Christchurch Botanic Gardens Developed since the first oak tree was planted in 1863, the Botanic Gardens boast an extensive collection of exotic and native trees and plants.
The formal rose garden is popular in summer and the Avon River makes a wonderful focus. Masses of daffodil bloom in spring with the large magnolia collection.
Address: Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch
Open- Daily 7.00am to one hour before sunset
Conservatories & information Centre- 10.15am to 4.00pm (Winter- 11.00am-3.00pm)
Owner- Christchurch City Council
Tel +64 3- 366-1701; Fax +64 3-366-6836
Hagley Park & Little Hagley Hagely Park lies in the centre of Christchurch and has collections of trees and lawns. Harper Avenue is bright with the blossom of Prunus yoedensis in spring.
Little Hagley lies between the Avon river and Rossall St, Fendalton and is bright in spring with azaleas and blossom. It also has a collection of native plants.
Address: Rolleston Avenue & Rossall St, Christchurch
Open- Daily
Entrance fee- Free
Owner- Christchurch City Council
Tel +64 (3) 366 1701; Fax +64 (3) 366 6836
Wilson's Mill Garden Wilson's Mill is a large landscape garden, one of a very few in New Zealand. There are wonderful clear vistas, avenues, a lake (complete with row boat) and some lovely planting.
See our review of this garden.
Address: Christmas Road, Ohoka (Postal: RD2, Kaiapoi)
Open- 1 October to 31 May, 10am - 4pm daily; Groups by appointment only; Children must be accompanied; No Dogs
Facilities: WC; Teas by arrangement for groups only ($12 per person, in addition to garden entrance)
Directions- From Christchurch take SH I north, and follow the brown tourists signs from the motorway, turning left at the second Ohoka motorway exit. Take Mill Road and then turn left into Christmas Road. The garden is signposted on your right.
Entrance fee - NZ$10.00 per adult; $8.00 groups, per person; $8.00 per person for seniors.
Owner- Tony Williams
Tel +64 (3) 327 8113; Fax +64 (3) 327 8113
Website- www.wilsonsmillgarden.co.nz
Wilsons Mill Garden, Ohoka
Ilam Homestead Ilam Homestead lies in the grounds of the University of Canterbury and was the home of Sir Edgar Stead, famous for his work in hybridising rhododendrons. The gardens are open in spring when the azalea and rhododendron collections are in flower.
Address: Ilam Road, Ilam, Christchurch
Open- Daily
Entrance fee - Free
Owner- University of Canterbury
Ilam Homestead, Christchurch
Wendrum Garden A collectors garden, developed since 1970, includes woodland plantings with a special interest in rhododendrons, as well as formal double borders which peak in summer. A garden for all season with excellent and wide selection of trees and shrubs give structure and shelter.
Address: Dobbins Road, nr Christchurch (Postal: RD 3 Leeston, 8151 New Zealand)
Open- October to May by appointment only; Wheelchair access
Closed- June to end September
Entrance fee- $3.00 adult; children free; $2.50 genuine horticultural groups of 6+
Facilities- WC; Plants for sale; lunch by arrangement
Directions- From Christchurch take SH I south and turn into Cryers Road just north of the Rakaia River, then turn right into Dobbins Road.
From Leeston follow Feredays Road to Willis Road then Cryers Road.
Owner- Kathryn Millar
Tel +64 (3) 3242 511; Fax +64 (3) 3242 511
Summer Borders, Wendrum
Kakahu Garden A park-like garden with a predominance of English trees, rhododendrons and camellias covers 6 hectare (16 acres) garden. A century-old avenue of English oaks leads to the homestead. Bluebells have naturalised beneath a plantation of oregon pines, and a great variety of New Zealand native trees have established under the canopy of English trees. A very green garden with a bog garden and a garden of coral roses for summer colour.
Address: Hanging Rock Road, Geraldine (Postal: RD 21, Geraldine)
Open- By appointment all year; Children must be accompanied
Entrance fee- $4.00 adult; children free
Facilities- WC, Plants for sale, Teas by arrangement
Directions- From SH 1 Turn into SH 72 towards Geraldine at Winchester, then turn south into SH 79 before Geraldine. Turn left into Hanging Rock Road. Kakahu is 14 kms from Winchester, 12 kms from Geraldine.
