Every spring, Open Gardens welcomes garden lovers to Dunedin’s private and public gardens. From our early settlers’ first plantings to the sustainable and organic gardens of today, the array of plantings and garden landscapes on display are appreciated by visitors from all around the world.

Dunedin City and its surrounds offers two distinct micro-climates; the temperate coastal and inland mediterranean climate. Together they host a variety of environments for plant from around the world to flourish and adapt to their southern home. These include Dunedin Botanic Gardens – New Zealand’s first botanic gardens, along with a collection of gardens of regional significance and NZ Gardens Trust registered gardens in private hands.

These gardens are open when at their best – spring time. Every year Open gardens are available for public viewing from Labour Weekend till the last weekend in November.

Dunedin Open Gardens – the story so far

Open Gardens began its life as a community run scheme to share our city’s beautiful gardens with the public. Trudi and Dave Stewart, advent gardeners who established Northview Gardens, set up the Dunedin Open Gardens Association in 2001 with the purpose of helping maintain a successful garden visiting scheme and to extend the range of gardens available throughout the year. With funding support from Dunedin City Council Open Gardens has grown into a popular annual fixture in Dunedin’s calendar of events.

In 2024, Taste Nature Organic Gardens owner Clinton Chambers took over the running of Open Gardens. Clinton shared Trudi and Dave’s vision of Open Gardens as a year-round attraction. In 2025 the Dunedin Festival of Gardens was launched, bringing together new and traditional events that celebrate our local flora and fauna under one united banner.