Flaxmere Garden
★★★★★★
Over 50 years ago on a North Canterbury sheep farm, the garden at Flaxmere was established, boldly designed to frame breath taking mountain vistas, and create sense of tranquility with a series of ponds.
Situated near the Southern Alps, Flaxmere has developed into a stunning example of a garden that evolves with the seasons, splendid throughout the year.
This is a large country garden based on the principles of strong design, is completely in tune with the terraced riverbed country the garden is part of. Flaxmere's vistas have been described as 'art forms'.
Immense use of water creating a series of five ponds, gives a sense of enormous peace, and ensures wonderful bird life. Heavy old bridge timbers have been used and stone walls have been built over the years which add to the country style. This is a garden that has most things, naturalistic, formal, informal, extensive areas of New Zealand native plants, woodlands, roses, rhododendrons and water. A new dry garden which will have no water other than comes from the sky over the summer is under construction.
Visitors from around the world have been welcomed for many years.
Facilities and Amenities
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Guided tours available (bookings required)
Morning tea, afternoon tea or lunch available by arrangement for groups of 10 or more.
Book for sale:
Flaxmere Garden – 50 years of extremesYears of record breaking droughts, ferocious winds, searing summer temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius, along with harsh frosts and freezing winters of -15 degrees Celsius are not ideal conditions to create a 6-star Garden of International Significance.
Flaxmere Garden 50 years of extremes tells the captivating story of how Penny and John Zino battled the extremes to successfully create the 3.2 hectare garden that attracts many visitors from New Zealand and around the world each year.
Lavishly illustrated with over 70 pages of full-colour images, Flaxmere Garden 50 years of extremes shares Penny’s design philosophy, along with her choice of plants and planting combinations, and her valuable insights gained from fifty years creating an award-winning garden in a challenging environment. The theme of extremes also relates to how the personal circumstances of the Zino family shaped the development of the garden.
Flaxmere Garden 50 years of extremes is a beautifully illustrated inspirational story, and a source of practical advice for garden designers facing challenging environments.
The book, published on 15 October 2017, may be purchased directly from Penny for $45 plus $6 postage and packaging. Email zino@flaxmeregarden.co.nz
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Open by appointment only
Adults & Seniors $20
Group guided tours - $150
Children 12 and under years free of charge
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Driving From Christchurch
Head north on SH1 to Wairapa junction (approx 50kms).
Turn left on to SH7 Lewis Pass (Hanmer Springs Highway) until the next village of Waikari.
Turn left at Waikari to Hawarden (approx 7kms)
At Hawarden travel straight through the crossroads where there is a sign saying Flaxmere Gardens
Travel the road to the lakes (approx 10kms)
Turn right on to Westenras Road Flaxmere is situated on Wesenras Road (approx 2kms).
Driving from the north
Turn right approx 3kms of the Hurunui River to the Lakes
Stay on the tar seal
Turn right at the Horsley Down Church up the Lake Sumner Road
It is approx. 4kms to Westenras Road (garden signposted on Lake Sumner Road)
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Physical Address: 128 Westenras Road, Hawarden, North Canterbury, 7385
Phone: 03 314 4504; 027 2100 958
Email: zino@flaxmeregarden.co.nz
Website: http://flaxmeregarden.co.nz
