The Giant's House
★★★★★★
The Giant’s House sculpture mosaic garden is colourful, exuberant, interactive, romantic, fun and full of surprises. It is set on a sheltered, north-facing, sunny hillside in a valley in Akaroa, 1.5 hours drive from Christchurch. The garden surrounds the large historic house owned by the first BNZ Bank Manager and built from totara and kauri. There are flat areas around the house and terraced gardens gently wind up the hillside. Contrasting historic with contemporary art and balancing gardens with sculptures, it is a unique creation.
Artist Josie Martin (painter and sculptor) trained in horticulture and art and a frequent overseas traveller, combines her two passions intertwining them on her three dimensional garden canvas. Open areas flow into little pathways leading into a series of intimate garden rooms with vistas through the garden and to the valley and sea. Roses, lavender, mixed borders, mass plantings, vegetables, fruit, succulents, box hedges, annuals and perennials all have their place and flourish in the microclimate, surrounded by a green belt of trees.
Music plays from the sculpted mosaic (and planted) grand piano, accompanied by the sound of water from the fountain features. There is space to pause and enjoy the garden before moving on to the next creation.
The outdoor summer cafe, the Artist’s Palate Café lets visitors linger longer in the quirky surroundings and the Contemporary Art Gallery showcases Josie’s art work and plays an entertaining DVD about her.
Supreme award winner Castle of the Year 2006 on My House My Castle (NZTV) it has featured in numerous magazines, TV shows in New Zealand and internationally - most recently on House & Garden TV (U.K.) and on Extreme Homes of the World in the USA.
Facilities and Amenities
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Children Welcome
Conference Facilities
Product Sales
The Giant's House - Josie Martin's Sculpture Mosaic Garden and Art Gallery
Book available through The Giant's House website
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Open 11pm – 4pm daily from 26 December to 5 May
Open 11pm – 3pm outside of the above summer hours
Adult $25 Students & seniors $23 Child $10 (2-15yrs)
Families: 2 adults + 1 child $57 2 adults + 2 children $64 2 adults + 3 children $71 2 adults + 4 children $78
Group tours (10 or more) $32.50 +GST per adult, $16 +GST per child, for introductory talk, house, gallery and garden tour
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Take SH75/Tai Tapu Road south out of Christchurch for around 70km
At Akaroa turn right in to Rue Lavaud
Turn left in to Rue Balguérie and The Giant’s House will be on your right
There is a ‘funky’ mail box with the tea pot at the bottom of the drive
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Physical Address: 68 Rue Balguerie, Akaroa
Phone: 03 304-7501
Email: thegiantshousenz@gmail.com
Website: http://thegiantshouse.co.nz
