Celebrate the arrival of spring at the Titahi Bay Horticultural Society's 59th annual flower show. Expect colourful displays of daffodils, camellias, cut flowers, vegetables, fruit, preserves and houseplants, along with workshops, plant sales, raffles and a cafe. Entry $5. Children free. Pātaka Art + Museum, corner Parumoana and Norrie Streets, Porirua. Find out more on the website.
https://www.titahibayhorticulturalsociety.comThe Spring Fling is a series of standout events throughout September and October capturing the essence of springtime in Central Hawke's Bay! Find out more on the website.
https://www.thespringfling.nz/useful-info/Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush celebrates a centenary as Aotearoa New Zealand’s only public native botanic garden with events and activities for all to enjoy, including glow worm tours, guided walks, exhibitions and seminars.
https://wellingtongardens.nz/our-gardens/otari-wiltons-bush#otari-100As Spring arrives, everyone is invited to rediscover Wellington Gardens Ngā Māra o Pōneke through a month-long festival celebrating the season. There’ll be open days, guided walks, talks, and experiences across Wellington Gardens.
https://wellingtongardens.nz/events/spring-festival-te-wa-o-te-koangaForest & Bird’s Te Manu Rongonui o te Tau - Bird of the Year 2026 voting is open through September, raising awareness of our native wildlife, their habitats, and the threats they face.
https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nzThe Snells Beach Garden Circle's annual spring show returns with floral displays, a plant stall, raffles and afternoon tea. A great opportunity to meet local gardeners and pick up plants for the season ahead. Entry free. 1pm-3pm, Saturday. For more information, contact Barbara on 027 294 1780.
Step into spring with a showcase of blooms, plants and floral art. Display entries are open to everyone, with plant sales, raffles and refreshments also available. Admission $2. 956 Great North Road, Western Springs, Auckland. 10am-3pm. Email events@aucklandhorticulture.org for more information.
Celebrate the new season at the Riccarton Horticultural Spring Show, with displays of spring daffodils and other blooms, along with fruit, vegetables, floral art, baking and preserves. Plant sales, raffles and afternoon tea refreshments. Entry free. St Peter’s Church Hall, 22 Main South Road, Church Corner, Upper Riccarton. 12–3pm Saturday. For more information, contact riccartonhorty@gmail.com.
Celebrate the new season at the Papakura Garden Club’s Spring Flower Show. Visitors can enjoy the displays, browse the trading table and enter the raffle. Entry $5, includes afternoon tea. Tuesday 1.30pm. Radio Hall, Wellington Park, 1 Great South Road, Papakura, just south of Pak’nSave. For more information, contact Val Ball, 09 298 6476 or 021 110 6833.
Admire a massed display of flowering orchids, buy plants to take home and get expert help with your own specimens. Repotting demonstrations at 11am and 2pm each day, and the Orchid Doctor at 10.30am and 1.30pm. Café and free parking available. Entry $5, children under 12 free. Tauranga Racecourse, 1383 Cameron Road, Greerton, Tauranga. 10am-4pm, Friday. 10am-3pm, Saturday. For more information, email taurangaorchids@gmail.com.
100th Annual North Island National Daffodil Society Show will be held at the Hamilton Gardens Pavillion, Cobham Drive, Hamilton. Find out more on the website. (There is no South Island show in 2026)
https://daffodil.org.nz/events-and-show-calendar/NZ"s longest running community festival has celebrated the arrival of spring since 1957. Saturday 26th is the Grand Procession & Parade with entertainment at Pioneer park; Sunday is the Delta Garden Tour, a self-drive exploration of beautiful local gardens in Alexandra and Clyde. Full details on the website.
https://www.blossom.co.nzRated as a 4-star Garden of National Significance, Longbush Cottage's colour-themed garden rooms explode into thousands of hand-planted and naturalized blooms curated by Luke Gardner, offering a masterclass in spring bulb layering and colour theory. Visitors can explore the paths, buy specialty potted tulips, and enjoy coffee and fresh baking on site, in support of Parkinson's Wairarapa. 10am to 4pm. Entry $15 per adult (children under 14 free with adult).