Owner- Gerald & Sue Hargreaves
Tel +64 (3) 6974 858; Fax +64 (3) 6974 897;
Email: kakahu.farm@xtra.co.nz; Website: www.gardenwalks.org.nz/canterbury/kakahu/html
Autumn colour, Kakahu
Inverugie first developed in 1981 the garden surrounds the grey stone house, originally the Carew Presbyterian Church. Original trees have been underplanted with bulbs, rhododendrons and groundcovers, while camellias and roses add colour. The raised vegetable gardens use organic composts.
Address: 1045 Maronan-Craycroft Rd Carew (Postal: Maronan Rd, Carew, RD 5, Ashburton)
Open- By appointment only between 10.00am to 4.30pm from 1 September to 31 March; Groups by arrangement only, Children must be accompanied; No Dogs
Closed- Daily from 31 May to end August
Entrance fee- $3.00 adult; Children free; Groups $3.00 per head
Facilities- WC, Teas and lunch by prior arrangement
Directions- From Christchurch take SH 1 south in the direction of Ashburton, at Tinwald turn right into Maronan Cracroft Rd and continue towards Arundel keeping irrigation ditch on left until the last house on the Moronan Rd. Turn into the garden at the stone mailbox and entrance, across the irrigation ditch.
Owner- Trevor and Doroth McKeown
Tel +64 (3) 303 6389; Fax +64 (3) 303 6400
Stonehaven Stonehaven is a large woodland country garden. It is a garden for all seasons and a plantsman's paradise with many interesting and rare plants. Dry stone walls define different garden areas, and ponds and a bog garden add further interest. Stonehaven has been featured on television and in many books and magazines.
Address: Shepherds Bush Road, Ruapuna (Postal: RD 5, Ashburton)
Open- By Appointment only between 10.00am to 5.00pm from October to May, also open (no appointment) Monday and Tuesday from October to Mid-December; Groups by appointment, No Dogs, Children must be accompanied, Wheelchair access
Closed- June to 30 September
Entrance fee- $4.00 adult; children free
Facilities- WC, Plant Nursery, Teas and lunch by prior arrangement
Directions- From Tinwald/Ashburton turn onto Maronon Road, after approx. 21 kms turn right into Barnswood Road, cross Inland Scenic Route (SH 72) into Shepherds Bush Road. Pass a stone church on your right, the garden is 3 kms on your right.
Owner- Warren & Liz Scott
Tel +64 (3) 303 6108; Fax +64 (3) 303 6008
Stonehaven, Mid-Canterbury
Brikton A retirement garden of approx. 0.2 hectares (0.5 acres). Flowering trees and shrubs including camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas, old climbing roses in season. New Zealand native plants and walkways through the garden, a summerhouse and garden seats encourage you linger.
Address: 45 Douglas Road, Amberley, North Canterbury
Open- 10.00am to 6.00pm by appointment from September to May; Children must be accompanied, Wheelchair access
Closed- June to end August
Entrance fee- $2.00 adult; children free
Facilities- WC, Teas by prior arrangement, Plants for sale
Directions- From SH 1 in Amberley turn onto Douglas Road at the blue diary (store), the garden is oposite the school and tennis courts.
Owner- Ursula Wright
Tel +64 (3) 314 8771
Brikton, Amberley
Flaxmere Garden, Hawarden
Flaxmere Garden Flaxmere Garden is the creation of Penny Zino. It is a garden for all seasons. It has been sculptured from very simple beginnings since 1966. A spring-fed creek inspired a vision that has lead to dreams being fulfilled. Over the last 20 years the garden has received a lot of publicity and recently has been made a Garden of National Significance by the New Zealand Trust.
Flaxmere Garden, Hawarden
Address- 128 Westenra's Road, Hawarden 7385, North Canterbury
Open- Daily by appointment, 10.00am to 5.00pm from mid September to 30 April; Children welcome. No dogs.
