Join us for one of our upcoming events at the Gardens. We look forward to seeing you!

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Download a map of the Botanic Gardens [PDF, 2.2 MB] showing all event locations.

10am to 11.30am, Mondays during the school term

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 available too.

  • All welcome - no booking needed (caregiver supervision is required).
  • Tea and coffee provided.
  • Gold coin koha entry
  • Runs during School term-time.

Enjoy gardening and nature based activities with your preschooler.

More information available on the Canterbury Horticultural Society Facebook page(external link).

3.45pm to 5pm, third Thursday of the month

Join this enthusiastic group of children who meet for practical gardening activities and to learn the science of good gardening with the Canterbury Horticultural Society.

If you know a child between 7 and 14 years of age who would be interested in learning more about all sorts of gardening then get in touch with the CHS(external link). 
  • Meet at The Kiosk (just over the footbridge from the Armagh St car park).
  • Free, but participants must bring their own face mask and gloves for handling potting mix.

*Please note that September's meeting will take place at the Lincoln Events Centre on Sunday 27 September at 1pm so children can explore and discuss the Botanical Expo.

1.30pm, daily through November and December

Join the friendly and knowledgeable Friends of the Botanic Gardens for free guided walks through some our most popular collections. 

Check the walk timetable to find a walk that interests you.

  • Meet at the Kiosk (opposite the Armagh Street car park entrance to the Gardens)
  • 1.30pm daily, walks run 45-60 minutes except for special interest walks which run for 60-90 minutes.
  • For groups of five or more, please book your attendance with friendsofthegardens@gmail.com. Booking is not necessary for smaller groups and individuals.

Bring all your friends and enjoy a informative spring tour of your favourite section.

7-9pm, Thursday 5, 12, 19 and 26 November

Are you new to growing indoor plants?

This short evening course provides a general understanding of houseplant health and maintenance with the opportunity to learn more in depth techniques including terrariums and propagation.

$136 Members & Friends of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens
$160 Non-Members
$176 Combined Course & CHS Membership

Includes take home terrarium, macramé hanger and potted cuttings.
Located at The Kiosk, Christchurch Botanic Gardens

Become a Member of the CHS and receive 15% off all our courses and workshops. Membership valid to December 2021.

Limited tickets, book online now.(external link)

7pm to 9.30pm, Monday 23 November and 9.30am to 12pm, Tuesday 24 November

Join Floral Art Canterbury designer and tutor Shirley Russ and bring the spirit of Christmas into your home.  
Explore concepts and create a floral design for hanging on your door during the Christmas season. Bring a friend and discover your creativity in this fun festive workshop.

10am to 4pm, Saturday 28 to 29 November

Enjoy roses of all types picked from the stunning gardens of the Rose Society's members. 

A feast of colour and fragrance to senses awaits you in the Kiosk!

  • Free
  • The Kiosk, Christchurch Botanic Gardens

7pm to 9.30pm, Monday 30 November and 9.30am to 12pm, Tuesday 1 December

Join Floral Art Canterbury designer and tutor Shirley Russ and bring the spirit of Christmas into your home.  
Explore concepts and create a floral table design for all to share in the Christmas spirit. Bring a friend and discover your creativity in this fun festive workshop.

10am to 11.30am, Saturday 5 December

Get inspiration for creating your own English style hanging basket!

This informative demonstration by Maggie Croy held in The Kiosk at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens will give you all the know-how you need to have bright bedding plants flowering into late Summer. There is also a chance to win one of ten $10 Portstone vouchers to put towards creating your own colourful hanging basket.

7pm, Monday 7th and & 9.45am, Tuesday 8th December

Join the Canterbury Horticultural Society at The Kiosk for a friendly meeting of like-minded gardeners and horticultural enthusiasts.

Every month the Canterbury Horticultural Society Events Committee secures an interesting speaker for the morning and evening meetings. This is followed by ‘Gardening Half Hour’, an informative session hosted by Michael Coulter.

November's speakers are Paul O'Donnell and Gordan Nairn from the Christchurch Hobbyist Beekeepers Club. Paul and Gordon will present 'Bee Kind' - teaching us how to keep bees happy in our gardens. There will be live bees in the building and they will touch on the art of beekeeping. Find out more.(external link)

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  • Meet at The Kiosk, Christchurch Botanic Gardens (Just over the Armagh carpark footbridge)
  • Members: $5.00, non-members: $10.00
  • Tea, coffee and biscuits included

The NZ Lily Society will also be having a sale starting Monday 30 November and running through to Tuesday 8 December. Bring some cash along to support this fundraiser and snap up some beautiful lilies as Christmas gifts!

10am to 3pm, Saturday 2 January

Bring the family in for an IMMERSIVE 3D experience this Summer and explore:
Plants Up Close and Intimate & The Importance of Small - A 3D Microscopic Photograph Exploration
The Importance of Small is an exhibition that brings together stunning 3D images of plants, insects and spiders taken with scanning electron microscopes. Selected from thousands of photographs, these incredible images will transport you into a microscopic world.
  • $6 per person (includes 3D glasses and 3D image catalogue to take home)
  • Children under 5 free
  • Family entrance $20 ( two adults, two children)
  • The Kiosk, just over the Armagh Street footbridge
Use your 3D glasses and take-home catalogue to discover more about bugs then view other dramatic 3D images of plants on the large screen TV.
Additional monitors will show highly magnified everyday items as you have never seen them before.
The grown-ups will enjoy viewing the amazing historic microscopes on display, while the young (and young at heart) can use the microscopes in the Discovery Zone to immerse even further into microscopic worlds.
Find out more on the Canterbury Horticultural Society Facebook page(external link).

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