Gardens of New Zealand tour, spring time

Environment

We are committed to operating environmentally sustainable tours. By nature small group touring using one vehicle to transport multiple clients is more environmentally friendly than usual modes of travel including rental car or campervan. We have monitoring systems in place to ensure our vehicles are serviced and driven in line with the manufacturer’s guidelines making the running of the fleet as efficient as possible.

We are a Qualmark Approved Visitor Service which means we have been independently reviewed and deemed to operate in an ethical, professional and environmentally sustainable way. Wherever possible we select suppliers that are also Qualmark approved and therefore deemed to operate in an ethical, professional and environmentally sustainable way.

We pay an annual licence and have official accreditation to operate on Department of Conservation land which demonstrates our commitment to the environment and sustainability. Payment of the license fee funds the protection of New Zealand’s national parks.

Office: We work from several home offices saving on travel time and fossil fuel consumption. All printer cartridges and paper is recycled. Both home offices water supply is supplied by rain water.

Community

On these garden tours we support the local Gardens of Significance visiting several Gardens of Significance on the way. NZGT Gardens of Significance are star rated, from three to six, with six stars replacing the Garden of International Significance classification. On this tour we visit Fisherman’s Bay, The Garden at French Farm, The Giant’s House and Penny Zino's Flaxmere farm, a seven acre Garden of National Significance, 45 Years in the making. Flaxmere farm is also home to "Art in a Garden", an annual event where artists, sculptors, potters, and jewellers exhibit. We also visit Miles Warren’s superb Ohinetahi, a garden of international significance.

We also support a multitude of private gardens and the gardeners who have lovingly sowed and grown them for a magnificent result. There are 52 private gardens in New Zealand and a plethora of spectacular little private gardens to admire and explore with our small group fully guided garden tours throughout New Zealand. These gardens have been assessed by experts assuring the highest standards of design, planting, and maintenance at every property and with our support local gardeners can continue to maintain and share these gardens with their local community.

We also support and stay in a 100 year old farm homesteads, the Akaunui Homestead, and heritage hotels such as the Hanmer Springs Heritage Hotel.

We also where possible visit local craftsmen, markets and restaurants further helping to support the local community. On this tour we visit the Waipara Country Fete. There are over 200 stalls to browse, including fine arts and crafts, local wine and food. It's where South Islanders go to shop early for Christmas, not to mention a wonderful highlight on this New Zealand garden tour.