See stunning spring gardens nestled in the North Canterbury countryside. A special time for garden lovers to feel inspired, and relaxed. Enjoy a day to shop and explore the stalls at the Hanmer Springs Fete. Explore gardens from Amberley to Hanmer Springs, Rotherham to Hawarden, town gardens to sprawling country gardens, some a century in the making. Visit 12 very different gardens including some historic home visits.
Great accommodation, and evening dining experiences. Small group numbers, all transport included.
Christchurch
10am
What to bring: suitable layered clothing, a warm jacket or coat, walking shoes, camera, shopping bags for plants and purchases.
Your own travel arrangements to Christchurch, pickups from 10 am to travel to travel to North Canterbury with a winery lunch, visit Pegasus Bay garden and sculpture display, before travelling to Hanmer Springs for a three-night stay.
After a relaxed café breakfast in the heart of Hanmer Springs before attending the wonderful Hanmer Springs Fete for the day, you are free to enjoy the day in the thermal village town as you please. Also, a free night to dine as you wish tonight or to soak in the famous thermal baths.
After breakfast we will visit two Hanmer Springs town gardens, one set in a private oasis, the other with views over the golf course, before visiting the gardens of Culverden and Rotherham. Travelling back to Hanmer Springs
After breakfast we will visit gardens of Cheviot and Omihi before travelling back to Amberley, for our final grand garden visit and a look through the historic homestead, dinner out tonight.
After a café breakfast we will visit a local artist for a talk about paper making with Harakeke at his gallery, returning to Christchurch by mid-day.
I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the beautiful gardens in the Hurunui area and also the interesting St Helen’s Homestead and the artist and sculptor Sharon Earl something different other than gardens. How nice it was to be driven doing some of the back roads and hearing history of the area and properties.
Our trip was everything & more than I expected. We had an amazing time & really enjoyed all the gardens & the lovely people we met. A big thank you to Geoff & yourself for the wonderful experience.
We are still talking about our Golden Girls trip. Thankyou for letting us 3 girls enjoy such a well organised tour and enjoyed so much the story’s the tripping around the country roads such a special part and of course the gardens, the history.