https://longbushcottage.co.nzCelebrate spring with rare plants, colourful botanical displays and plenty of expert growing advice. The expo brings together alpine plants, daffodils, orchids, bonsai and floral art, alongside demonstrations, specialist stalls and hard-to-find garden treasures. Entry $10. Lincoln Event Centre, 15 Meijer Drive, Lincoln. Find out more on the website.
https://www.botanicalexpo.nzBeautiful orchid displays, sales, demonstrations and information. Hosted by the Nelson Orchid Club. Entry $5. Stoke Community Hall, Stoke, Nelson. 9am-1pm.
Celebrate the new season with a colourful display of spring flowers and horticultural exhibits at the North Otago Horticultural Society’s annual show. Entry $5 cash. Scottish Hall, Tyne Street, Oamaru. 2pm-4pm, Saturday. 10am-4pm, Sunday. For more information, contact Brenda Adams on 03 437 0625 or beadams@xtra.co.nz.
See an impressive show bench of alpine and specialist plants, with plants also available to buy. Entry $10. Botanical Expo, Lincoln Event Centre, 15 Meijer Drive, Lincoln. Find out more on the website.
https://www.nzags.comŌtepoti Dunedin's garden festival, reborn. Twenty-plus gardens and a year-round celebration rooted in the southern soil. A festival over four seasons celebrating what Dunedin has to offer. Explore more on the website.
https://go-dunedin.nzSee Heritage Park Rhododendron Gardens at its colourful best during its peak flowering season. Explore extensive rhododendron collections underplanted with hostas, disporums, hellebores and baneberries, along with unusual specimen trees, a kōwhai collection, perennial borders and spring bulbs. Entry $10 per adult; children under 14 free. Open daily from dawn to dusk at 34 Haggerty Street, Kimbolton, Manawatū-Rangitīkei.
https://www.heritagepark.co.nzRakaia's popular annual plant sale returns with a huge range of perennials, annuals, bulbs, dahlias, fruit trees, native plants, vegetable seedlings, indoor plants and colourful potted blooms. Held under cover with plenty of room to browse, it's a great chance to stock up the garden ahead of the growing season. Rakaia Community Hall. 9am-1pm. For more information, contact william.hayley.thomson@gmail.com.
The Woodend Spring Flower Show returns for its 93rd year, showcasing outstanding spring flowers, floral art, handcrafts and baking. There will also be sections for young people and the blokes, along with stalls and $5 Devonshire teas. Entry $5 cash, children free. Woodend Community Centre, North Canterbury. 1-4pm, Saturday.
https://www.facebook.com/WoodendSpringFlowerShow/Gardens to visit plus garden stalls, clothing stalls and raffles. Tickets $20 from St John and Puketapu Radio Station. Find out more on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10165062754173846&set=gm.27573457775639748&idorvanity=884149371663951Enjoy a colourful display of orchids at the Hibiscus Coast Orchid Society’s spring show. There will also be posies, raffles and plants for sale. Entry free. Ōrewa Community Hall, 40–46 Ōrewa Square, Hibiscus Coast Highway.
One of New Zealand's premier bonsai events returns with stunning displays of bonsai, viewing stones, ceramics and related arts. Learn from expert demonstrations, browse specialist vendors and discover the artistry behind these miniature masterpieces. Suitable for both dedicated enthusiasts and curious newcomers. Lower Hutt Event Centre. Find out more on the website.
https://wellingtonbonsai.nzAdmire colourful orchid displays and shop for plants, bark, fertilisers and other orchid-growing supplies at the Wellington Orchid Society’s 49th Spring Show. Potting demonstrations will be held on both days. Entry $4; children under 12 free. Walter Nash Stadium, Tocker Street entrance, Taita, Lower Hutt. 10am-4pm, Saturday. 10am-3pm, Sunday. For more information, contact Debbie Rodley-Hartell on 021 264 7443.
