One of the island’s most popular annual events is back—and if you blinked, you might’ve already missed out. Great Barrier Island’s Spectacular By Nature Garden Tours return on Saturday 29 November, and one of the four tours sold out in less than five minutes.
It’s not hard to see why. Where else can you spend the day nosing around the island’s best private gardens, all while raising money for the health centre? With six gardens on each tour, the event draws both locals and mainlanders keen for a proper dose of island hospitality—and the odd sneak peek behind a hedge.
“We’ve had people returning year after year after year, one guy is coming back for his eleventh tour,” says Robyn Grice, administrator for the Great Barrier Island Community Health Trust, which runs the event. “They keep on returning because they’ve just had such a good time. It’s an amazing weekend.”
The tours are more than just a walk in the daisies. Each ticket helps fund new equipment for the health centre’s expanded wing, and this year’s effort is again getting a funding boost from the Great Barrier Local Board, which is covering costs like transport and goodie bags. Locals with their own ideas for community projects can also apply now for the board’s latest round of Local and Capital Grants.
Robyn says the gardens themselves change just enough to keep things fresh. “Sometimes people take a break, and sometimes there are new ones.” And if you’re new to the event, expect more than just pretty flowers.
“You’re not going to get that on a regular holiday. You get a sense of localness. Be prepared for a really interesting day out. People love it! People are buzzing at the end of the day.”
The tours start early, so anyone coming from off-island will need to arrive the day before. There’s also a Friday night Feast—your chance to meet fellow garden snoops over a good meal and possibly a bottle or two.
And the weather? Never once been cancelled. Just bring a raincoat, pack your gumboots, and hope the sun plays nice.
Two of the four tours are now fully booked. Limited tickets remain for the Totara and Rewa tours, with optional lunch packs available when booking.
Spectacular By Nature Garden Tours
Saturday 29 November 2025
Fundraiser for Great Barrier Island Community Health Trust
Backed by the Great Barrier Local Board
Tickets: https://gbigardentour.nz/ (Totara and Rewa tours still available)
Optional: Friday Feast and paper lunch pack
Note: Off-island visitors must arrive by Friday 28 November
