There’s so much to experience and enjoy during the Hurunui Garden Festival. We’re inviting you to join us for a long weekend in the inspirational private gardens in North Canterbury. Visit 12 very different gardens, an historic home visit and artist studios. Enjoy a day to attend the Hanmer Springs Fete, an exclusive North Canterbury shopping event. This tour includes accommodation, most meals, garden entries, and private transport for five days to all the country gardens who have opened their doors for this special event.
Christchurch
9am
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 around Christchurch from 9am to travel to North Canterbury for two delightful Amberley Garden visits, enjoy a Waipara Valley winery lunch, then visiting two outstanding Hawarden gardens before travelling to Hanmer Springs for a three-night stay.
Inclusions Lunch and Dinner. Accommodation
After breakfast we will visit a historic homestead, Loch Leven garden and nursery, an artist’s garden in Rotherham, as well as Coldstream Garden is a lush oasis with a stream flowing through this one-hectare garden with its series of interconnecting lawns, with mass plantings of daffodils, tulips, and peonies in flower. Plus another garden, before travelling back to Hanmer Springs and dinner out tonight.
Inclusions Breakfast Lunch and Dinner. Accommodation
Enjoy a café breakfast in the heart of Hanmer Springs before attending the wonderful Hanmer Springs Fete. This is an exclusive shopping event with over 100 trade stalls, set in the spacious grounds of the former Queen Mary Hospital. You are free to enjoy the day in the thermal village town as you please, dinner with your group tonight.
Inclusions Breakfast. Hanmer Fete entry, and accommodation
After breakfast we will visit a Hanmer Springs town garden set in a private oasis, where bellbirds, tui and kereru are regular visitors, before travelling to Greta Valley and then Amberley gardens and dinner out tonight.
Inclusions Breakfast Lunch and Dinner. Accommodation
After a café breakfast we will visit a delightful Amberley Garden before travelling to Christchurch for a farewell lunch in a garden setting. Tour ends after lunch, with drop offs at the airport by 2pm or around the city.
Inclusions Breakfast, Lunch
Still coming down to earth after our brilliant garden trip – everything about it was perfect! A great bunch of ladies who all got on so well, excellent accommodation and meals, and a very competent driver with all sorts of interesting facts and figures about the various districts through which we travelled. The gardens chosen to visit were obviously well thought-out, the historical house was really interesting also, and the “free” day in Hanmer was an excellent idea (thoroughly enjoyed the fete and the hot pools).
As for choosing a favorite garden, as gardeners ourselves we could appreciate the huge effort put in by all the owners/helpers of all the properties, even more so after the obvious horrendous winds they’d experienced immediately prior to the festival; however I personally have to say I was smitten by the Geens’ small garden and also Roses’ corner garden.
All in all, a brilliant experience, thank you so much. –
Thanks for the enjoyable tour of the Hurunui gardens. I cannot really name a favorite, they were all spectacular in their own right. However as I live in a suburban area I have to say I really enjoyed Garry’s garden. The Blue House was also up there in the favorite stakes, again because as a town gardener I can relate to the plantings and garden plan.
I am so pleased that Lyndon Homestead was added to the tour, the house has been thoughtfully restored and felt so warm and welcoming. A real credit to the owners.
Please also thank Geoff for his excellent comments and knowledge, I learnt a great deal of the history and settlements around the area.
Your Hurunui Garden Festival Tour was all you advertised it would be and more! Quality meals, central clean accommodation, and access to beautiful gardens. Geoff was a great guide and was always punctual and helpful.
I look forward to traveling with South Island Tours in the future.
The trip was wonderful, as usual. I really enjoyed the gardens and Hanmer Fete, the weather was good to us and it was lovely to meet you and see your home. Thank you for organising another great trip and for the lovely morning tea. I ate far too much food on that trip!
Thankyou Lee and Geoff for a most memorable garden adventure. The properties and plant varieties were amazing. The peonies didn’t disappoint and I really enjoyed each gardeners personality showing in their landscaping and creative touches.
Your small group made it so comfortable for those of us travelling solo. Thankyou to Geoff for his thoughtful care for our comfort and safety
I loved the whole experience and hope to see you again
