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.

Friends of the Botanic Gardens 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.

October 2024 walking schedule

Date Theme Location
Monday 21  Conservatories Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Tuesday 22  Plant Hunters: Temperate Asian Border Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 23  General Interest Walk (90 mins) Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Thursday 24 Notable Trees Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Friday 25  NZ Gardens: NZ Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 26 

Heritage Week Walk: Magnetic Observatory

A general history walk with a focus on the Magnetic Observatory.

 Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 26  Mona Vale Gardens Mona Vale Garden Park
Sunday 27 

Heritage Week Walk: Magnetic Observatory

A general history walk with a focus on the Magnetic Observatory.

 Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Monday 28  NZ Gardens: NZ Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Tuesday 29  Curator’s House Potager Garden Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 30  Rock & Crevice Garden Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Thursday 31  Prince of Plants: The Noble Palm Christchurch Botanic Gardens

November 2024 walking schedule

Date Theme Location
Friday 1  Archery Lawn: Discover its Treasures Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 2  NZ Gardens: NZ Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Sunday 3  Notable Trees Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Monday 4  History Walk – Armstrong Lawn Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Tuesday 5 Curious Conifers: A Walk in the Pinetum     Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 6  Gondwana Collection  Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Thursday 7  NZ Gardens: NZ Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Friday 8 General Interest Walk (90 mins) Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 9 Magnetic Observatory & Science Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Sunday 10  NZ Gardens: NZ Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Monday 11  General Interest Walk (90 mins) Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Tuesday 12  Curator’s House Potager Garden Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 13 Gondwana Collection Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Thursday 14  Notable Trees Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Friday 15  Rock & Crevice Garden Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 16  Plant Hunters: Plants & their Stories Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 16  Mona Vale Guided Walk Mona Vale Garden Park
Sunday 17  Gondwana Collection Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Monday 18  Heritage Roses Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Tuesday 19  NZ Icon Garden – NZ Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 20  Plant Hunters – plants & their stories Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Thursday 21  Prince of Plants: The Noble Palm Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Friday 22  General Interest Walk (90 mins) Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 23  NZ Gardens: NZ Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Sunday 24  Notable Trees Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Monday 25  Heritage Roses Christchurch Botanic Gardens

Tuesday 26 

 Curator’s House Potager Garden Christchurch Botanic Gardens

Wednesday 27 

 NZ Gardens: NZ Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens

Thursday 28 

 Curious Conifers: A Walk in the Pinetum     Christchurch Botanic Gardens

Friday 29 

 General Interest Walk (90 mins) Christchurch Botanic Gardens

Saturday 30 

 Biggest, smallest, quirkiest, tallest... Christchurch Botanic Gardens

Saturday 30 

 Mona Vale Guided Walk Mona Vale Garden Park

Botanic Garden caterpillar tours

Caterpillar Tour (external link)

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

Group walking tours

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.