A selection of NZ gardens to visit
The latest garden to list on the site is Cottonwood, a 2 hectare garden set in rural Mid Canterbury, lovingly developed since 2005 by its current owners. Designed to be explored, the garden unfolds through a series of formal and informal spaces connected by winding paths that invite discovery. Visitors are guided through diverse plantings of both native and exotic species, with thoughtfully chosen combinations that provide year-round interest in colour, texture, and form. A Rhododendron walk, an organic kitchen garden, espaliered fruit trees, a gently meandering stream, and a pond are among the garden’s highlights.
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"Thank you so much for your hospitality and your story was very inspiring and interesting and amazing all at once. Your property is so restful and delightful to wander around."
Hi Anne and Ron, Thanks again for the wonderful visit and afternoon tea on the 1st February, all our residents including myself had a great time. Your garden is just beautiful, it was wonderful to see all the love and care that you both put into creating it.
They are so good for the kids and adults it was like a world of wonder land with its hard worked products and tasty goods on the table. It might be made by hand, but you can tell it was worked on for months.
It is a must-see!
Our visit to Rapaura Watergardens was nothing short of magical. From the moment we arrived, it felt like stepping into another world — a peaceful sanctuary where nature is not just preserved, but truly honoured.
The gardens are crafted with incredible care and intention. Every turn of the path reveals something beautiful: tranquil waterfalls, crystal-clear ponds, lush native plants, and perfectly placed resting spots that invite you to slow down and simply breathe. You can feel the love and vision that went into creating this place. It’s not just a walk — it’s an experience that reconnects you with stillness.
What stood out the most was the atmosphere. There is a deep sense of calm here, almost meditative. The sound of flowing water, the birds, and the surrounding forest create a natural symphony that grounds you instantly. It’s the kind of place where time disappears and you feel fully present.
The staff were warm and welcoming, and everything is maintained to the highest standards
Completely in love! Utterly perfect for a night to recover. Graeme and Tracy Whanganui
Warm and welcoming hosts. Beautiful gardens . Gorgeous and comfortable room. Lyn, Australia
Beautiful place, great location, amazing food and company. Alonso , Peru
Gorgeous setting only 10-minute drive from Invercargill. Super comfy bed. Lovely breakfast. The owners are a joy to converse with. Joy , United States
I just wanted to thank you for allowing my twin sister and me to visit your amazing property last week. What an absolute inspiration and delight you are Judy. You’ve kept that dream alive after your dear husband passed and I think it’s keeping you going!! We so enjoyed the experience, swapping our funny gardening stories and seeing your beautiful garden. The photos don’t do it justice but I created a post on my own page, The Uralla Garden. Hope you don’t mind. I used some of the photos from your website but captioned them as such.
Hope you are well and once again thank you Judy
Thank you for a wonderful visit yesterday to a wonderful garden Anne. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it and I know they will never forget it. Very many thanks,
" On behalf of the Hillcrest Garden Club, I would like to thank you both sincerely for our visit today. You have a beautiful garden and home , and we feel very fortunate to have experienced it all today. Your journey has been truly admirable given all the ups and downs you encountered along the way"
What a wonderful way to fund-raise for our Zonta Awards - a Garden Tea in a beautiful rose garden of one of our members. Thanks to Val Lott for her generosity in hosting us at her home. Our guests appreciated Val's generous sharing of her knowledge of her garden and the roses. Even though there was a mixture of sunshine and a little liquid sunshine, our guests really enjoyed the company, the delicious food, the ambiance of the afternoon and the background music by a talented young musician. Recommend as a venue
Incredible use of a medium-sized section giving the impression it is so much larger. The front is full of beautiful flowers and the back has an abundance of fruit trees and vegetables together with an all-weather entertainment area. There are endless surprises with garden art, statues, mirrors and an incredible Tillandsia 'tree' made from driftwood with the plants secured on. Was also very impressed with the well-hidden water tanks. Lots of ideas to take away for my own small section.
Gardens to visit is a collection of New Zealand's most beautiful gardens that open to the public.
