Garden events in Christchurch

You can find a host of garden-inspired events and gardens to visit in Christchurch. This page links to information on major events, public and private gardens to visit, and further reading to inspire you.

Major events

• Festival of Flowers — held annually in February and March
• Ellerslie International Flower Show — held annually in March
• Royal New Zealand Show — held in November each year to mark the province’s anniversary. Part of Cup and Show Week.
• Art in a Garden — an annual festival of sculpture displayed in the spectacular North Canterbury garden, Flaxmere.
• Sculpture on the Peninsula — a biennial festival of sculpture displayed in the grounds of historic Loudon Farm, Teddington, Banks Peninsula.

Gardens to visit and inspire

Christchurch Botanic Gardens

The 21-hectare site comprises displays, conservatories, memorials, garden art and walking tracks as well as facilities for refreshments and a playground and paddling pool for children. Open every day at no cost, the gardens are an essential part of life in Christchurch and one of many options for viewing the many plants and trees that thrive in the Christchurch climate.

Private gardens

Alongside the Botanic Gardens, Canterbury boasts some fine private gardens which are open to the public.

• Ohinetahi, near Governors Bay, is a historic homestead and garden, originally the home of T.H. Potts, one of New Zealand’s earliest conservationists, and distinguished architect Miles Warren has restored and developed the garden.
• The Edmonds Factory Gardens on Ferry Road were created by Thomas Edmonds as part of his desire to provide a high standard of working environment for his employees. Read about his endeavours in The legacy of Thomas Edmonds.
• Gethsemane is a beautiful Sumner hillside garden with wonderful views. Not many gardens are home to Noah’s Ark!
• Mona Vale, Riccarton Bush and Risingholme are other popular Christchurch parks.
• The Giant’s House, an historic Akaroa house featuring original artworks

The National Garden Register is a comprehensive database of open gardens to visit throughout New Zealand. You can search the interactive map on the website to find many well known Canterbury Gardens.

Community gardens and outdoor wedding venues

There are a number of community gardens dedicated to growing fruit, vegetables and flowers in the local community. They are places of learning and sharing and include Strickland Street, Packe Street and Lyttelton Community Garden. Around the city there are many local parks maintained by the Christchurch City Council. A number of these often hidden gems are listed in the council’s outdoor weddings brochure. [656Kb .PDF]

Garden tours

The Canterbury Horticultural Society run garden tours

Gardens and events resources

Our online resources

• Our guide to gardening has more general gardening resources
• Botanic Gardens Map, 1958, in our digitised maps
• Hagley Park, in our Early Christchurch pages
• Photographs of Parks from our Heritage collection showing early Christchurch parks

Internet Gateway

• Gardening festivals
• Christchurch Botanic Gardens
• Christchurch, the Garden City
• Kids edible gardens from the Organic Garden City Trust

Browse the resources in our libraries

• Gardens Great Britain. Books about British gardens to visit at Christchurch City Libraries
• Gardens New Zealand. Books on gardens to visit in New Zealand at Christchurch City Libraries
• Guidebooks to New Zealand Gardens at Christchurch City Libraries
• Gardening magazines
• A History of Gardening in New Zealand
• Gardening books by Matt Morris
• Colin Amodeo’s Christchurch gardening history Wilderness to garden city