Browse and buy a wide selection of bromeliads at this one-day spring sale. Free entry and parking. RSA War Memorial Hall, 489 Dominion Road, Balmoral, Auckland. 10am-3pm.
Peek behind the garden gates of six unique Carterton gardens while supporting the Carterton Indoor Community Pool Project. This self-guided tour includes everything from a colourful cottage garden and a hidden hobbit house to a food forest, sculpture garden and impressive country landscapes. Visitors can choose how many gardens to visit, paying just $5 per garden. Maps will be available from October 10 from Clareville Nursery and Almo's Books. Find out more on the website.
https://www.cartertonpool.co.nz/gardentourmapOtago Polytechnic horticulture students are holding their annual giant plant sale, with drought-tolerant plants, locally eco-sourced natives, grasses, lavenders and punnets of flowers and vegetables. The student retail nursery will also open every Wednesday from 10am–1pm following the sale, until December 2. Otago Polytechnic Central Campus, Cromwell. Entry is from Richards Beach Rd. 9.30am–noon, Saturday.
Spend two days exploring six gardens and four artists’ studios around Oxford while supporting the Oxford A&P Association’s building fundraiser. Prepaid admission includes complimentary tea and cake. The event will go ahead wet or fine. Entry $40 when purchased before October 15; $50 thereafter. 10am-4pm.
https://www.facebook.com/Oxford-A-and-P-Assn-100070723669417/Hurunui Garden Festival. Private gardens and homes from Amberley to Gore Bay, and Waikari to Hamner Springs. Ticket costs and information on the website.
http://www.hurunuigardenfestival.comExplore 11 gardens across Selwyn and Banks Peninsula during the New Zealand Rhododendron Association’s festival, based in Christchurch. The programme also includes workshops, demonstrations and a keynote address from John Anderson, Keeper of the Gardens at Windsor Great Park and associated royal gardens. Find out more plus registration and tickets on the website.
https://rhododendron.org.nzCenturia Taranaki Garden Festival is 10 days of glorious gardens and exciting events. Plus Sustainable Backyards Trail and Taranaki Arts Trail. Programmes, maps and tickets from the website.
http://www.gardenfestnz.co.nz/Taranaki Fringe Garden Festival is about "Real gardens for real people". More than 40 gardens. Every year the selection includes new private gardens. $2 per person payable at each garden. Self-drive site map on website.
http://www.taranakigardens.co.nz/Aotearoa’s longest running sustainable garden trail! 10 days of visiting more than 25 properties talking with gardeners and DIY enthusiasts, who grow healthy, affordable backyards keeping the environment in mind.
https://www.sustainabletrails.org.nzSponsored by New World, experience two days of discovery, beauty, and time to literally, smell the roses. Find out more on the website.
https://gardensafari.co.nzHighwic, a Heritage New Zealand property in Newmarket, Auckland, is the venue for the Highwic Plant Fair to be held in the beautiful grounds of the property. Stallholders will be selling a wide range of quality plants. Food and coffee will also be available, as well as a range of hands-on activities. On display inside Highwic house will be a special display of embroidery featuring plants, and a display of vintage gardening tools. Saturday 10am – 2pm. Free market entry. Parking at Westland Newmarket 309 Building, L3 GREEN carpark; footbridge link to Highwic. For more information contact highwic@heritage.org.nz
https://www.visitheritage.co.nz/visit/auckland/highwicAn eclectic mix of homes and gardens with a number of stalls offering a diverse range of products, raising money for community projects. Find out more on the website
https://www.altrusateawamutu.co.nz/home-and-garden-ramble/Explore 13 town and country gardens across the Morrinsville district, ranging from established gardens full of character to newly created spaces offering fresh ideas and inspiration. Highlights include bush paths winding through native trees alive with birdsong and gardens with expansive rural views. Tickets: $40 per person, available from August 11 at the Morrinsville Gallery, Thames Street, or online at morrinsvillegallery.org.nz. Tickets will also be available on the day from the Rotary café.
