Garden Tours · NEW ZEALAND
Short seasons and capped slots mean the good new zealand garden tours go first. Below: the 7 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Visit New Zealand’s only castle at your own pace. Your ticket covers Larnach Castle, its restored rooms, gardens, native plant trail, and written guides. Allow two to four hours, and plan your transport carefully since the hilltop property is about 20 minutes from Dunedin and public transport is limited.
“The beautiful craftsmanship in the castle. Lovingly restored. Unique part of New Zealand history……..”
This 4 to 5 hour Dunedin tour from Port Chalmers combines city sights, hilltop views, gardens, and local heritage in an air-conditioned vehicle. Guides may include Craig, Damon, Andrew, Rob, Pam, or Sean. You get free time at several stops, but lunch is not included.
“Great places, fantastic guide. Craig is very entertaining, smart and kind. The places we visited were beautiful and the timing was perfect.”
Visit Sculptureum in rural Matakana on a self-guided 1.4-kilometre walk through three sculpture gardens and six galleries. You will see more than 800 local and international works, including striking glass art, giant garden figures, bronze pieces, and unusual driftwood sculptures. Add a coffee, meal, or vineyard wine.
“The artwork and glass art inside the building is fabulous. The gardens and the sculptures are beautiful. The driftwood sculptures of the horses and the whale are amazing. The bronze sculptures were just lovely. I loved the boy pushing the girl on the swing. The sculpture of the boy holding the dolphin is apparently an early work by Leonardo Da Vinci and is quite stunning.”
Step into Odyssey Sensory Maze on Auckland’s Queen Street for a self-guided trip through 12 rooms filled with mirrors, dark spaces, scents, sounds, balloons, and visual tricks. Plan on about 20 to 30 minutes, though there is no time limit. Children aged eight and older can take part, with adult support recommended for younger children.
“Was absolutely amazing. Definitely will do it again. I enjoyed the balloon room and the mirror room.”
This 3.5-hour Napier shore excursion combines Art Deco streets, Bluff Hill, Te Mata Peak, a private garden visit, and a seated tasting of at least five wines at Askerne Estate. Guides Ross or John lead groups of up to 13 in a comfortable minibus.
“Ross was a great guide. He reached out to each participant to inform again about meeting time and place. The tour included multiple good stops for pictures and/or some shopping. The vineyard he picked had a great selection of different vines and offered options for everyone.”
Spend about three hours with Ross, Sandy, Denise, Angela, or Sandi seeing Napier’s Art Deco streets, Te Mata Peak, Bluff Hill, a private garden, and Askerne Vineyards. Expect a small group of up to 13, local commentary, and a generous tasting of estate wines with New Zealand cheese and biscuits.
“The driver was kind and nice, and he owns the tour. The views were great, wine was good. He also stopped at his house and showed view from his yard.”
This six-hour tour combines Dunedin sights with Otago Peninsula views, Larnach Castle Gardens, and Olveston Historic Home. Guides including Asta, Teresa, Ross, and Scott have led the route. Port pickup, transport, and drop-off are included, while castle interior admission costs extra.
“Larnarch Castle gardens, Dunedin University. An interesting commentary of Dunedin history and development”
Pick a season, a palace or a glasshouse.
