Otago Farmhouse Gardens 7 day garden tour

Otago Farmhouse Gardens & Victorian Fete

7 day small group Otago garden tour

Wander the gardens in Queenstown and the Maniototo’s big sky country and in the streets of charming gold rush towns. In Oamaru the Victorian Fete is in full swing in the heritage Victorian Precinct and there’s local hospitality to enjoy in historic homes and gardens.

WHAT TRACY LOVES ABOUT THIS TOUR: Peonies are blooming and our southern gardeners’ hospitality flows. Spring is the best time to travel the wide open spaces of the Maniototo and to enjoy Oamaru’s historic homes and gardens. Plus there’s the fun of the Victorian Fete and unique Riverstone Castle.

$4,790 (NZD) pp twin
$5,390 (NZD) pp single

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Day 1

Fly to Queenstown - Gibbston Valley - Queenstown

On arrival in Queenstown we drive to Annabel and Bruce Russell’s garden in the Gibbston Valley where the first commercial vineyard was planted in the 1980s.

In Queenstown check out the shops or take a wander in the Botanic Gardens adjacent to our hotel, Novotel Queenstown Lakeside where we stay two nights.

Lunch in the stunning Gibbston Valley
Wander the lakeside Botanic Gardens in Queenstown

Accommodation

QUEENSTOWN - NOVOTEL LAKESIDE

Novotel Queenstown Lakeside is the most centrally located lakefront 4-star hotel . Step outside your door and into the heart of Queenstown with easy access to all that this premier four season lake and alpine resort has to offer.

What we love about the Novotel Queenstown Lakeside – On the flat down by the great southern lake Wakatipu stroll out the front door and into all of the boutique shopping options Queenstown has to offer.

Day 2

Queenstown - Stoneridge Estate - Arrowtown

We visit Stoneridge Estate garden above Lake Hayes then meet Penny and David Wallace in their cottage garden nearby. In Arrowtown we stroll the main street and visit the historic Chinese goldminers’ settlement along the riverbank.

In the afternoon we drive beside Lake Wakatipu towards Glenorchy to a special wilderness garden, A Wild Dream, created by Thomas and Christy Schneider over three decades. We dine in our hotel this evening.

Stoneridge Garden above Lake Hayes
A Wild Dream Garden near Glenorchy

Accommodation

QUEENSTOWN - NOVOTEL LAKESIDE

Day 3

Queenstown - Cromwell - Clyde - Ophir - St Bathans - Ranfurly

We meet Jo Wakelin for morning tea in her renowned dry garden at Mount Pisa where carefully selected plants from all over the world thrive without water. We drive into Clyde’s historic main street, once claimed to be the most populous town in New Zealand during the height of gold fever, and then on to the historic settlement of Ophir for lunch at Pitches Store.

Out in the big skies of the Maniototo Plain we visit Rayleen McNally’s garden at Poolburn, a treasure trove surrounding an original stone farm homestead. We meet Bob L de Berry at his Cambrian Common Forest and stop for refreshments at the Vulcan Hotel in St Bathans. Hawkdun Lodge in Ranfurly is our home for two nights.

Over morning tea with Jo Wakelin find out all about dry gardening
Visit Rayleen McNally’s garden of treasures in Poolburn on the Maniototo

Accommodation

RANFURLY - HAWKDUN LODGE

Hawkdun Lodge is a quality motel-style complex offering a relaxing escape with an abundance of comfort, style and space. Hawkdun Lodge is located in Ranfurly, the main township in the Maniototo district of Central Otago.

What we love about Hawkdun Lodge – Contemporary accommodation wth warm and friendly hosts makes Hawkdun Lodge a remarkable property for such a small town.

Day 4

Ranfurly - Naseby - Clachanburn Station, Patearoa - Ranfurly

We call into the Art Deco Gallery in Ranfurly, visit Naseby, then meet David and Carolyn Steele at their sculpture garden.

Out across the Maniototo Plain we lunch with Jane Falconer and stroll through the beautiful garden she has created on a deer farm, Clachanburn Station, in Patearoa. Jane’s rambling country garden is set around a pond with wide views out to the ranges.

Returning to Ranfurly, we dine in at Hawkdun Lodge.

Visit Naseby then David and Carolyn Steele’s lovely sculpture garden
Enjoy a private lunch at Clachanburn Garden with Jane Falconer

Accommodation

RANFURLY - HAWKDUN LODGE

What we love about Hawkdun Lodge – Contemporary accommodation wth warm and friendly hosts makes Hawkdun Lodge a remarkable property for such a small town.

Day 5

Ranfurly - Oamaru Victorian Fete - Riverstone Castle

In Oamaru the Fete is in full swing celebrating the town’s Victorian heritage amid streets of Oamaru stone buildings – live music, dance, street theatre and penny farthings.

Just north of Oamaru we take a guided tour of Dot’s famous creation, Riverstone Castle. We stay two nights at Mariner Suites on the waterfront and dine out both evenings.

The Victorian Fete celebrates Oamaru’s heritage
Tour Dot Smith’s Riverstone Castle

Accommodation

OAMARU - MARINER SUITES

The Mariner Suites provide uniquely-Oamaru, high-quality, boutique accommodation, nestled between the stunning Oamaru coastline and the vibrant Historic precinct.

What we love about Mariner Suites – The best accommodation in Oamaru this modern and newly built property is extremely comfortable.

Day 6

Oamaru - Totara Estate - Burnside Homestead - Brookfield House

This morning we drive out of town to the Historic Places Trust Totara Estate for a step back in time. Totara is where lamb was first frozen and shipped to Britain in 1882. Hear the stories while you sit on hay bales as the billy tea brews.

We lunch with Marcus and Cathy Holgate at distinctive Burnside Homestead set among parklands. We visit JJ Rendell’s painstakingly restored Brookfield Park Gardens, a unique historic treasure and a 5 Star Garden of National Significance.

Lunch with Marcus and Cathy Holgate at Burnside Homestead
Meet JJ Rendell at Brookfield Park Gardens

Accommodation

OAMARU - MARINER SUITES

The Mariner Suites provide uniquely-Oamaru, high-quality, boutique accommodation, nestled between the stunning Oamaru coastline and the vibrant Historic precinct.

What we love about Mariner Suites – The best accommodation in Oamaru this modern and newly built property is extremely comfortable.

Day 7

Oamaru - Rangitata - Christchurch - Return flight

This morning we meet Jackie, an artist, and Greg Bird who specialises in bonsai, in their Oamaru cottage garden.

Heading north we call into Geraldine to check out the artisan shops and lunch with Boo and Hamish Woodhouse in their Rangitata garden. We continue across the Plains to Christchurch Airport for our return flight.