Things to do in Otago Region, South Island: The Best Gardens

Nockie’s Palette - where art meets wine Nockie’s Palette Wines was created with a vision to combine Michael Nock’s love of wine with his passion for art. Nockie’s Palette believes it is the artist or artisan who contributes the most value in the production of something truly great. Thus, we seek out winemakers that are considered among the world’s best in a range of different grape varieties. Just as the artist has a palette of paints and colours, Nockie’s Palette offers a palette of handcrafted wines showcasing unique hues, textures, flavours and terroir. Nockie’s Palette wines exhibit the best terroirs in the Australiasian region, from award-winning Central Otago Pinot Noir to Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay and Barossa Valley Shiraz. Besides wine tasting, Nockie’s Palette offers inspirational activities such as wine and art From May to September 2021, we open from 11am to 4:30 pm every Fri to Mon. Every Tue to Thurs, we open by appointment only with at least 24hrs notice in advance.

Glenfalloch Woodland Garden is a lush historic garden filled with native birdsong. Imagine meeting an original 1000 year old Matai tree hidden in the native bush while you listen to a piwakawaka merrily flitting amongst the trees. You can enjoy panoramic harbour views as you stroll among the rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias, fuchsias and a profusion of other flower species which integrate with native ferns, exotic imports and indigenous New Zealand trees to showcase 140 years of conservation and expansion of our botanical heritage. Glenfalloch Garden is definitely a four season garden with each season bringing its own special array of colours and fragrances.

The Dunedin Botanic Garden is New Zealand's first botanic garden and holds the status of six star Garden of International Significance. ArbNet, the global network for tree-focussed professionals, has accredited the Botanic Garden as level III. The Camellia Collection is rated as a Garden of Excellence by the International Camellia Society. The Botanic Garden celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2013, marking its position as New Zealand's first botanic garden. It occupies 30.4 hectares in North Dunedin at an altitude of 25 - 85 metres above sea level. The Garden has hill views from sunny lawns, more than 6,800 plant species and the song of wild native bellbirds, wood pigeons and tui. Its wide range of horticultural and botanical collections includes roses, the herbaceous and perennial borders, a rock garden, New Zealand native plants and four hectares of Rhododendron Dell with more than 3,000 rhododendrons. An important aspect of The New Zealand Native plant collection is the cultivation of rare and endangered native plant species. The geographic plant collections are an expression of the Victorian penchant for collection and growing plants from all around the world and displaying them in related groups. This collection has plants from temperate climates of North Asia, the South, Central and North Americas, Southern Africa, the Himalayas and the Mediterranean.