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Discover New Zealand’s
Greatest Gardens

Quality Gardens ● Trusted Ratings ● Unique Garden Varieties & Experiences

Welcome to the NZ Gardens Trust, where nature's artistry meets passionate gardening.

Dive into a world where every garden tells a story, from subtropical wonders to traditional homestead settings. Whether you're a seasoned gardener, a nature enthusiast, or someone seeking a serene escape, our curated collection of gardens promises an experience that's both enchanting and enlightening.

Explore Gardens by Region

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Conference 2025

Diversity of Possibilities

Keenly anticipated. at last the registrations to our 2025 conference are open.

Immerse yourself in the breathtaking gardens of Tamaki Makaurau Auckland and celebrate the limitless potential of garden design while soaking in the city’s natural beauty alongside fellow garden enthusiasts. Be inspired by Auckland’s distinctive green spaces and connect with others who share a passion for innovation, creativity, and the art of gardening.

Featured Gardens

What we do

Seeking unparalleled garden experiences?

An NZ Gardens Trust garden is assessed to a standard identified for the public through the star rating system.
The NZ Gardens Trust offers a curated selection of over 100 gardens, each showcasing a unique blend of subtropical wonders, native flora, and traditional settings.
Easily find a garden tailored to your taste by region, name, keyword, or rating.

“Botanica organises garden tours and cruises all over the world, visiting private and public gardens.
The NZ Garden Trust website and system for grading
is an incredible tool to help us research
the best gardens to take our guests to visit.
We have not come across another tool as
valuable as this one, in any other country we visit.”

— KEITH QUEK, BOTANICA WORLD DISCOVERIES

Discover & Learn

Discover & Learn
Sharing the knowledge
Sharing the knowledge

NZ Gardens Trust member and creator of the Urban Jungle, Mark van Kaathoven, presented to the 11th World Green Infrastructure Conference at the University of Auckland on 4 September.  He talked about his creative use of green waste to reduce landfill, restore healthy soil dynamics and to protect against drought and flood. 

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Plants on the Move 
Plants on the Move 

It was nearly Spring, so why not …. 

There is plenty of advice around which tells us when and how to move a plant, which for whatever reason, is in the wrong place. For trees, the big ones – well, best left to experts. But as I’ve discovered, smaller trees/shrubs are fair game for a gardener like me, who struggles ‘placing’ a plant. In other words, for a gardener like me who prevaricates.   

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Jo Wakelin: The Dry garden
Jo Wakelin: The Dry garden

Fortunately much has been written about Jo’s sustainable garden in Central Otago. Her vision has caught international attention, and the garden appears in the acclaimed book ‘Wild: The Naturalistic Garden’ by Noel Kingsbury, with photographs by Claire Takacs.

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Tracy Brown, A love of heritage roses
Tracy Brown, A love of heritage roses

My name is Tracy Brown and I am the distance coordinator for the NZ Heritage Rose Society. I took this role on in October 2023 as I thought it was a good opportunity to get know other old fashioned rose lovers and learn from those who are much more knowledgeable than me!

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Learning as we grow
Learning as we grow

Many of us working in the Horticultural and Agricultural sector may carry out our work like it is second nature and come to rely on instincts and experience to carry out our tasks. This can come after years of study, training, hours and hours of trial and error and practical ‘hands-on’ work in the garden and on the land.

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Become a Garden Friend to explore exclusive benefits with our community of enthusiasts, or showcase the magic of your garden by registering with us