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.

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

Find out more about the different walks on offer with this handy guide [PDF, 84 KB].

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.

March 2025 walking schedule

Date Theme Location
Wednesday 19 Notable Trees Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Thursday 20 General Interest Walk (90 min) Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Friday 21 History Walk / Armstrong Lawn Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 22 Let’s ID the Conifers Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 22 Mona Vale Guided Walk Mona Vale Gardens
Sunday 23 Guides Top 10 Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Monday 24 Curious Conifers: A Walk in the Pinetum Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Tuesday 25 Biggest, smallest, quirkiest, tallest… Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 26 New Zealand Gardens: New Zealand Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Thursday 27 New Zealand Gardens: New Zealand Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Friday 28 General Interest Walk (90 min) Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 29 General Interest Walk (90 min) Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Sunday 30 Gondwana Collection Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Monday 31 Curator’s House Potager Garden Christchurch Botanic Gardens

April 2025 walking schedule

Date Theme Location
Tuesday 1 New Zealand Gardens: New Zealand Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 2 Gondwana Collection Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Thursday 3 Biggest, smallest, quirkiest, tallest… Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Friday 4 General Interest Walk (90 min) Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 5  Curious Conifers: A walk in the Pinetum Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Sunday 6 Notable Trees Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Monday 7 New Zealand Gardens: New Zealand Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Tuesday 8 Delightful Dahlias Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 9  Curious Conifers: A walk in the Pinetum Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Thursday 10 Archery Lawn Highlights Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Friday 11 Rock & Crevice Gardens Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 12  Notable Trees Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 12  Mona Vale Gardens Guided Walk Mona Vale Gardens
Sunday 13 Guides Top Ten Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Monday 14 Conservatories/General Interest Walk Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Tuesday 15 General Interest Walk (90 min) Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 16  Curious Conifers: A walk in the Pinetum Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Thursday 17 Commemorative Trees Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Friday 18 General Interest Walk (90 min) Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 19  General Interest Walk (90 min) Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Sunday 20 Gondwana Collection Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Monday 21 Prince of Plants: The noble palm Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Tuesday 22 Biggest, smallest, quirkiest, tallest… Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 23  Plant Hunters: Plants & their stories Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Thursday 24 Notable Trees Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Friday 25 New Zealand Gardens: New Zealand Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 26  General Interest Walk (90 min) Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 26  Mona Vale Gardens Guided Walk Mona Vale Gardens 
Sunday 27 Guides Top Ten Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Monday 28 General Interest Walk (90 min) Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Tuesday 29 Curator’s House Potager Garden Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 30 Curious Conifers: A walk in the Pinetum Christchurch Botanic Gardens

 

Caterpillar Tour

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 Thursday to Sunday

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.