Garden Tours · NEW ZEALAND
Good garden tours in New Zealand fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Review of Larnach Castle and Gardens near Dunedin, covering its history, views, gardens, value, access, timing, and practical tips.
“Lovely self guided tour inside Lanarch Castle and walking around the surrounding gardens. Very beautiful and peaceful. Very detailed information provided about the history of the castle. Great way to spend the weekend. We spent about 2 hours there.”
See Dunedin’s top sights from Port Chalmers, including Baldwin Street, Signal Hill, the Botanic Garden, and Railway Station.
“Super tour of the city and area. The only way to get around and see the sights when only in port for a few hours. Our driver was the best!”
Explore Sculptureum near Auckland, with three gardens, six galleries, 800 artworks, quirky sculptures, wine, coffee, and family appeal.
“The artwork and glass art inside the building is fabulous. The gardens and the sculptures are beautiful. The driftwood sculptures of the horses and the whale are amazing. The bronze sculptures were just lovely. I loved the boy pushing the girl on the swing. The sculpture of the boy holding the dolphin is apparently an early work by Leonardo Da Vinci and is quite stunning.”
Review of Napier’s small-group tour to Te Mata Peak, Art Deco streets, a private garden, Bluff Hill, and Hawke’s Bay wine tasting.
“Ross was a fabulous guide who drove very safely and was a mine of information about our destinations and the areas in and around Napier, plus many more interesting facts. Stopping off at his place to see his beautiful garden was a fabulous end to the trip. Would thoroughly recommend Ross as a tour guide for this beautiful part of NZ Thanks Ross”
See Napier’s Art Deco streets, Te Mata Peak, private gardens, and Hawke’s Bay wine on a relaxed three-hour small-group tour.
“Ross is a fantastic guide. Shared lots of interesting information about Napier and the surrounding area, wines, local flora and fauna. He made our day great.”
Review of Dunedin’s small-group shore tour with city sights, Otago Peninsula views, Larnach Castle gardens, and Olveston House.
“Our tour guide, Asta, was wonderful. Knowledgeable, friendly and adaptable. The tour itself covered both the historical and natural beauty of Dunedin. Thoroughly recommend it.”
Explore Larnach Castle near Dunedin with self-guided access, seven acres of gardens, Otago Peninsula views, and Victorian history.
“Despite the inclement weather we had an enjoyable time learning all about the castle and exploring the gardens. The turret room was fabulous. Afternoon tea in the grand hall with three open fires all lit was very cheerful on a damp cloudy day. Many thanks.”
Review of the Hobbiton and Hamilton Gardens day tour from Auckland, with itinerary details, guide insight, value, transport, and booking advice.
“Our driver was really friendly, fun and informative on the drive to and from Hobbiton. Water and snacks were provided and we stopped for a coffee break on the way. Would recommend and use again”
Review of Dunedin’s 7-hour cruise excursion to Larnach Castle, Chinese Garden, Settlers Museum, and city sights, with practical booking advice.
“Amazing experience, the guide and driver was fantastic, gave a great information on Dunedin and showed us the town around very well, took the time to shows places additionally to the intenary, we had some additional request to stop in feRead more”
Cruise Lake Whakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw, tour Walter Peak gardens, taste fresh produce, and plant a native tree in Queenstown.
“The food and the guide were A+++ We love the boat, food and farm experience. Will recommend to everyone”
Cruise Lake Whakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw, plant a native tree, tour Walter Peak gardens, and enjoy a local produce lunch.
“The tour is amazing and our tour guide name ~ surjane (sorry i must spell wrong) is 100/100!!!”
Review of the Auckland Hobbiton and Hamilton Gardens tour, with itinerary, value, transport, walking tips, and advice on who should book.
“Joe was a great tour guide. The van was very comfortable. Hobbiton was fantastic, not to be missed even if you’re not a movie geek. Every group of 40 or so are spaced out over time so you get a chance to see everything up close and take pictures. So many photo ops! Hamilton gardens are beautiful and interestingly designed. Each element is walled off with hedges so the experience is encapsulated. Wandering on your own gives you a great chance to explore each crated space.”
Explore Dunedin, Olveston Home, Otago Peninsula views, and Larnach Castle Gardens on a six-hour cruise port tour.
“Fabulous tour, very knowledgeable and quirky escaped Yorkshire lass Teresa was very entertaining. Nice tour, not too rushed and options to make slight tweaks where needed. Communication and booking process couldn’t have been more similar and any questions answered promptly. Would recommend. Thank you Teresa”
Review of a private 2-day Auckland tour to Hobbiton, Waitomo, Rotorua, and Hamilton Gardens, with transport, tickets, and hotel included.
“Vendu comme une excursion privative avec choix de la langue en francais. La seule chose en francais furent le booklet de 2 pages remis a Hobbiton. Pour le reste un chauffeur muet qui nous a fait faire beaucoup de route pour revenir sur noRead more”
Review of a private Auckland day trip to Hobbiton, Waitomo, Blue Spring, and Hamilton, with flexible planning, luxury transport, and practical tips.
“We booked a tour to see Hobbiton, Waitomo Caves, Blue Spring, and Hamilton Gardens. The trip was fun and beautiful. We saw small hobbit houses, glowing lights in the caves, clear blue water, and pretty gardens. The guide was nice and the trip was very good.”
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