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.

November 2024 walking schedule

Date Theme Location
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

December 2024 walking schedule

Date Theme Location
Sunday 1 Biggest, smallest, quirkiest, tallest... Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Monday 2 Curious Conifers: A Walk in the Pinetum Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Tuesday 3 Trooping the Colour: Our Herbaceous Border Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 4 General Interest Walk (90 mins) Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Thursday 5 General Interest Walk (90 mins) Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Friday 6 Trooping the Colour: Our Herbaceous Border Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 7 Biggest, smallest, quirkiest, tallest... Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Sunday 8 Magnetic Observatory & Science Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Monday 9 General Interest Walk (90 mins) Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Tuesday 10 Gondwana Collection Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 11 Plant Hunters: Plants & their Stories Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Thursday 12 General Interest Walk (90 mins) Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Friday 13  Trooping the Colour: Our Herbaceous Border Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 14 Curator’s House Potager Garden Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 14 Mona Vale Guided Walk (90 min) Mona Vale Gardens
Sunday 15 General Interest Walk (90 mins) Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Monday 16 Notable Trees Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Tuesday 17 Cockayne Garden: A Hidden Gem Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 18 General Interest Walk (90 mins) Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Thursday 19 Plant Hunters: Plants & their Stories Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Friday 20 NZ Gardens – NZ Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 21 NZ Gardens – NZ Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Sunday 22 Notable Trees Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Monday 23 NZ Gardens – NZ Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Tuesday 24 Curious Conifers: A Walk in the Pinetum Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 25 Christmas Day / No walk Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Thursday 26 History Walk / Armstrong Lawn Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Friday 27 Biggest, smallest, quirkiest, tallest... Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 28 Plant Hunters: Plants & their Stories Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 28  Mona Vale Guided Walk (90 min) Mona Vale Gardens
Sunday 29 Notable Trees Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Monday 30 Notable Trees Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Tuesday 31 NZ Gardens – NZ Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens

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.