Christchurch Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park

What it is

Christchurch calls itself the Garden City, and its botanic gardens, founded in 1863, are the reason. They lie inside a bend of the small Avon river, next to the wide open space of Hagley Park. In early spring, drifts of daffodils flower under the trees of the woodland, and the cherry trees along the edge of Hagley Park come into blossom. Then come rhododendrons and azaleas, long herbaceous borders, and a formal circular rose garden that peaks in early summer. There are conservatories for tropical plants and begonias, and a section of New Zealand native plants.

Before you go

• September for daffodils and cherry blossom, December for roses.
• Entry is free. Walk in along the river from the city centre.
• Punting on the Avon past the gardens is a gentle way to see them.

The flowers you will see

NarcissusSpring-flowering bulbs with trumpet-shaped blooms in white, yellow, and orangeCherry blossomThe spring-blooming flower of ornamental cherry trees, central to Japan’s hanami customRoseWoody perennial plants with showy, often fragrant flowers in many coloursRhododendronA vast group of shrubs and trees with showy blooms in many coloursBegoniaA vast group of colourful, shade-loving flowering plants from warm climates

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Christchurch Botanic GardensA 21-hectare public garden in central Christchurch, New Zealand

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