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Garden & Heritage Tours

Garden & Heritage Vacations

New Zealand is a young country, but we're proud of the culture and history already established by our ancestors.

New Zealand is a young country, but we're proud of the culture and history already established by our ancestors.

Maori cultural experiences, Art Deco tours, picturesque classical gardens, rambling cottage gardens and vistas of native plants offer a delight to the senses and deeper understanding of the diverse New Zealand experience.

Lodges of New Zealand bring together the varied influences upon the country with unique and authentic experiences, off the beaten track, to be enjoyed in tranquility.

....  on the road less travelled

Discover New Zealand's Garden & Heritage

Ellerslie International Flower Show

Visitors will be wowed by gardens by young Royal Horticultural Society award-winning designer Tom Harfleet from London, Australian designers Rick Eckersley, Scott Leung and Myles Broad with their gold award-winning The Last Australian Garden from the 2010 Singapore Garden Festival and four future inner city Christchurch gardens by Ellerslie gold award winners and top New Zealand designers, Aucklanders Xanthe White and Tim Feather, Wellington’s Ben Hoyle and the Canterbury Horticultural Society.

There will be more than 40 gardens on display, in what will be one of the best shows to be seen in Christchurch, says Mayor Bob Parker. “The selection of exhibition gardens is absolutely outstanding this year. There is everything from a courtyard garden which project engineer for the Upper Waitaki Hydroelectric power scheme Max Smith would have had at his home and a beautiful rose garden featuring the latest varietal releases to a contemporary design of the traditional glasshouse and a wonderful project aimed at getting young families to start growing their own vegie patch.”

7 - 11 March 2012
Hagley Park
Christchurch

Celebrating 100 years in 2010, Sherwood Lodge offers the opportunity to enjoy the ambiance of a early 20th century farm homestead, with Arts & Crafts and Deco influences. Several acres of mature gardens feature abundant roses, rhododendrons, lavender and mature exotic trees, while large stands of kowhai and cabbage trees are scattered throughout the property.
Timara Lodge's beautiful gardens are well renowned with garden enthusiasts throughout New Zealand. Set amidst 25 acres of lovingly manicured English style gardens, featuring sweeping fully mature trees, native and exotic trees - some more than a century old, a historic arboretum, perfume garden, daffodil lawn, woodland walk, and a rose garden featuring more than 350 roses.
The property is nestled with 17-acres of park-like gardens on the banks of the Waikato River. The borders are beautifully planted and are always superbly tended. The knowledgeable gardening staff will always be willing to take guests on a tour of the botanical highlights and trips to other gardens of interest can be organised to complement the Huka Lodge experience.
The spectacular 110-year old gardens of Otahuna were laid out and cultivated under the direction of A. E. Lowe who trained at Kew Gardens, London. Wide vistas over lawn and lake contrast beautifully with intimate walks which wind through heavily wooded areas.
In 1876 gold miners built the natural spring water collection basin to the property. Below this basin a colony of glow worms settled and awe with their fluorescent nightly display around the rain fed waterfall. When the Lodge landscaped the manicured park garden, the 300 year old majestic Twin Kauri Tree was incorporated as centre point for this native bush paradise.
Harbour and Tyne Historic Precinct. An area of Victorian buildings constructed from the local Oamaru limestone has attracted a number of artisans who practice Victorian crafts. One of New Zealand's leading bookbinders and restorers practises his craft here alongside antique shops and second hand book shops complementing the ambience of the area.
Learn about the environment, wildlife and our history. Visit the Bay of Mystery –Spiritual Heartland of Totaranui, hear the untold stories that you won't find in English history books, visit an island bird sanctuary, drop in to Betty Rowe’s Arapawa Island wildlife sanctuary, or an old Maori Turangawaewae homestead.
This multi award winning 75 acre estate offers five private luxury villas. Each of these villas, offer inspirational views across private heated infinity edged lap pools to the Bay of Islands.