UPCOMING EVENTS
Wellington Gardens Spring Festival – Wellington
WHEN: September 24 to October 2
Wellington’s annual Spring Festival is centred on the Wellington Botanic Garden.
The spectacular tulip beds will bring joy to your heart and there are many other events for garden lovers, including guided walks and workshops.
Art in a Garden – Hawarden, North Canterbury
WHEN: October 26-29
It’s now 13 years since the tranquil setting of Flaxmere – a garden of national significance – began hosting Art in a Garden. Flaxmere is a place for established and emerging New Zealand artists, painters and sculptures to showcase their work, and the indoor-outdoor exhibition is now well-known. Sculptures sit amidst trees, lawns, ponds and rose gardens while paintings, glass, ceramics and jewellery are exhibited in the restored farm barn gallery. It’s about an hour’s drive north of Christchurch through the lovely Waipara wine region.
Kerikeri Garden Safari
– Kerikeri
WHEN: October 28-29
There’s been a garden safari in Kerikeri every year since the inaugural event in 1987 and it’s a must-see for those who love subtropical gardens. In typically relaxed Far North style, visitors can make their own plans, choosing the gardens they want to visit from the brochure and spending as much time as they like in each one. Owners are usually on hand to share the secrets of growing subtropical plants.
Taranaki Garden Spectacular – New Plymouth
WHEN: October 27 to November 5
This annual 10-day garden festival on the North Island’s western tip is one of the longest-running of its kind in New Zealand. This year’s event will mark the 30th year and the festival seems to go from strength to strength. Of the 45 gardens on the programme, 40 are private gardens open exclusively for the duration of the festival. Mt Taranaki provides a dramatic backdrop for the festival, which combines gardens, food, fashion, architecture and sustainability. Taranaki was named one of the top 10 regions to visit in 2017 by Lonely Planet.
Nelmac Garden Marlborough – Marlborough
WHEN: November 9-12
Garden tours, themed workshops and social events are all on offer at the Nelmac Garden Marlborough festival. Visitors can take full or half-day garden tours and visit a diverse mix of smart, urban-designed gardens and classic country estates. And then there’s the food and wine! The festival finishes with a chance to experience fantastic Kiwi produce, including fine Marlborough sauvignon blanc and fresh local seafood at the Sunday Garden Fête.
Auckland Garden
DesignFest – Auckland
WHEN: November 25-26
The Auckland Garden DesignFest is back again, featuring some of Auckland’s best professionally designed gardens. During the weekend, festival visitors can meet the designers and look at 20 private gardens across Auckland. Organised by the Garden Design Society of New Zealand and Rotary Newmarket, DesignFest raises funds for various charities.
New Zealand Flower and Garden Show – Auckland
WHEN: November 29 to December 3
After a gap of several years, the show will put Auckland back on the garden and floral design map. It’s held at the Trusts Arena grounds in Waitakere, and you’ll see garden designs by top New Zealand and international designers, horticultural and floral art displays, and industry exhibitors.