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New Zealand Spring Gardens

A spring fling in New Zealand’s North Island. Our tour starts in Auckland, then New Plymouth, Lake Taupo and Rotorua. Gardens chosen for this itinerary are inspiring, the passion and commitment of these garden makers is sure to spark your own creative spirit.

  • $8,295 AUD
  • 10 Days
  • calendar-icon 8 - 17 NOVEMBER 2026
  • NEW RELEASE
Book This Tour
Itinerary
  • sun iconDay 1
  • calendar icon Sunday 8 November 2026
Home to Auckland (D)

Meet your Tour Leader Angie Thomas at Sydney International Airport and join her on our flight to Auckland. Or meet this evening for a Welcome Dinner at your hotel in Auckland, overlooking Auckland Harbour.

  • sun iconDay 2
  • calendar icon Monday 9 November 2026
Auckland Gardens (B)

You’ll see two very different gardens today. Morning visit to Ayrlies for a guided visit of Beverley McConnell’s large country garden, one of the most celebrated in New Zealand. Lush woodland planting complements her large ponds connected by a tumbling stream and edged in hosta, iris, and other damp-loving plants. Festooning old roses scent the air and tumble over their supports. Garden seats take advantage of planned vistas with distant views of the sea.

Free time in the city for lunch then a panoramic city tour through Parnell, the waterfront and Viaduct Harbour area.

An afternoon visit to Auckland’s ‘hidden gem’, Eden Garden which is set on the slopes of Auckland’s Mt Eden. This award-winning memorial garden has been developed by volunteers and always provide something in bloom. Their use of eco-friendly methods to control weeds creates a thriving bio-diversity to encourage native fauna, geckos, wetas, insects, birds and butterflies.

Dine at leisure tonight in one of the many fine restaurants near your hotel.

  • sun iconDay 3
  • calendar icon Tuesday 10 November 2026
Matakana (B/L)

Travel north this morning to Mincher Garden, just outside Auckland’s CBD which is a garden with a chestnut-lined drive that winds past apple orchards and streams to a classic Georgian styled home. It’s the centrepiece with flowering cherries, rhododendrons, formal parterre and perennial borders. Nested into its own pretty garden is a walled kitchen garden with Victorian inspired glasshouse and gardener’s cottage.

Continue on to Matakana and Omaio Garden on the Takatu Peninsula, for an understanding of New Zealand’s plants. Omaio, a Maori name meaning “place of peace and tranquility”, is predominantly native, with a fusion of carefully selected exotics. Curved flowing shapes reflect the waves and coastal landscape. Lunch will be served in the garden.

A tour of Totara Waters this afternoon, a large sub-tropical garden which includes bromeliads, cycads, strelitzia and scores of palms that are arranged in island beds and on sweeping lawns in a style evoking the tropics. This tranquil garden has inspired many gardeners.

  • sun iconDay 4
  • calendar icon Wednesday 11 November 2026
Auckland to New Plymouth (B/L/D)

We are heading to New Plymouth today with a lunch stop in Hamilton.

A series of gardens here at Hamilton Gardens, was the brainchild of Dr Peter Sergel in 1979. It has been internationally recognized; each beautifully crafted garden is enclosed for an immersive experience.
The first collection is the Paradise Collection, with a Japanese Garden of Contemplation, a Chinese Scholar’s Garden, an Indian Char Bagh Garden, a Renaissance Garden, an English Flower Garden and a Modernist Garden. There is a Fantasy Collection, which consists of a Surrealist Garden, Productive Garden, Tudor Garden, Tropical Garden, Concept Garden, and Mansfield Garden. It’s all quite surreal!

Then we travel south to New Plymouth where you’ll check-in to our hotel for the next three nights.

  • sun iconDay 5
  • calendar icon Thursday 12 November 2026
Taranaki Gardens (B/L)

Your day today – Three Elms is a modern fusion of delightful perennial and subtropical plantings interwoven through elevated courtyards and garden rooms.

