
A magnificent garden with magnificent scenery. The perennial nursery will be open and following lunch there will be a farm coach tour of the station.
Extreme weather conditions can impact on a garden and plant selection is therefore crucial. We visit an excellent example where splendid shelter trees frame the homestead and garden.
Cost $110 (service fees apply). Includes transport, guide, all fees, morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea. Book Now
Departs Worcester Street tourist bus area 9.00am returns 5.00pm. Friday 12 March and Sunday 14 March.
COUNTRY SPLENDOUR
Half day morning tour
Visit three very different gardens including Otahuna, now a private guest lodge.
A small award winning garden excelling in its choice of perennials, annuals and hanging baskets creating a spectacular display.
A large country garden with a variety of features including a delightful potager, gravel garden, rockery, woodland area and a number of herbaceous borders.
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Otahuna – one of Sir Heaton Rhodes’ greatest legacies. The gardens feature an orchard, potager, a mushroom garden, rose garden and Dutch garden plus a field that blooms with millions of daffodils each year. The restoration of the garden began in 2007 and 6 gardeners have revitalised many areas.
Cost $64 (service fees apply). Includes morning tea, transport, guide, and all fees. Book Now
Departs Worcester Street tourist bus area 9.15 am returns 1.00pm. Thursday 11 March and Saturday 13 March.
GATEWAY TO THE COUNTRY
Full day tour
A town and country garden experience south of Christchurch.
From woodland gardens to water gardens. Trotts garden is inspired by English formal gardens with areas integrated yet contain elements of surprise. A chapel provides tranquillity in the garden.
A largely formal garden with a strong New Zealand theme. Areas radiate from a central walk edged by wide borders of native flora. Totara hedges are used to emphasize the design and shelter. A large canal is another feature of the garden.
A one acre property owing its maturity and privacy to original tree plantings (oak, weeping elm, beech, cedar) and includes a large lawn surrounded by woodland, with a collection of Japanese maples, rhododendrons, and camellias.
Cost $116 (service fees apply). Includes transport, guide, all fees, morning tea and lunch. Book Now
Departs Worcester Street tourist bus area 9.00am returns 5.00pm. Wednesday 10 March and Saturday 13 March.
TASTE OF NORTH CANTERBURY – Gardens, Food and Wine
Full day tour
Enjoy North Canterbury country landscape as we visit gardens and award winning family owned vineyard.
Millwood Botanics originally a Methodist church built in 1864. The property has been redesigned into a private home and business – wedding venue and floral freeze-drying operation.
A twenty-year garden old created from on a paddock designed in a series of rooms with hedging as a feature. An entertainment area flows from the house and creates wonderful indoor/outdoor living space.
A sumptuous lunch and tastings at one of New Zealand’s leading award winning winery and restaurant. Explore the extensive grounds, potager garden and the biodiversity trail.
Morning tea and lunch included.
Cost $150 (service fees apply). Includes transport, guide, all fees, morning tea and lunch. Book Now
Departs Worcester Street tourist bus area 9.00am returns 4.30pm. Thursday 11 March and Friday 12 March.
AKAROA
Full day tour
Touring with a French connection this special day out features interesting gardens mixed with an artistic touch.
Panoramic sea views from a one-hectare garden, which includes over 170 different types of hebe. Native plants are also included with perennials.
Stopping at one of the little settlements visit a highly praised gallery.
Tour the garden studio of watercolour artist Nancy Tichborne. A wealth of wildlife and streams compliment this expansive garden.
Surrounding an 1880 historical home Linton is a glorious garden with sculptures, mosaic and clever paintings.
Cost $120 (service fees apply). Includes transport, guide, all fees, morning tea and lunch. Book Now
Departs Worcester Street tourist bus area 8.30am returns 5.00pm. Wednesday 10 March and Sunday 14 March.
URBAN OASES
Half-day morning tour
Four special city gardens of the city’s most beautiful small gardens that nestle in city central.
Original native vegetation with a stream running through the middle of the garden creates framework for a spacial experience.
Over 5 hectares of rolling lawns and gardens surround the historic home of Mona Vale and evokes all the rich atmosphere of a grand style of life.
An established family garden started in 1906 includes a woodland area with a 102 year old elm, English beech and various flowering trees and shrubs under planted with hostas and much much more.
An assortment of plantings including fruit trees and vegetables collected over many years to form an interesting family garden.
Cost $64 (service fees apply). Includes transport, guide, all fees and morning tea. Book Now
Departs Worcester Street tourist bus area 9am returns 1.00pm. Saturday 13 March.
BOOKING AND CONDITIONS
Make sure to reserve your ticket, as the number for each tour is limited.
Bookings can be made on line through www.ticketek.co.nz or by phoning o8ooTICKETEK, at any Ticketek outlet or the Visitors Centre in the Square, Service fees apply.
Tour Departure Point
These quality tours will depart at the designated time from the bus stop in Worcester Street between Oxford Terrace and the Square.
The Canterbury Horticultural Society reserves the right to alter, change, or cancel the tour at any time for any reason. A minimum number of people are required to operate the tour and where sufficient numbers are not achieved the tour may be cancelled. While every effort will be made to maintain the schedule no guarantees are offered or implied.
Tours organised by the Canterbury Horticultural Society ph 64 3 3666937
Email chsi@xtra.co.nz P O Box 369 Christchurch.