Support Growing New Brighton on a bus tour visiting three garden centres, with educational talks, shopping discounts, goody bags and spot prizes. The tour finishes at Leeves Café, where lunch will be available at your own cost. Limited to 23 people. Entry $80. For bookings, go to growingnewbrighton@gmail.com. 9.30am.
Tai Tokerau sculpture artists showcase their creations at the magnificent Whangarei Quarry Gardens. Find out more on the website.
https://www.whangareigardens.org.nz/sculpture-northlandGarden Marlborough is New Zealand's premier garden event. Garden tours, workshops and lectures. Visit the website for tickets.
http://www.gardenmarlborough.co.nz/A self-drive event for gardeners and island visitors. 10 beautiful gardens, live music, local art for sale, delicious food, plant sales, market stalls. Festival is the primary fundraiser for the Jassy Dean Trust which supports sick children and their families on Waiheke Island.
http://waihekegardenfestival.org.nzRose plants, raffles and calendars for sale. Selwyn Library Hall, 8 St Stephens Avenue, Parnell. Saturday 11.30am- 4.30pm; Sunday 10-00am - 3.00 pm. Free entry.
https://aucklandrosesociety.org.nzJoin fellow gardeners and seed enthusiasts at the monthly Auckland Seed Savers gathering at the Auckland Botanic Gardens. Bring along seeds to share, swap growing tips and hear from guest speakers. Everyone is welcome to attend and listen to the talks; annual membership is $15 if you’d like to take seeds home with you. Meetings are held at 9.30am in the Friends Building, Auckland Botanic Gardens, 100 Hill Rd, Manurewa.
Two fabulous days, loads of amazing gardens, with all profits going to the Mangawhai Kindergarten. Find out more on the website.
https://www.mangawhaigardenramble.org/HomeCommunity floral displays, botanical workshops, art, and boutique market stalls. Fri–Sat, 10am–4pm. St Andrew's Centre, 85 Queen Street, Waiuku, Auckland. Koha entry. Fundraising for Franklin Community Hospice. Enquiries: florafestwaiuku@gmail.com
Sculpture in the Gardens is run by the Friends of the Auckland Botanic Gardens and hosted by Auckland Botanic Gardens. It is held every second summer. There is also a permanent collection on display. This year 20 artists have been selected to exhibit. The event also features indoor galleries, guided walks, entertainment and workshops.
https://www.sculptureinthegardens.nzEnjoy a fine display of roses and other flowers and plants at the Hutt Valley Horticultural and Lower Hutt Rose Society’s annual Rose Show. There will also be plant sales and raffles. Entry: $3; children 14 and under free. Cash only at the door. For more information, contact Dianne Purdie on 04 479 5548. Walter Nash Centre, Taita, Lower Hutt. noon–4pm, Saturday. 10am–3.15pm, Sunday.
A biennial event, the Festival showcases a carefully selected collection of beautiful gardens, from established country gardens to contemporary landscapes and hidden gems. Explore 9 gardens on Saturday and 9 gardens on Sunday, or experience all gardens with a Weekend Pass. Find out more on the website.
https://www.cgf.nzExplore some of the most beautiful gardens and homes in Karaka. There will be 15 gardens and some houses open to view. By spending the day exploring gardens and homes in Karaka, you’ll also be supporting the compassionate care Franklin Hospice provides to those who need it. Find out more on the website.
https://garden-ramble-2026.raiselysite.comGet ready to explore the wonderful Bay of Plenty, visit your choice of over 60 beautiful gardens, and meet more than 100 magnificent artists.