Te Kainga Marire meaning “peaceful encampment” was developed in 1972 fom a clay wasteland and is now a private native garden sanctuary.

Pukeiti Garden with one of the world’s most diverse collections of rhododendrons and other exotics. The location on the side of Mt Taranaki means it gets between three and four metres of annual rainfall which results in extraordinary lush growth.

Hurworth Country Garden: a graceful country garden with flourishing beds and borders has been developed around a 1910 villa. Designed as a retirement project, it is immaculately presented with a particularly harmonious management of colour.

  • sun iconDay 6
  • calendar icon Friday 13 November 2026
Taranaki Gardens (B/L)

Explore more Taranaki treasures today. We visit Te Henui Cemetery where a small group of dedicated volunteers have put their passion into this remarkable garden. It’s a riot of flowers all year round with a fine collection of perennials and bulbs. Susan Oliver leads this group with her unbound enthusiasm. She will show us this vibrant garden in the oldest public cemetery in New Plymouth.

Riverlea Garden has been created by knowledgeable gardeners, using a well-chosen plant palette. There is a good balance between flowers, hedges and trees. The garden has been designed around a relocated and restored 120 year old villa.

Enjoy lunch before exploring Waiongana Gardens, a 10 acre block bound by the Waiongana River which has been transformed into an elegant country garden which includes a native river walk and sunken garden.

Tikorangi, the famous Jury Garden outside New Plymouth. Plantsman and hybridist Felix Jury (well respected for magnolia hybrids ‘Vulcan’ and ‘Apollo’) laid out much of the garden as it is today. His son Mark continues his father’s grand obsession. Majestic old avenues of rimu trees and Monterey pines are carefully maintained. Abbie Jury will show us the rock garden, kitchen garden, sunken garden and rose garden.

  • sun iconDay 7
  • calendar icon Saturday 14 November 2026
New Plymouth to Taupo (B/D)

Enjoy a scenic journey through some of the North Island’s most picturesque landscapes with views of Mount Taranaki as we head to Taupo. This stunning town is centered around Lake Taupo, the country’s largest lake, formed from a massive volcanic caldera.

Visit the Ora Garden of Wellbeing, this remarkable garden won the gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2004 and has been rebuilt and replanted at the Taupo Museum.

This afternoon explore the largest crater lake in the world; relax as we cruise the picturesque northern bays of Lake Taupo and view the Maori Rock Carvings up close.

  • sun iconDay 8
  • calendar icon Sunday 15 November 2026
Taupo to Rotorua (B/D)

You’ll see the magnificent Huka Falls on the mighty Waikato River and the fascinating geothermal borefield at Wairakei then travel through vast pine forests to Rotorua.

Enjoy a tour of Te Puia to visit the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve to see the boiling mud pools, steaming silica terraces and the geyser activity and the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute where young Maori are learning traditional carving and weaving skills.

You can walk high amongst giant 120-year-old redwood trees at the Whakarewarewa Forest for a unique birds-eye view of the forest. This evening enjoy a visit to Te Pa Tu where we feast on Maori song, tradition and divine seasonal cuisine.

  • sun iconDay 9
  • calendar icon Monday 16 November 2026
Rotorua (B/D)

Today you travel past Lake Rotoiti to Te Puke in the heart of kiwifruit growing country to visit Shalendy Gardens which was established in 1990 from a bare paddock to complement the owners new home and create a piece of paradise to look good all year round. In the main garden you will see the large trees – such as oaks, liquidambers, gingko, amelias and davida.

This afternoon we head to Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty for a tour of The Elms, Te Papa Tauranga. As one of the oldest gardens in New Zealand, the Elm’s spectacular setting, history and thoughtful integration of indigenous and heritage species alongside those introduced by the early missionary gardeners adds to its charm. Established trees, and New Zealand’s oldest oak tree, provide the perfect habitat for native plants and a vibrant birdlife.

