Spring Garden Open Days

This is a self-drive tour.
Date
Thursday 14, Friday 15, Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 November*
Time
10am–4pm
Price
$0 - $20 per garden

Venture through Cedar Park and discover 1.5 acres full of a variety of vibrant plants, trees and shrubs.

See how spring has brought the award-winning Broadfield Garden to life, through its 3.5 hectares of blossoming plants and flowers.

Discover the transformation of an old quarry at Casa Rossa into an established award-winning garden.

Right next door you will find The Herbal Garden with a mix of medicinal herbs and plants grown for health and wellbeing. 

Venture to Knockdolian in Darfield with its well-established orchard, vegetable garden, rose garden, native plants and woodlands.

Wander through Ortel Garden and Nursery, explore an extensive plant collection, native arboretum and various plantings.

Visit Tai Tapu Sculpture Garden a sanctuary for native birds and art lovers alike, with its stunning sculptures amongst the native bush.

Purchase tickets on the day at each garden. Ortel Garden tickets can be pre-purchased online.

Nearby places to visit...

  • Pop by Maddison Eatery for coffee and breakfast.
  • Les Delices in West Melton for morning tea pastries.
  • The Willows for a walk and to take a look over the Waimakariri River.
  • Finish the afternoon off at Melton Estate for wine tasting, lunch and vineyard tour.
What you'll be visiting...

Cedar Park

101B Lowes Road, Rolleston

Explore this spectacular, peaceful 1.5-acre garden in Rolleston, offering something for everyone.

Enjoy a variety of beautiful gardens, trees and a productive potager. On-site parking is available and a selection of plants are for sale. Bring a picnic and relax. 

*15 and 17 November only.

Entry: $6 adults, children free.

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Broadfield Garden

250 Selwyn Road, Rolleston

Explore this award-winning garden, featuring beautiful vistas, New Zealand cultural icons, topiary, bonsai, and well-kept hedges. Find practical ideas for garden design, planting advice, and maintenance tips, with a focus on plants that thrive in Canterbury.

Wander through various plant collections, including beech and kauri forests, a canal, a museum lawn, and an azalea garden. Talk to experienced gardeners for tips on growing native plants. Bring a picnic and enjoy a peaceful day outdoors. 

Entry: $20 adults, children free.

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The Herbal Garden

205/1 Jowers Road, West Melton

Discover a thriving organic permaculture haven where culinary and medicinal herbs grow alongside vibrant flowers, trees, vegetables and a flourishing orchard. Explore handcrafted herbal skincare products, teas, and salts, all made from the garden’s abundance. 

Entry: $12 adults, children free.   

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Ortel Garden and Nursery

West Melton

This expansive, meticulously designed garden, over 30 years old, features garden rooms with roses, vegetables, and pleached hornbeams. Explore ponds, a stream, perennial borders, new wave planting and a Japanese-inspired cloud-pruned garden. The garden includes an extensive plant collection, native arboretum and various plantings.

Visit the on-site nursery open daily at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. Tea and refreshments are available for purchase. 

To book tickets and receive the address visit ortel.nz

*14, 15 and 16 November only

Entry: $20 adults, children free.

 

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Casa Rossa

203 Jowers Road, West Melton

Visit this 1.25-acre Italianate garden, transformed over 25 years from a former shingle quarry into a masterpiece with a 5-star Garden of National Significance rating from the New Zealand Gardens Trust.

Explore the tapestry beech walk, vibrant maples, elegant roses, striking junipers, and unique artworks throughout the garden. 

Entry: $15 adults, children free.  

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Knockdolian

505 Deans Road, Darfield

Established in 1939, Knockdolian is now a 4-star Garden of National Significance, recognised by the New Zealand Gardens Trust. With a variety of well-established areas—orchard, vegetable garden, rose garden, native plants, rockery, deep borders, and woodlands—there’s plenty to explore and enjoy. 

Entry: $15 adults, children free. 

 

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Tai Tapu Sculpture Garden

1/199 Cossars Rd, Tai Tapu

Tai Tapu Sculpture Garden, a native regeneration project, showcases work by some of New Zealand’s favourite artists set within one hectare of native bush.

Since 2010, over 8,000 trees and shrubs have been planted, creating a haven for rare native plants of Canterbury and a sanctuary for native birds and art lovers alike. Explore, discover and be inspired. 

Entry: $20 adults, children free.

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#SelwynNZ Adventures

Explore people’s latest adventures here in Selwyn. And be sure to add your own – just tag us #selwynNZ on social.
  • Photo from @selwyn.nz on Instagram on selwyn.nz at 11/21/24 at 3:54AM

    Win tickets to the Courtenay A&P Show! 🐎🐑 🚜

    Comment below what you're looking forward to the most at the show and go in the draw to win a double pass! Entries close 3pm tomorrow, Friday 21 November.

    From cute animals, vintage machinery, the grand parade and more, it's a fun day out for all ages!

    Look out for our Meet us in the Country colouring competition for the kids!

    For more event details visit: 👇
    https://selwyn.nz/events/listing/courtenay-show

  • Photo from @selwyn.nz on Instagram on selwyn.nz at 11/13/24 at 7:00AM

    Discover the beauty of Selwyn’s award-winning gardens this weekend at the Spring Garden Open Days. 🌷 🌳

    Visit an old quarry transformed into a stunning oasis of tranquility, a native plant arboretum, old roses, woodlands and gardens celebrating sculptures – there is a gorgeous garden for everyone to enjoy. 🌻

    📅 Thursday 14 – Sunday 17 November, 10am to 4pm

    👉 Find out more: https://selwyn.nz/spring/garden-open-days/

  • Photo from @selwyn.nz on Instagram on selwyn.nz at 11/6/24 at 7:00AM

    The Hororata Highland Games are on this Saturday!

    This Scottish festival with a Kiwi twist features traditional Scottish events such as caber tossing and tug-of-war, alongside great entertainment, and dancing.

    Book your tickets now!

    Find out more: 👇
    https://selwyn.nz/events/listing/hororata-highland-games

    @hororatagames #selwynnz #meetusinthecountry

  • Photo from @selwyn.nz on Instagram on selwyn.nz at 11/16/24 at 1:14AM

    Visited the Christchurch Show?

    Loved what you saw?

    Now come and see real country gardens at Meet us in the Country Spring Garden Open Days this weekend, 14 - 17 November.

    Grab your friends and head out to Selwyn and explore some of our gorgous gardens, with plantings and landscaping for everyone to enjoy.

    Casa Rossa - West Melton
    Tai Tapu Sculpture Garden - Tai Tapu
    Knockdolian - Darfield
    The Herbal Garden - West Melton
    Cedar Park - Rolleston
    Broadfield Gardens - Rolleston
    Ortel Garden - West Melton

    Check out https://selwyn.nz/spring/garden-open-days/
    to find out opening times and costs to visit each garden.

    Meet you in the garden!

    #MeetUsInTheCountry #selwynnz #selwyngardens #springgardens

  • Photo from @selwyn.nz on Instagram on selwyn.nz at 10/22/24 at 6:40AM

    Lock it in your calendar and get your tickets now for the Hororata Highland Games!

    A Scottish festival with a Kiwi twist, it features traditional Scottish events such as caber tossing and tug-of-war, plus rides, dancing, crafts, food stalls and more.

    📅 Saturday 9 November
    📍 Hororata Domain

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