BE OUR GUEST
The Plunket Gardens + Galleries Tour gives you the opportunity to explore some of the
most stunning private gardens and immerse yourself in amazingly curated galleries.
All proceeds from this bespoke self-drive tour go towards supporting families in the Wakatipu Basin.
FRIDAY 14TH & SATURDAY 15TH
FEBRUARY 2025
CHECKING IN BETWEEN 9:00AM-10:00AM
THE BAKEHOUSE
AYRBURN, ARROWTOWN
THE GARDENS
Experience the magic of private gardens, each carefully cultivated and open exclusively for this event. While the locations remain a delightful surprise, expect to be impressed by stunning landscapes and inspired for your own garden.
THE GALLERIES
Immerse yourself in the Wakatipu Basin's vibrant art scene, featuring renowned galleries, talented artists and exclusive talks with curators and artists-in-residence. From contemporary masterpieces to striking sculptures, each gallery will be sure to capture your imagination.
AFTERNOON TEA
We are delighted to share that we have fabulous locations for a complimentary afternoon tea on both Friday and Saturday. Afternoon Teas run from 2:00pm-3:00pm each day, the locations are just as secret as our gardens!
TALKS + TOURS + MORE
Elevate your experience with curated talks, guided tours, art workshop and even a special screening of The Gardener at Dorothy Browns. Read more below in our 'what else is on?'
WHAT ELSE IS ON?
10am-12pm | Ayrburn Garden Tour with Greg Thoms
Greg Thoms, the Head Gardener of Ayrburn will be delighted to take you on a behind the scenes tour of his pride and joy; the picturesque grounds of Ayrburn. This tour includes the abundant flower farm and glasshouses, where multitudes of flowers are harvested to supply the bars, restaurants and cafe of Ayrburn with fresh and vibrant displays year round. Greg will also guide you through the beautifully manicured botanic gardens, the established grounds, natural waterfall and the vineyard to give a complete view of this stunning horticultural location.
COST: $20 Bookings essential.
100% of your ticket is being donated to Wakatipu Plunket.
10am | Unavailable | Millbrook Kitchen Garden Tour with Mikey
Explore the amazing Millbrook Kitchen Garden, hosted by Mikey, their biodynamic gardener. Enjoy hearing him talk about the different growing conditions for various types of produce. Edible flowers, herbs, micro-greens and vegetables all thrive under their biodynamic and sustainability practices. Predominantly catering for the Millhouse, the Kitchen Garden provides the fresh organic produce for their seasonal menu.
COST: $20 Bookings essential.
100% of your ticket is being donated to Wakatipu Plunket.
10am-11:30am | Unavailable | Tour at Ayrburn with Group Creative Lead Alex Watts
Alex Watts believes in providing a rich tapestry of beauty, her tour will cover her carefully curated art collection within the Northbrook Gallery.
COST: $20 Bookings essential.
100% of your ticket is being donated to Wakatipu Plunket.
11am | The Giverny Sculpture Garden
A guided tour of the Giverny Sculpture Garden by JJ McGrath, curator for the Nock Art Foundation. The Giverny Sculpture Garden is home to some world renowned sculptures from Australia and the UK. In this tour, JJ invites you to connect with both art and nature and gain deeper insights into the artists and the creative vision behind each artwork. The walk and talk is approximately 30-40 minutes, walking shoes recommended.
COST: $20 Bookings essential.
100% of your ticket is being donated to Wakatipu Plunket.
12pm | Fiona Garlick at her home studio
Fiona will share insights from her recent ocean trip to Antarctica and the Sub Antarctic Islands during an exclusive 30-minute talk at her home studio. From award-winning bronze sculptures to large-scale installations exploring identity and place, her creations grace prestigious collections and exhibitions. Discover the artistry and vision behind her celebrated work in this intimate and inspiring session.
COST: $20 Bookings essential.
100% of your ticket is being donated to Wakatipu Plunket.
1-4pm | Unavailable | Art Class with Emma Theyers at Nockie's Palette
At Nockie's Palette, Stoneridge Cellar Door, with Emma, you will explore the unique beauty of various plants and objects found in the garden. This immersive experience invites participants to observe and depict the textures, shapes and details of the environment, encouraging a deeper connection with nature. All supplies included.
COST: $60 Bookings essential, class of no more than 12.
$10 of your ticket is being donated to Wakatipu Plunket.
2pm | Millbrook Kitchen Garden Tour with Mikey
Explore the amazing Millbrook Kitchen Garden, hosted by Mikey, their biodynamic gardener. Enjoy hearing him talk about the different growing conditions for various types of produce. Edible flowers, herbs, micro-greens and vegetables all thrive under their biodynamic and sustainability practices. Predominantly catering for the Millhouse, the Kitchen Garden provides the fresh organic produce for their seasonal menu.
COST: $20 Bookings essential.
100% of your ticket is being donated to Wakatipu Plunket.