Closed- Daily from 1 May to mid September
Entrance fee- $10.00 adult; Children under 12 free; Groups (15 or more) $8.00 per head
Facilities- WC, Plant Nursery, Gift Shop, Teas (by arrangement for groups), Plants for sale, Garden History
Directions- Refer Map on Flaxmere website. Signposted from Hawarden.
Owner- Penny Zino
Tel +64 (0)3 314 4504 Fax +64 (0)3 314 4493; Email:zino@flaxmeregarden.co.nz Website (with map)- www.flaxmeregarden.co.nz
Trotts Garden, Ashburton
Trotts Garden Trotts garden covers 2.8 hectares (7 acres) with a blend of woodland and formality. A collection of choice trees, camellias and rhododendrons. The herbaceous border and rose garden are within hedged enclosures. A pond and stream provides a home for wetland plants. Garden structures throughout the garden provide seating and views. A chapel provides a venue for weddings and celebrations. The garden has featured in books, magazines and on television.
Address: 371 Racecourse Road, Ashburton (Postal: RD 6, Ashburton)
Open- Monday to Saturday between 9.00am to 4.30pm (Sundays by appointment only) from 1 September to 30 May; Groups by appointment, Children must be accompanied, Wheelchair access
Closed- Daily from 31 May to end August
Entrance fee- $8.00 adult; Children free; Groups $8.00 per head
Facilities- WC, Plant Nursery, Gift Shop, Teas and lunch by prior arrangement
Directions- From Christchurch take SH 1 south in the direction of Ashburton, turn right into Racecourse Road on the Ashburton town boundary, the garden is signposted 3.5 kms along
From Ashburton take SH 1 north and turn left into Racecourse Road on the town boundary, the garden is signposted 3.5 kms along
Owner- Alan & Catherine Trott
Tel/Fax +64 (3) 308 9530; Email:alan@trotts.co.nz
Whetstone, Ruapuna
Whetstone, Ruapuna Developed over the past eleven years with specimen trees, spacious lawns, rhododendrons, perennials and roses. Stone walls and paths from Ruapuna weathered stone and a rose covered pergola.
Address: Bennetts Road, Ruapuna, Ashburton (Postal: RD 5, Ashburton)
Open- Daily between 10.00am to 4.00pm from 1 October to 31st March; Groups by appointment, Children must be accompanied, Wheelchair access, No dogs
Closed- Everyday from 1 April to 30 September
Entrance fee- $3.00 adult; Children free; Groups $3.00 per head
Facilities- WC, Teas and lunch by prior arrangement, seating and picnics on lawn
Directions- From the south at Tinwald, Ashburton turn right into Maronan Rd, then turn right into Jaines Rd, across over SH72 onto Bennetts Rd, the garden is the first house on the left.
From the north (Christchurch) take the directions for Mayfield then 10kms south on SH72 until Bennetts Rd, turn into Bennetts Rd, the garden is the first house on the left.
Owner- Don & Margaret Ingold
Tel +64 (3) 303 6371; Fax +64 (3) 303 6381; Email: d.m.ingold@xtra.co.nz
Mona Vale, Christchurch
Mona Vale Extensive formal gardens and lawn surround a stately home on the banks of the Avon River. Rose garden, lily pond and plant collections. Restored Victorian fernery.
Address: 63 Fendalton Road, Fendalton, Christchurch
Open- Daily 7.30am to one hour before sunset
Entrance fee- Free
Owner- Christchurch City Council
Tel +64 (3) 366 1701; Fax +64 (3) 366 6836
Ohinetahi Formal gardens surrounding a historic stone house include a formal rose garden, herbaceous borders, and a red garden.
Woodland gully with rhododendrons and native plantings.
