Christchurch Botanic Gardens

Christchurch Botanic Gardens is a 21-hectare garden in the heart of Christchurch, New Zealand. It sits beside Hagley Park, and the Avon River loops through it.

It began in 1863, when an English oak was planted to celebrate the wedding of Prince Albert Edward and Princess Alexandra of Denmark. Today it holds collections of native New Zealand plants and plants from around the world, plus greenhouses called conservatories, a nursery, a playground and a climate station. The garden is also a place for research, education and caring for plants that might otherwise be lost. Entry is free, and guided tours can be booked for a fee.

A garden that grew over time

The gardens opened to the public in 1882, and many features followed. The Townend House conservatory opened in 1914, the Winter Garden in 1923 and the Fern House in 1955. The Peacock Fountain was brought from England and restored in 1996.

In 1901 a magnetic observatory in the grounds was used by polar explorers Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton to check their compasses before sailing to Antarctica.

Visiting today

Entry to the gardens is free. A visitor centre opened in 2014 with a cafe and an exhibition on plants and gardening in Canterbury, and next to it is a nursery that grows around 10,000 plant species.

The garden aims to protect heritage, teach people about plants and show off New Zealand's own plant variety. Seasonal bedding displays on Armstrong Lawn bring colour in spring and summer.

On the globe

Find it on the globe in Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island and zoom in to open its card.