Tours of the Botanic Gardens

As there is so much to see in the Botanic Gardens you might like to consider taking a tour. There are a number of different options for tours.

Friends of the Botanic Gardens tours

Join a fantastic, guided tour with knowledgeable and friendly guides showcasing some of our spectacular collections.

Botanic Gardens

  • Volunteer guides from the Friends of the Botanic Gardens offer free guided walks at the Botanic Gardens between October and April, and throughout the year on request.
  • 1.30pm.
  • Meet outside the Kiosk.
  • Botanic Gardens tours are 45 to 60 minutes long unless otherwise stated.

Mona Vale

  • Seasonal walks at Mona Vale are offered throughout the year.
  • 1.30pm.
  • Meet at the Rose Garden car park.
  • Mona Vale tours are 90 minutes.

Special interest group tours

If you have any queries or would like to arrange a special interest tour for a group, please contact friendsofthegardens@gmail.com or phone Pat Whitman at 03 384 3475.

Local groups are $5 per person, international groups are $10 per person.

2024 Botanic Gardens and Mona Vale walks

Date Location Theme
Wednesday 21 February Christchurch Botanic Gardens Prince of Plants: The Noble Palm
Thursday 22 February Christchurch Botanic Gardens NZ Gardens: NZ Natives
Friday 23 February Christchurch Botanic Gardens Biggest, smallest quirkiest, tallest…
Saturday 24 February Christchurch Botanic Gardens Plant Hunters: Plants & their Stories
Saturday 24 February Mona Vale Gardens Mona Vale guided walk (90 min)
Sunday 25 February Christchurch Botanic Gardens General interest walk (90 min)
Monday 26 February Christchurch Botanic Gardens Gondwana Collection
Tuesday 27 February Christchurch Botanic Gardens General interest walk (90 mins)
Wednesday 28 February Christchurch Botanic Gardens NZ Gardens: NZ Natives
Thursday 29 February Christchurch Botanic Gardens History walk: Armstrong Lawn
Friday 1 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens Prince of Plants: The Noble Palm     
Saturday 2 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens NZ Gardens: NZ Natives
Sunday 3 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens Notable Trees
Monday 4 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens Plant Hunters: Plants & their Stories
Tuesday 5 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens Curious Conifers: A Walk in the Pinetum
Wednesday 6 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens General interest walk
Thursday 7 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens NZ Gardens: NZ Natives
Friday 8 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens Notable Trees
Saturday 9 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens General interest walk (90 min)
Saturday 9 March Mona Vale Gardens Mona Vale guided walk (90 min)
Sunday 10 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens General interest walk (90 min)
Monday 11 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens Conservatories
Tuesday 12 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens NZ Gardens: NZ Natives
Wednesday 13 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens Trooping the Colour: Our Herbaceous Border
Thursday 14 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens General interest walk (90 min)
Friday 15 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens Notable Trees
Saturday 16 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens Biggest, smallest quirkiest, tallest…
Saturday 16 March Mona Vale Gardens Mona Vale guided walk (90 min)
Sunday 17 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens NZ Gardens: NZ Natives
Monday 18 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens History Walk: Armstrong Lawn
Tuesday 19 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens Curator's House Potager Garden
Wednesday 20 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens Gondwana Collection
Thursday 21 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens Curator's House Potager Garden
Friday 22 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens General interest walk (90 min)
Saturday 23 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens Notable Trees
Sunday 24 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens Prince of Plants: The Noble Palm     
Monday 25 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens Gondwana Collection
Tuesday 26 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens General interest walk (90 min)
Wednesday 27 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens General interest walk (90 min)
Thursday 28 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens Curator's House Potager Garden
Friday 29 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens Trooping the Colour: Our Herbaceous Border
Saturday 30 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens Curator's House Potager Garden
Saturday 30 March Mona Vale Gardens Mona Vale guided walk (90 min)
Sunday 31 March Christchurch Botanic Gardens Gondwana Collection

 

Botanic Garden caterpillar tours

Caterpillar Tour (external link)

Botanic Garden Tours(external link) operates a guided audio tour of the Gardens in all-weather electric shuttles. 

For more information or to book, contact Botanic Gardens Tours on (03) 366 7830 or info@christchurchattractions.nz.

Meet the shuttle near the Peacock Fountain at the Rolleston Avenue end of the Gardens – look out for the purple flag.

Tour times

  • Summer (October to March): 10am to 3.30pm daily
  • Winter (April to September): 11am to 3.30pm Sunday to Thursday

Group walking tours

Please contact the Christchurch Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre for more information or to book a tour – phone 03 941 7590 or email christchurchbotanicgardens@ccc.govt.nz

Tour type Duration Cost Description
Guided walking tour for community group
1 hour Free Groups of local visitors can request guided tours through the Botanic Gardens on a range of topics.
Guided walking tour for tourist group
1 hour $10 per person Tourist groups can request guided tours through the Botanic Gardens on a range of topics.

 If one or more members of your group has limited mobility, please contact the Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre on 941 7590 or email christchurchbotanicgardens@ccc.govt.nz to discuss accessibility options.