Tonight we celebrate at our Farewell Dinner.

  • sun iconDay 10
  • calendar icon Tuesday 17 November 2026
Rotorua to Home (B)

Depart Rotorua and travel across the bush-clad Mamaku Ranges and picturesque farmlands towards Bombay Hills before arriving at Auckland Airport for our afternoon flight back to Sydney

How to Book
To secure your booking and make your deposit, please complete our

online booking form

You will be contacted by a Ross Tours Travel Consultant to confirm your details and preferred method of payment.

Cancellation Policy
  • Cancellations received prior to departure will incur loss of deposit.
  • Cancellations received between 119-60 days prior to departure will incur a 50% cancellation fee.
  • Cancellations received between 59-30 days prior to departure will incur a 75% cancellation fee plus any non-recoverable costs incurred.
  • Cancellations received within 30 days prior to departure will incur 100% cancellation fee.
  • Cancellations must be sent in writing.
  • Cancellation fee is based upon the total amounts paid including tours, airfares and all other travel arrangements.

Please refer to the Ross Tours standard terms and conditions

Book This Tour

New Zealand Small Group Tour: Explore the Stunning Gardens of Marlborough and Hurunui

Experience the botanical wonders of New Zealand’s South Island on an exclusive and intimate small group tour. Join us on a captivating journey through the fascinating landscapes of Marlborough and Hurunui, renowned for their exquisite gardens and warm Kiwi hospitality. Immerse yourself in the vibrant garden traditions of Christchurch, known as New Zealand’s Garden City. From there venture to Hanmer Springs, where you can relax in thermal pools amidst a picturesque oasis. Explore the renowned Garden Marlborough and the captivating Frensham Gardens, amongst others. Delight in the beauty New Zealand’s gardens have to offer on this unforgettable small group tour.

New Zealand Small Group Tour

Begin your extraordinary journey with our New Zealand small group tour, which is designed to offer unique, immersive experiences. Ross Tours is globally recognised as a leading specialist garden tour company, inspired by our passionate founders, Sandra and Graham Ross, who wish to share the world’s most incredible gardens. So buckle up for a relaxed, effortless and inspiring adventure.

We take pride in providing our guests with a rich array of New Zealand’s most enchanting gardens, served with a side of the country’s sublime natural beauty. Our New Zealand small group tour is more than just a typical trip; it’s an intimate exploration of an exotic landscape, spiced up with exciting local anecdotes, culture, and history. Besides, our local guides add to your travels by sharing insights into the best local restaurants and shops in New Zealand.

We have meticulously curated our New Zealand small group tour for an unmatched travel experience. Led by our handpicked group of experienced leaders- specialists in garden, food, and travel; expect this journey to be nothing short of extraordinary. These leaders not only provide an engaging commentary to your tour but manage your daily itineraries and introduce you to all the must-see (and eat) destinations!

Tour Highlights

Embark on an exclusive and intimate small group tour to discover the botanical marvels of New Zealand’s South Island. Join us for a captivating journey through the intriguing landscapes of Marlborough and Hurunui, celebrated for their exquisite gardens and genuine Kiwi hospitality. Immerse yourself in the vibrant garden traditions of Christchurch, known as New Zealand’s Garden City. Continue your exploration to Hanmer Springs, where you can unwind in thermal pools surrounded by a picturesque oasis. Experience the awe-inspiring TranzAlpine Express, witness the striking Pancake Rocks, and uncover the enchanting beauty of Abel Tasman National Park. Visit notable destinations like Rapaura Springs, Marlborough Garden Festival and the captivating Frensham Gardens. Revel in the splendour that New Zealand’s gardens have to offer on this unforgettable small group tour.

Ross Gardens: Going the Extra Mile

Ross Tours is more than just a tour company. For four decades, we have been creating narratives wrapped in travel. Our founder, Graham Ross, Australia’s leading garden communicator, hosts a Garden Clinic radio show and is known for his TV presence in Better Homes & Gardens. With Ross Tours, you don’t merely experience a location; you live the story behind it.

