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.

January 2025 walking schedule

Date Theme Location
Tuesday 21 Curious Conifers: A Walk in the Pinetum Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 22 Curator’s House Potager Garden Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Thursday 23 NZ Gardens: NZ Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Friday 24 General Interest Walk: Summer Highlights Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 25 Biggest, smallest, quirkiest, tallest… Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Sunday 26 Trooping the Colour: Our Herbaceous Border Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Monday 27 NZ Gardens: NZ Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Tuesday 28 Delightful Dahlias Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 29 Notable Trees Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Thursday 30 NZ Gardens: NZ Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Friday 31 Curious Conifers: A Walk in the Pinetum Christchurch Botanic Gardens

February 2025 walking schedule

Date Theme Location
Saturday 1 Notable Trees Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Sunday 2 Biggest, smallest, quirkiest, tallest… Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Monday 3 Plant Hunters: Plants - Their Stories Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Tuesday 4 New Zealand Gardens: New Zealand Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 5 General Interest Walk Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Thursday 6 Archery Lawn Highlights Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Friday 7 Notable Trees Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 8 Trooping the Colour: Our Herbaceous Border Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 8 Mona Vale Guided Walk Mona Vale Gardens
Sunday 9 Biggest, smallest, quirkiest, tallest… Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Monday 10 General Interest Walk Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Tuesday 11 History Walk: Armstrong Lawn Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 12 Plant Hunters: Plants - Their Stories Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Thursday 13 New Zealand Gardens: New Zealand Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Friday 14 Biggest, smallest, quirkiest, tallest… Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 15 Trooping the Colour: Our Herbaceous Border Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Sunday 16 Notable Trees Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Monday 17 Notable Trees Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Tuesday 18 Curious Conifers: A Walk in the Pinetum Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 19 Curator's House Potager Garden Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Thursday 20 New Zealand Gardens: New Zealand Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Friday 21 Curious Conifers: A Walk in the Pinetum Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 22 Biggest, smallest, quirkiest, tallest… Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Saturday 22 Mona Vale Guided Walk Mona Vale Gardens
Sunday 23 Notable Trees Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Monday 24 New Zealand Gardens: New Zealand Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Tuesday 25 New Zealand Gardens: New Zealand Natives Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 26 Biggest, smallest, quirkiest, tallest… Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Thursday 27 Prince of Plants: The Noble Palm Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Friday 28 General Interest Walk Christchurch Botanic Gardens

Botanic Garden caterpillar tours

Caterpillar Tour

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.