Events at the Botanic Gardens

Join us for one of our upcoming events at the Gardens. We look forward to seeing you!

Stay up to date with Botanic Gardens events and seasonal highlights on Facebook(external link).

Download a map of the Botanic Gardens [PDF, 2.2 MB] showing all event locations.

Peace Bell events

You are invited to join a number of events throughout the year at the New Zealand World Peace Bell located in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens.

Celebrate, commemorate and have a go at ringing the bell.

Annual events

Event Date 2024
UN Holocaust Memorial Day 27 January  
Christchurch Earthquake Memorial Thursday 22 February

The Peace Bell will be available to any person to ring as a personal tribute and remembrance of the day.

The bell striker will be in place from 11am to 3pm.

Tōhoku Japan Tsunami and Earthquake Day [PNG, 1.7 MB] Monday 11 March A memorial event will take place from 3.30pm onwards.
UN International Bicycle Day 3 June  
Hiroshima and Nagasaki Remembrance 7 August  
UN International Day of Peace 21 September  
UN International Malala Day for Girl's Education 10 November  
CHC Peace Bell Open Day Second Sunday in December  
Joya-no-kane 108 Bells 31 December  

The World Peace Bell Association(external link) organises all of the above ceremonies with the exception of UN Holocaust Memorial Day, Hiroshima and Nagasaki Remembrance and Joya-no-kane 108 Bells.

Sometimes new events are added so please check back for commemorations of interest.

Find out more about the New Zealand World Peace Bell.

Bot Tots

10am to 11.30am, Mondays during the school term.

Calling all parents, grandparents and caregivers! Bring your preschool-aged tamariki into the Christchurch Botanic Gardens to enjoy a simple craft or plant-based activity with the Canterbury Horticultural Society.

Stories, toys and colouring-in are available too.

  • All welcome - no booking needed (caregiver supervision is required).
  • Tea and coffee are provided.
  • Gold coin koha entry
  • Runs during school term-time.

Enjoy gardening and nature-based activities with your preschooler.

More information is available on the Canterbury Horticultural Society Facebook page(external link).

EnviroKids

Envirokids is a chance to connect kiwi kids to our environmental community and it's free.

Every Saturday, the Envirohub(external link) will have activities for kids inspired by the mahi (work) of different organisations that work with the environment.

Activities are available between 10am to 3pm every Saturday (even in the holidays).

  • 10am to 3pm every Saturday at the Kiosk, Botanic Gardens.
  • Children that come regularly can record their learning in a special passbook available once they attend their second event.
  • EnviroKids is also an accredited Children's University learning destination so stamps are available for participating children's passports.

Find out more information about EnviroKids(external link) or keep up to date on the EnviroKids Facebook(external link)

Environmental chat

10.30am to 1.30pm Thursdays.

Pop in for an environmental chat if you need inspiration or advice on anything from starting a new environmental project,  volunteer challenges,  funding advice for green projects, sustainability at home or waste and recycling processes.

The EnviroHub are here to help:

  • An opportunity to join an ongoing conversation or have a one-on-one chat.
  • Free, no bookings required.
  • Drop into the Kiosk anytime between 10.30am and 1pm in the Kiosk, Botanic Gardens.

Find more information about Environmental Chat(external link).

Botanic Gardens and Mona Vale guided walks

Join the Friends of the Botanic Gardens volunteer guides for free guided walks at the Botanic Gardens (October to April) and Mona Vale Gardens (year-round).

Pick and choose from a wonderful selection of topics or come along to all of them for a dose of exercise, beautiful displays, and education rolled into one.

See the walk schedule.

Botanic Gardens guided walks

  • October to April
  • 1.30pm daily lasting 45 to 90 minutes.
  • Meet at the Kiosk, Christchurch Botanic Gardens.

Mona Vale guided walks

  • Selected dates throughout the year.
  • 1.30pm, lasting approx. 90 minutes.
  • Meet by the Mona Vale rose garden.

If you have any queries about guided walks at Mona Vale or the Botanic Gardens, please contact friendsofthegardens@gmail.com.

Garden Life March

1pm and 7pm, Wednesday 6 March 2024.

You're invited to the Canterbury Horticultural Society's monthly get-together - Garden Life. Enjoy a two-hour programme of gardening tips, horticultural speakers and a social get-together.

The Garden Life March's main speaker is Sarah Mankelow, Community Partnerships Ranger for the Christchurch City Council Red Zone team.  Sarah will present Regenerating the Red Zone - Projects, Planting and Possibilities. 

There is enormous potential to transform the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor into the jewel in Christchurch’s crown, creating a place for residents and visitors to explore, play, connect and learn.  At 602 hectares, the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor regeneration area is three-and-a-half times larger than Hagley Park.

Hear about the projects that are getting underway this year, including nearly 30,000 natives ready to be put in the ground, and the ways you can get involved.

But it's not just the river corridor, our red zone team also looks after Southshore, Brooklands and the Port Hills properties as well – and there are moves afoot in those spaces too.

These are inter-generational projects that may take 30 to 50 years to reach fruition – but what a city we will have. Can you imagine?

  • Garden Life is held on the first Wednesday of the month at 1pm and repeated at 7pm.
  • Meet at The Kiosk, Christchurch Botanic Gardens (Just over the footbridge - Armagh Street car park).
  • $5 (non-members: $10)
  • Tea, coffee and biscuits included
  • No need to book, just turn up. Cash or eftpos on the door.

Find out more.(external link)

Plants and Intellectual Property: Unknown but Everywhere

4pm, Sunday 17 March 2024.

Join the Friends of the Botanic Gardens for their monthly speaker series.

The March speaker is Chris Barnaby who runs the Plant Variety Rights Office, part of the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand. Plant Variety Rights is a key component of the commercial plant world upon which commercial plant breeders depend to protect their business and enable them to develop and produce new varieties of plants.

Chris will discuss his varied and interesting work which encompasses botany, taxonomy, nomenclature, plant breeding and commercial plant production.

  • 4pm, Sunday 17 March
  • The Kiosk, Christchurch Botanic Gardens (just over the footbridge from the Armagh Street car park)
  • Members and CHS members $5, non-members $10
  • Afternoon tea is provided.

Find out more.(external link)

Volunteer

To get involved in volunteering in the Botanic Gardens, join the Friends of the Botanic Gardens(external link).