Stage-1 proof — our design + the real garden content combined. Self-contained file · nothing live · for review before the full build.

Four Seasons of the South

Ōtepoti — a city that gardens all year round

Dunedin's garden festival, reborn — ten days in October, ten open gardens confirmed so far, and a year-round celebration rooted in the southern soil.

Our story

Celebrating the gardens of Dunedin — at their best, in every light

Garden Ōtepoti grows our connectedness with the land, and raises the profile of Dunedin — its food and its people — through the botanical diversity and abundance found here in the South.

From the rhododendron dells and the country's oldest botanic garden to backyard plots and community māra, this is a festival built on a simple truth: the South grows something extraordinary.

Est.
2026

Rhododendron blooms — a signature of Dunedin's gardens

Open Gardens

Ten gardens, one self-curated trail

Dunedin Open Gardens is a single curated trail of private and community gardens across the city and the peninsula. Buy in and self-curate your own route — by region, by budget, on foot or by bike. Every garden is graded by our panel of respected local gardeners.

Platinum — a garden of national or international significance; the very top tier. $15 entry.
Gold — an outstanding garden well worth the trip. $10 entry.
Silver — an established, characterful garden. $5 entry.
Bronze — community and specialist gardens, free or by koha.

The trail

The gardens

Real content, lifted from the gardeners — descriptions and their own photos.

PlatinumOtago Peninsula

Hereweka Garden

A Garden of National Significance — four hectares in a hidden valley below Harbour Cone, with 200-plus rhododendrons, 30-plus magnolias and a Gondwana-themed valley of palms and tree ferns.

PlatinumOtago Peninsula

Larnach Castle

A labour of love since 1967 around New Zealand's only castle — plant collections, rock and rainforest gardens, themed areas and an Alice in Wonderland trail, topped off by the café.

GoldWaitati · Blueskin Bay

Taste Nature Organic Gardens

Overlooking Blueskin Bay — regenerated native bush, landscaped home gardens, ponds and water features, and the certified-organic market garden that feeds the café.

GoldAbbotsford

Wylde Willow Garden

A tranquil oasis developed over three decades by Fran Rawling — roses to rhododendrons, a flowing creek and pond, an arboretum, heritage roses and three cottage garden rooms.

SilverJanefield · Mosgiel

Hawthorn Cottage

A plant-lover's cottage garden created from a blank canvas since 2010 — over 100 roses, rhododendrons, maples and unusual trees around a 120-year-old cottage.

SilverNorth Taieri

Church View Garden

A 35-year-old country garden opposite the 1866 North Taieri church — about 100 rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas and roses around an Oamaru-stone homestead.

SilverDunedin · Torridon St

Tannock Glen

A specialist rhododendron collection built since 1975 by the Dunedin Rhododendron Group — rare wild species and choice hybrids across a four-acre woodland overlooking the harbour.

BronzePort Chalmers

Lady Thorn Rhododendron Dell

An old Port Chalmers bluestone quarry transformed since 1998 by the local Lions into a rhododendron dell — magnolias, maples and spring bulbs along woodland paths, with a harbour lookout.

BronzeDunedin North

Northern Cemetery Heritage Rose Garden

A living heritage rose garden — around 150 original memorial roses over a century old, plus some 1,400 heritage roses across ten collections. Peak bloom late November.

BronzeCentral Dunedin

Olveston House

The one-acre formal grounds of a Category 1 1904–6 stately home in the town belt — terraces, a herbaceous border, two stately copper beeches, a glasshouse and a conservatory.

Photos load from the gardeners' own pages for this proof; addresses are held until a ticket is bought.

The Curators

The gardeners who grade the trail

Our open gardens are visited and graded by a panel of respected local gardeners. They give their time; in return we send visitors to their own gardens and businesses. Profiles in development

Curator

Dylan Norfield

Dunedin Botanic Garden · Chelsea medallist.

Curator

Fran Rawling

Wylde Willow Garden, Abbotsford.

Curator

Peter & Anna

Hereweka Garden, Otago Peninsula.

What's On

Walks & Talks

A spring programme of garden tours, talks and the Larnach Castle Spring Garden Party. Programme & tickets coming with launch