Events at the Botanic Gardens

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

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.

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 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 who work with the environment. Activities available between 10am-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). 

• An opportunity to join an on-going 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).

Join the Friends of the Botanic Gardens volunteer guides for free guided walks at the Botanic Gardens (November 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

Join the Friends of the Botanic Gardens for their monthly talk and afternoon tea!

• Talks take place at 4pm on the last Sunday of the month. Afternoon tea is served from 3.45pm.
• Meet at the Kiosk - located near the children's playground and just over the footbridge from the Armagh Street car park.
• Talks are $5 for CHS and Friends members and $10 for the general public.

September – Fish of Christchurch Rivers

Join Dr Don Jellyman, a leading freshwater fisheries scientist from NIWA.

Don will speak about the native and introduced fish we might see in Christchurch waterways with a special focus on tuna-longfin eel, īnanga, and lamprey, as well as the brown trout that are often spotted by visitors to the Gardens.

When: 4pm, Sunday 17 September

For more information about the talks, please visit the Friends of the Botanic Gardens website(external link) or email friendsofthegardens@gmail.com.

Travel back in time and solve puzzles at five of the city's favourite places!

Dinosaurs, tuatara, ancient Greek heroes and Egyptian hieroglyphics are just some of the amazing things you'll discover as you journey through time to discover the past. 

The trail takes place at five locations – the Botanic Gardens, Art Gallery, Canterbury Museum (currently located in the CoCA Gallery on Gloucester Street), Teece Museum and Tūranga. You can do all five in one day or spread the fun over the whole holidays.

Collect a free trail booklet from any of the five locations and make sure to get a stamp from each venue when you've finished the activities.

Ki te hoe! Let's get going!

Join Botanic Gardens Curator Louise Young and Curator's House Head Chef Vikki Liptrot to learn about the traditional and modern ways to achieve soil health in your vege garden.

Louise, a Collection Curator for 23 years, will introduce the Curator's Garden, established as a fruit and vegetable demonstration garden and open book for learning.

Louise will talk about the garden's concept, heritage and her learnings over the decades. Joined by Vikki, they will then share learnings about returning to traditional methods of soil enhancement complemented by the use of scientific technology.

Topics will include prepping soil to the Maramataka moon calendar, testing soil prior to fertilising, and using probes before irrigating, followed by a composting demonstration.

• Free event.
• Booking required: info@curatorshouse.co.nz.
• Meet at the Curator's House Restaurant, Rolleston Ave.

Find out more.(external link)

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