One of New Zealand's most significant private formal gardens. See our Review of this garden
Address: Teddington Road, Governors Bay
Open- 10.00am to 4.00pm Monday to Friday, from Mid-September to 23 December & 7 January to end March (Groups by appointment)
Entrance fee- $10 adult
Owner- Sir Miles Warren
Tel +64 (3) 329 9852; Fax +64 (3) 329 9852
The elegant ogee gazebo closing the double herbaceous borders, Ohinetahi
Broadfields New Zealand Landscape Garden A garden of purely New Zealand native or New Zealand raised exotic varieties. Covering 4 hectares (10 acre) landscape the garden was designed by Robert Watson. Camellia, rhododendron, and grass gardens. Beech forest, kauri forest, New Zealand border, roses, wetlands and forest, azalea garden, kowahi walk, a fern and orchid house plus a cricket oval!
Address: Selwyn Road, Broadfields, nr Christchurch (Postal: PO Box 13-632 Christchurch)
Open- By appointment only; Wheelchair access
Entrance fee- $5.00 adult; children free; $4.00 groups of 10+
Facilities- none
Directions- From Christchurch take SH 1 (the Main South Road), turn left at Hornby Mall corner and then left into Shands Road. After 6 kms turn right into Selwyn Street, garden is 2. 5kms and on your right
Owner- David Hobbs
Tel +64 (3) 366 7774; Fax +64 (3) 366 0448
Camellia pond and perennials, Broadfields NZ Landscape Garden
Gethesmane Gardens A romantic garden with a Christian theme. 1.8 hectares (4 acres) of gardens with ample parking. Many weddings are held in the Garden Chapel. The Rosary Maze is at its best in November-December. Always plants in flower and interesting displays.
Address: 27 Revelation Drive, Christchurch 8
Open- 9.00am to 5.00pm daily except Christmas Day, Easter Sunday and Anzac Day morning; No dogs, Children must be accompanied, Wheelchair access
Closed- Christmas Day, Easter Sunday and Anzac Day morning.
Entrance fee- $5.00 adult; children free
Facilities- WC, Teas for Groups by arrangement, weddings in the Garden Chapel by arrangement
Directions- From Sumner, Christchurch, Turn into Clifton Terrace and follow to the top where it becomes Revelation Drive. Garden is signed on the left
Owner- Ken & Beverley Loader
Tel +64 (3) 326 5848; Fax +64 (3) 326 5849
Gethsemane Gardens, Christchurch
Lyddington Lyddington is a 4 hectare (10 acre) hillside garden paradise. Mature trees and the largest collection of old roses in New Zealand make Lyddington a magical garden. In addition there is a lake, ponds, a giant 'Rosebo', herbaceous borders and a wild garden, and many other features - all the result of over 40 years of love and attention by Sally Allison and her husband Bey.
Address: 891 Mt Thomas Road, Fernside, Rangiora
Open- By appointment only; Children must be accompanied, Wheelchair access
Closed- Christmas Day, Easter Sunday and Anzac Day morning.
Entrance fee- $5.00 adult; children free; $4.00 each Groups of 10+
Facilities- WC,
Directions- Mt Thomas Road is at Fernside 3 kms west of Rangoria on the Rangoria-Oxford Road
Owner- Sally Allison
Tel +64 (3) 313 6809; Fax +64 (3) 313 6804; Email: lyddingtongarden@xtra.co.nz
Lyddington, near Rangiora
Eden Terrace A large garden created over the past 30 years. Sweeping lawns, ponds and an extensive variety of rhododendrons and maples.
Address: Ealing-Montalto Road, Ruapuna (Postal: RD 5, Ashburton)
Open- for Groups only, by appointment, between 10.00am to 4.00pm from October to December; No Dogs, Children must be accompanied, Wheelchair access
Closed- January to 30 September
Entrance fee- $8.00 per person
Facilities- WC, Teas by arrangement
Directions- From SH 72 south of Mayfield turn into Ealing-Monalto Road, the garden is 8 kms on your left
Owner- Neil & Adrienne Doyle
Tel +64 (3) 303 6057; Fax +64 (3) 303 6075; Email: neildoyle@farmside.co.nz
Eden Terrace, Mid-Canterbury
The information here is believed to be correct but changes do occur. There may be closures and changes to times of opening. Entrance fees may vary without notice. bestgardening.com cannot take any responsibility for any errors, changes or omissions. Visitors travelling a distance to visit a garden are advised to check opening times with the owners before setting out.
