New Zealand garden festivals 2011/2012
Throughout New Zealand there are many internationally and nationally significant gardens with vast collections of local flora - often in natural surroundings - and exotic species.
Most New Zealand towns have large public gardens, and many privately-owned estates are open for visits. There is also a year-round calendar of world-class international, national and regional garden festival events.
October
2011
Sculpture in the Gardens - Auckland
9 October, 2011 - 12 February, 2012
Sculpture in the Gardens is a four-month outdoor exhibition of 21 large-scale sculptures by New Zealand’s best known, most talented and up-and-coming artists. The 2km trail winds through the garden collections at the beautiful Auckland Botanic Gardens, only 20 minutes from downtown Auckland.
Sculpture in the Gardens
Powerco Taranaki Garden Spectacular - New Plymouth
28 October - 6 November, 2011
One of New Zealand's longest-running garden festivals, the 10-day
Powerco Taranaki Garden Spectacular (formerly Taranaki Rhododendron and
Garden Festival) showcases some of New Zealand's most stunning private
and public gardens. Visitors can enjoy strolling through large country
parks, intimate inner city potagers, sub-tropical and rainforest
gardens. The events programme includes jazz and wine in gardens, a
landscape design project, guided walks, and garden celebrity speakers.
Powerco Taranaki Garden Spectacular
November
2011
Hunter's Garden Marlborough
- Blenheim
2 - 6 November, 2011
Hunter’s Garden Marlborough is set in a region renowned
internationally for its sauvignon blanc wines. This five-day festival
showcases some of the best gardens in the region, with tours from the
plains to the secluded inlets of the Marlborough Sounds. The festival
includes an annual art auction, workshops, a garden fete and degustation
dinner in a vineyard setting.
Hunter's Garden Marlborough
Gisborne Garden & Arts Festival 2011 - Gisborne
5 - 6 November, 2011
Discover Gisborne during an inspiring weekend festival of working
artists, live music and stunning gardens. Gisborne's backyard offers
everyday inspiration in 35 gardens and the works of more than 30 local
artists.
Gisborne Garden & Arts Festival
Auckland Flower Show - Auckland
18 - 21 November, 2011
The Auckland Flower Show 2011 will include exhibition gardens,
courtyard gardens themed ‘urban sanctuary’, Kiwi back gardens themed
‘global village’, colourful planted borders and a horticultural avenue.
The festival - first held in 1994 and modelled on the Chelsea Flower
Show - is held at Alexandra Park.
Auckland Flower Show
Pohutukawa Festival
- Coromandel Peninsula
18 November - 4 December, 2011
The Pohutukawa Festival is a celebration of New Zealand's native
Christmas tree, with art exhibitions, open gardens, concerts and a café
crawl through this picturesque coastal region. The highlight is the
Whangamata Jazz Festival, featuring top Kiwi entertainers and garden
tours.
Pohutukawa Festival
Timaru Festival of Roses - Timaru
23 - 27 November, 2011
Timaru's annual Festival of the Roses will be a feast of colour,
entertainment, inspiration and celebration of one of nature's most
celebrated beautiful blooms. Highlights include the self-drive tour of
spectacular local gardens showcasing lush and covetable roses.
Timaru Festival of Roses
Great Barrier Island Garden Tour - Great Barrier Island
26 November, 2011
The Great Barrier Island Garden Tour is a unique opportunity to
visit rural residential gardens on Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki
Gulf. The guided tour takes in charming cottage gardens, spectacular
coastal panoramas, native flora and birdlife, along with a Devonshire
afternoon tea.
Great Barrier Island Garden Tour
February 2012
Burst! Festival of Flowers 2012 - Christchurch
17 February - 4 March, 2012
Internationally renowned as New Zealand’s 'Garden City', Christchurch celebrates its floral heritage at the Festival of Flowers. The 2012 theme is ‘colour me beautiful christchurch!’ which will inspire citywide events. Highlights will include floral portaloos, pop-up floral art, water sculptures, a topiary menagerie, an outdoor movie night in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, and a fabulous floral wall.
Festival of Flowers
Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival 2012 - Hamilton
17 February - 1 March, 2012
Hamilton Gardens covers an area of 58 hectares and is the most popular visitor attraction in the Waikato region with about 600,000 visitors each year. The arts festival - 65 performances and 200 events - is a celebration of all visual arts, music, comedy, theatre, film, literature and food and wine, set in stunning themed gardens.
Hamilton Gardens Summer Festival
March 2012
Heroic Gardens Festival - Auckland
TBA: March, 2012
Heroic Gardens Festival is a regional event, showcasing the work of gay and lesbian gardeners. The event features 20-plus gardens from small city creations to large country estates. Funds raised help support Auckland’s eight hospices. Many gardens have featured in magazines and on television, and most of the garden owners will be present to talk about their gardens.
Heroic Gardens Festival
Ellerslie International Flower Show - Christchurch
7 - 11 March, 2012
Christchurch - the Garden City hosts the annual Ellerslie International Flower Show which is New Zealand’s biggest flower and garden festival. Previously held in Auckland, this iconic event showcases modern New Zealand landscape design and horticulture on a grand scale.
Ellerslie International Flower Show
Botanic Gardens Festival - Auckland
TBA: March, 2012
Celebrate nature in Auckland’s Botanic Gardens. This family-friendly day includes entertainment for kids, including learning about native New Zealand plants and bugs, pumpkin rolling and face painting. The Auckland Botanic Gardens is home to over 10,000 plants from around the world, spread out over 64 hectares in Manurewa, South Auckland.
Botanic Garden Festival
September
2012
Spring Festival
- Wellington
TBA: September - October, 2012
The annual Spring Festival - the opportunity to experience Wellington's Botanic Garden and Otari-Wilton's Bush at their most vibrant - includes more than 40 events and activities. The festival starts in a blaze of colour with Tulip Sunday and features workshops, concerts, guided walks, demonstrations, amazing floral displays, entertainment and more.
Wellington Botanic Garden Events
October
2012
Dunedin Rhododendron Festival
- Dunedin
TBA: October 2012
The week-long Dunedin Rhododendron Festival offers about 50 events,
including wine and food tastings, visual art, garden tours and
demonstrations. Dunedin has an ideal climate for rhododendrons and
azaleas which thrive in private gardens, as well as three gardens of
'national significance' - Dunedin Botanic Gardens, Larnach Castle, and
Glenfalloch Woodland gardens.
Dunedin Rhododendron Festival
Powerco Taranaki Garden Spectacular - New Plymouth
26 October - 4 November, 2012
New Zealand's long-running garden festival, the 10-day
Powerco Taranaki Garden Spectacular (formerly Taranaki Rhododendron and
Garden Festival) will celebrate 25 years in 2012. The festival showcases some of New Zealand's most stunning private
and public gardens from large country
parks to intimate inner city potagers, sub-tropical and rainforest
gardens. Events include jazz and wine in gardens, a
landscape design project, guided walks, and garden celebrity speakers.
Powerco Taranaki Garden Spectacular
November
2012
Bayley's Garden & Artfest - Bay of Plenty
5 - 11 November, 2012
More than 80 Bay of Plenty gardens are open for the week-long Bayley's Garden & Artfest. The gardens provide a unique backdrop for a huge display of local artists in venues from small urban courtyards to rambling country estates. The biennial festival also features a two-day village fair.
Bayley's Garden & Artfest
More information
New Zealand gardens of significance
New Zealand events highlights
These topics may also be of interest to you
|