https://www.gardenandartfestival.co.nzThe annual fundraising event for Pukaha National Wildlife Centre. Enjoy the wonders of spring in Wairarapa's backyard in this two day self-drive tour
https://wairarapagardentour.co.nzSet in 18 acres of the most beautiful private gardens, you'll find a record number of artists, makers, creators, growers and all round clever people who have travelled from all corners of the North Island in New Zealand to showcase their product!
https://www.crosshillsfair.co.nz/Hosted by Canterbury Rose Society. Venue Rangiora. Details yet to be posted on the website.
https://nzroses.org.nzFill the gaps in your garden with unusual and hard-to-find plants propagated by Heritage Park’s volunteers. The sale will feature annuals and perennials, shrubs, groundcovers and useful garden fillers, with proceeds helping to maintain the rhododendron gardens. Heritage Park Rhododendron Gardens, 34 Haggerty Street, Kimbolton, Manawatū-Rangitīkei. 10am–3pm.
https://www.heritagepark.co.nzStep inside some of Banks Peninsula’s most beautiful private gardens and historic homes at this special biennial fundraiser for the Akaroa Museum. The tour features 15 properties, including the renowned Fishermans Bay garden of Jill and Richard Simpson, formerly listed as a Garden of National Significance. Tickets $75, on sale from September 1 via Eventfinda. Proceeds support the Akaroa Museum.
Garden clubs from across Otago gather in Dunedin for the biennial Kindred Day, a long-running event that connects gardeners throughout the region since it began in Sawyers Bay in 1980. Hosted this year by Heritage Roses Otago, the day is expected to attract up to 200 attendees from around 60 garden clubs. The programme includes guest speakers, plant sales (with each attendee bringing two plants to share), raffles, morning and afternoon tea, and visits to local gardens. Featured destinations include the Dunedin Northern Cemetery Garden, which is celebrating 25 years since its first heritage rose was planted. Find out more on the website.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1126795397906965/posts/2097530004166828/This is a unique opportunity to view a variety of residential gardens on the Island. The guided tours will enable you to visit charming cottage gardens, to see spectacular coastal panoramas and experience the hidden native flora and birdlife. The ticket includes tour transportation, a scrumptious morning tea and a charming Devonshire afternoon tea. The Garden Tour is a major fundraiser for the Great Barrier Island Community Health Trust.
https://gbigardentour.nz/Together Tai Tapu School and Ladbrooks School will be showcasing not only beautiful gardens but some of Tai Tapu and neighbouring Ladbrooks' most stunning homes and interesting buildings. This year we have another stunning selection of house and gardens for you to explore and enjoy. Entertainment, food, coffee, plants and a few more surprises to be announced later in the year. Fnd out more on the website.
https://www.taitapugardentour.nzBiennial event, featuring stunning gardens in both urban and rural settings. Organised by Rotary Club of Katikati. Find out more on Facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/KatikatiGardenRamble/A biennial event celebrating many of the glorious gardens all around the beautiful Whangarei region.
https://www.facebook.com/WhangareiGardenDiscovery/Biennial event. NZ Sculpture OnShore is New Zealand's largest and longest running outdoor sculpture exhibition. Held at Operetu, Fort Takapuna Historic Reserve on Auckland’s North Shore. Find out more on the website.
https://nzsculptureonshore.co.nzBennial event. A celebration of the stunning gardens, creativity and community spirit of Hawke's Bay. Find out more on the website.
https://www.facebook.com/people/HB-Garden-Affair/61565985003137/?_rdrBinnial event. Explore more than 40 gardens. Some offer refreshments and plants for sale. More information and tickets on the website.
http://www.rotoruagardens.org.nz/The two-day design event, allows attendees to rub shoulders with some of New Zealand’s garden design elite and visit up to 16 unique, professionally designed gardens, while supporting incredible charities, including Youthline, Garden to Table, Forest & Bird, Dove Hospice & Wellness, and Rotary Newmarket.
https://www.gardendesignfest.co.nz