How to Join the Tour

Joining our New Zealand tour is simple. Just give us a call at 1300 233 200 or inquire via our Contact Us page. We would love to serve and assist you in organising your dream travel experience. We invite you to join the Ross Tour family, where travel is relaxed, effortless, friendly, and inspiring.

Frequently Asked Questions for New Zealand Small Group Tour

What is special about the New Zealand small group tour?

Our New Zealand small group tour is not your typical trip. It’s an intimate, immersive exploration of New Zealand’s most enchanting gardens and sublime natural beauty. You’ll also get the bonus of exciting local anecdotes, culture, and history, as well as insights from our local guides on the best restaurants and shops in the region.

What are the highlights of the New Zealand small group tour?

Highlights include Christchurch’s vibrant garden traditions, a relaxing visit to Hanmer Springs’ thermal pools, a scenic journey on the TranzAlpine Express, and the enchanting landscapes of Abel Tasman National Park. Explore renowned gardens like Frensham Gardens, all while enjoying the warm Kiwi hospitality.

Who are the tour guides for the New Zealand small group tour?

Our small group tours are led by a handpicked group of experienced leaders specialising in garden, food, and wildflower travel. These leaders manage the daily itineraries, provide engaging commentary, and introduce travellers to the must-see destinations in New Zealand.

How can I join the New Zealand small group tour?

Joining us is simple. You can either call us at 1300 233 200 or inquire via our Contact Us page. We would be delighted to assist you in crafting your dream travel experience.

What services do you offer apart from the New Zealand small group tour?

In addition to the tour itself, we can organise your flights and even your tickets for additional events in any cities you will be visiting. We also offer an extension before or after the tour, according to your preference. We make sure you can focus on enjoying your holiday while we take care of everything else.

Tour Inclusions
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Tour Escorted by Angie Thomas
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  • Return Qantas Return group airfare Sydney - Auckland - Sydney with Qantas
  • ac-icon Air-conditioned motorcoach throughout tour
  • bed-icon Deluxe accommodation for 9 nights
  • lunch-icon Breakfast daily, 4 Lunches & 5 Dinners

Entrance fees to all gardens and sightseeing including;

  • Ayrlies Garden, Eden Gardens, Mincher Garden, Omaio Garden, Totara Waters, Hamilton Gardens, Three Elms, Te Kainga Marire, Pukeiti Garden, Hurworth Country Garden, Te Henui Cemetery, Riverlea Garden, Waiongana Gardens, Tikorangi Jury Garden, Ora Garden, Lake Taupo cruise, Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve, Redwood Treewalk, Tamaki Maori Village, Shalendy Gardens, The Elms
TOUR PRICE
  • Twin Share land only
    $8,295 AUD per person
  • Twin Share including airfare
    $8,995 AUD per person
  • Single Supplement
    $1,895 AUD
  • All prices in Australian dollars
  • Prices based on minimum 15 passengers.
  • Airfare is based on departure from Sydney. Enquire for other cities.
Book This Tour
DISCOUNTS
Early Bird
$200
Book and pay before
calendar icon 26 June 2026
  • Previous Traveller
    $100
  • Garden Clinic Member
    $50
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{2025 Tours Programme}

If you are on our mailing list, our printed programme for next year should arrive in your mailbox this week. We have a packed programme full of new exciting tours like Bhutan & Nepal, Spain & Morocco, Ireland and Sabah and old favourites like Japan Spring Festivals, Northern India and Melbourne Flower Show.

You can see all our 2025 tours on our website: www.rosstours.com/tours

Or if you wish to receive our printed programme, please enquire via the website or call us on 1300 233 200.

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{On tour} New Zealand is putting on a show for us this week. Perfect weather conditions for our Spring Gardens tour. #newzealand #southisland #nz #rosstours #rossgardentours #rt_nzspring
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