Hanmer Fete and Hurunui Garden Festival

Wednesday 30 October

Mid-morning departure on Air New Zealand, on arrival transfer to your central city hotel.  This afternoon enjoy a walking tour of the central city.

Thursday 31 October

This morning we travel to Amberley to visit two gardens:

Blue House (morning tea available)

Eight years ago this was an exposed sheep paddock, with a great sheltering hedge to the east, and a stream. Windy and dry in summer, and under water in winter. Their solution was to divide the property into 13 informal lawns, each surrounded by a garden with its own character. 

 Roses Corner The garden was established in 1983 but substantially remodelled and replanted 10 years ago.

There are plenty of roses of course: wih interest is added with garden art complementing the floral experience and the luscious greenery.

Today enjoy an included lunch at the Waiprara  Hills Winery. We then visit gardens in the Waipara area. 

Iron Ridge Quarry Raymond and Sue Herber have transformed this property from a white dusty derelict quarry into a magical outdoor exhibition space

Karetu Garden The Karetu Downs homestead overlooks a large sweeping lawn, encapsulated by majestic trees and under plantings of camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas and roses. Large evergreen and deciduous trees planted in the nineteen sixties gives the garden its structure. 

Continue to your Hanmers Springs accommodation for the next three nights.  Dinner included.

Friday 01 November

This morning we visit Four gardens

Hurunui Homestead Extensive tree planting has been carried out over the years to give a parklike entrance. The scarlet oaks lining the drive are spectacular in the autumn. There are two large lawn areas including a croquet green. Hedging is giving privacy and framing the cottage style garden surrounding the house.

Saddlewood The array of beautiful deciduous trees including oak, ash, birch, plane, elm and lime all nestle around this classically English styled home. You’ll love the many paths and ponds that take visitors to areas of woodland, water, roses and views that open north to the spectacular views of Mt Tekoa. 

Newstead This is a one hectare garden with a series of connecting rooms. A Woodland garden of oak trees, a Pergola garden with roses clematis and Nandina the vegetable garden is also a highlight

Travel to the Culverdon/ Rotherham cluster. 

Flaxmere This garden remains inspiring with its appealing vistas and innovative design. The 3-hectare garden features distinct garden areas using different cultivars, connected by a series of ponds with their own personality. Native evergreens contrast with deciduous plantings that change with the seasons, with a focus on trees and shrubs providing interest for spring.

Saturday 02 November

This morning wander through the fourth Hanmer Springs Fete – set in the heart of North Canterbury. This is an exclusive shopping event with over 100 trade stalls, set in the spacious grounds of the former Queen Mary Hospital.  

The Geens Thoughtful planting of trees offer both habitat and a food source for the birds has already paid off, with korimako (bellbird), tui and kereru (wood pigeon) all regular visitors. For the last few years bellbirds have raised fledglings in the garden.

Free afternoon to visit the hot springs.  Farewell dinner at the hotel tonight

Sunday 03 November

This morning after breakfast we visit two more gardens

Coldstream  This garden is a lush oasis as a stream flows through this one hectare garden that wraps around the farmhouse. There a a series of interconnecting lawns. Springtime sees mass plantings of daffodils, tulips and peonies in flower.

Red Oak Red Oak is a 2.5 acre established garden of mature oak and walnut trees scattered throughout the garden providing a canopy for the array of colourful garden beds Rhodos, hydrangeas, hostas, roses, day lilies, calla lilies, dahlias, are all inter planted with no real plan or design, just as long as they survive!

Then continue on to Christchurch airport for our retunr flight home. 

*option to extend your stay in Christchurch