2 SPOTS LEFT! Otago Springtime Gardens & Victorian Fete - Hosted Moa Tour

On arrival in Christchurch we head south to lunch with Boo and Hamish Woodhouse in their lovely Rangitata garden. Later we check out the artisan shops in Geraldine on the way to Oamaru. We dine in the old precinct and stay two nights at The Mariner Suites, Oamaru.

Hear the stories of Totara Estate, where lamb was first frozen and shipped to Britain, as the billy tea brews. We meet Jackie and Greg Bird in their garden. Jackie is an artist and Greg's specialty is Bonsai. We lunch with Marcus and Cathy Holgate at distinctive Burnside Homestead. JJ Rendell's Brookfield House and Garden is another historic treasure.

We take a guided tour of Dot Smith’s famous creation, Riverstone Castle, then enjoy all the action of the Victorian Fete in the Precinct renowned for its Oamaru Stone heritage buildings. Heading south we check out the Moeraki Boulders before continuing to Ranfurly where we stay two nights.

In Ranfurly check out the antique shops and collections of Kiwiana and Art Deco objects. We visit Naseby and David and Carolyn Steele’s garden and sculptures and lunch with Jane Falconer in her lovely garden on a deer farm - Clachanburn Station in Patearoa.

Our first stop is at the hotel in the old goldrush village of St Bathans then we meet Bob de Berry at Cambrian Forest. We visit Rayleen McNally’s garden and lunch at acclaimed Pitches Restaurant in Ophir, and call into Clyde’s historic main street. Near Cromwell we meet Jo Wakelin over afternoon tea in her renowned “waterfree” dry garden. We stay at Novotel Lakeside, Queenstown for two nights.

We meet Penny and David Wallace in their garden and continue to Arrowtown. This afternoon we drive beside the lake towards Glenorchy to a special wilderness garden, Wild Dream created by Thomas and Christy Schneider with sculptures and water features. Were turn to Queenstown with time to wander the Botanic Gardens and check out the shops.

We visit Stoneridge Estate Garden and Chapel above Lake Hayes and then lunch at Ayrburn. We meet Pat Sewhoy at lovely Golden Hills, an English style garden, and Sharyn Stalker at stunning Springpointer Garden. In the late afternoon we make our way to Queenstown Airport.