Hurunui Garden Festival

Welcome to the fifth Hurunui Garden Festival. Over the weekend you can visit private gardens, historic homesteads, art and collections from Amberley to Gore Bay, and Waikari to Hanmer Springs, many within one hour’s drive of Christchurch and the airport.

Our garden owners are ready to greet you and share their stories of how they’ve created their gardens.

On offer are a variety of special and unique places to explore, including a private museum and car collection, artist studios and gorgeous historic homesteads.

We are excited to have New Zealand’s celebrity gardening guru, the wonderful Lynda Hallinan, attending the festival. She will be with us for a speaking and dinner event that will educate, entertain, and inspire you.

While you’re here for the festival and our warm hospitality, we hope you’ll stay several nights, visit and support wineries, cafes, and the many other attractions that the Hurunui District has to offer.

There’s so much to experience and enjoy at the Garden Festival. We’re inviting you to join us for a long weekend in the inspirational private gardens and many other special places to visit in Hurunui.

It’s easy to visit the gardens

The gardens are arranged into geographical clusters, making it easy for you to plan your visit to multiple gardens. Each cluster has its own detailed map, showing you the precise location of the gardens, along with useful information, such as the locations of public toilets, accommodation, petrol and diesel stations, and food outlets.

 Gates for all 18 gardens this year will be open from 9am – 5pm.  Early bird tickets on sale from 1 July to the end of August so save the date and check back here closer to the time for teh full list of gardens involved.

Overnight parking will be avavbile at some of the gardens for visitors in motorhomes who wish to overnight at the gardens:

A list of gardens will be avaible here from early July so for now save the date!

• If overnighting – please ring or ask the owner in advance and pre-book to ensure there is enough space.
• Please pay cash to the property owner at the gate. (Cost will be advertised once the guidebook is finalzied in early July)
• Must be self-contained and take all rubbish with you.
• Must follow and abide by all health and safety rules (most are working farms)
• Please check to see if the property allows dogs or not.
• Dogs need to be treated for sheep measles (Drontal worm tablet or similar)
•  Welcome to stay for the duration of the festival only – Thursday 26 Oct to Sunday 29 Oct.

Please Note: Everyone is welcome at all of the properties but some may not be able to cope with larger vehicles up the driveway, or overnight due to space or not having a flat area. Properties that accommodate you overnight will have the icon in the guidebook.