2-4pm | Ayrburn Garden Tour with Greg Thoms
Greg Thoms, the Head Gardener of Ayrburn will be delighted to take you on a behind the scenes tour of his pride and joy; the picturesque grounds of Ayrburn. This tour includes the abundant flower farm and glasshouses, where multitudes of flowers are harvested to supply the bars, restaurants and cafes of Ayrburn with fresh and vibrant displays year round. Greg will also guide you through the beautifully manicured botanic gardens, the established grounds, natural waterfall and the vineyard to give a complete view of this stunning horticultural location.
COST: $20 Bookings essential.
100% of your ticket is being donated to Wakatipu Plunket.
3pm | The Giverny Sculpture Garden
A guided tour of the Giverny Sculpture Garden by JJ McGrath, curator for the Nock Art Foundation. The Giverny Sculpture Garden is home to some world renowned sculptures from Australia and the UK. In this tour, JJ invites you to connect with both art and nature and gain deeper insights into the artists and the creative vision behind each artwork. The walk and talk is approximately 30-40 minutes, walking shoes recommended.
COST: $20 Bookings essential.
100% of your ticket is being donated to Wakatipu Plunket.
4pm | Jack Stobart owner of Birdwoods
Enjoy listening to Jack talking about his African roots, background and how this influenced his path as a NZ stone carver. From handmade stone and metal sculptures to large scale photographic canvases, art, basketry, jewellery, ceramics and smaller crafts - everything at Birdwoods has a story and Jack is looking forward to sharing it with you.
COST: FREE
5pm | Jake Walker Q+A at Superpartner
An exclusive conversation with London-based artist Jake Walker and the directors of Superpartner Gallery, as they explore Jake’s background, artistic practice and his current exhibition of large-scale abstract paintings. Bridging visual art and performative movement, Jake’s work reflects his studies at the Royal Ballet School and immersion in contemporary dance and club culture, bringing rhythm and energy to his canvases. This 30-minute discussion will be followed by an opportunity to meet the artist, view the exhibition and enjoy complimentary beverages in the gallery’s intimate setting.
COST: $20 Bookings essential.
100% of your ticket is being donated to Wakatipu Plunket.
11am | The Giverny Sculpture Garden
A guided tour of the Giverny Sculpture Garden by JJ McGrath, curator for the Nock Art Foundation. The Giverny Sculpture Garden is home to some world renowned sculptures from Australia and the UK. In this tour, JJ invites you to connect with both art and nature and gain deeper insights into the artists and the creative vision behind each artwork. The walk and talk is approximately 30-40 minutes, walking shoes recommended.
COST: $20 Bookings essential.
100% of your ticket is being donated to Wakatipu Plunket.
12pm | Fiona Garlick at her home studio
Fiona will share insights from her recent ocean trip to Antarctica and the Sub Antarctic Islands during an exclusive 30-minute talk at her home studio. From award-winning bronze sculptures to large-scale installations exploring identity and place, her creations grace prestigious collections and exhibitions. Discover the artistry and vision behind her celebrated work in this intimate and inspiring session.
COST: $20 Bookings essential.
100% of your ticket is being donated to Wakatipu Plunket.
1pm | Jenny Mehrtens artist studio talk
Jenny will be talking about new works in her Elemental series. A heartfelt reflection of Jenny's childhood in Southland’s beech forests. At her Arrowtown studio, Jenny will explore how playful moments with nature - braided rivers, fluttering butterflies and unfurling ferns - inspired her vibrant, memory-driven artworks.
COST: $20 Bookings essential.
100% of your ticket is being donated to Wakatipu Plunket.
2pm | Artbay Floor Talk
Immerse yourself in the world of contemporary art with an exclusive 30-minute talk hosted by Artbay Gallery. The Gallery offers modern, contemporary art within a friendly art destination. With a vision of offering guests an 'Art Experience' Artbay strives to make the arts exciting, interesting and accessible for more people.
COST: FREE
Bookings essential.
3pm | The Giverny Sculpture Garden
A guided tour of the Giverny Sculpture Garden by JJ McGrath, curator for the Nock Art Foundation. The Giverny Sculpture Garden is home to some world renowned sculptures from Australia and the UK. In this tour, JJ invites you to connect with both art and nature and gain deeper insights into the artists and the creative vision behind each artwork. The walk and talk is approximately 30-40 minutes, walking shoes recommended.
COST: $20 Bookings essential.
100% of your ticket is being donated to Wakatipu Plunket.
3pm | Starkwhite Gallery Director Kelly Carmichael
Starkwhite exhibits a diverse range of high profile, internationally recognised contemporary practice across mediums including sculpture, painting, photography, video and mixed media. This summer, Starkwhite have brought the work of celebrated artists including Fiona Pardington, Gordon Walters, Marti Friedlander, Jonny Niesche, John Reynolds and Billy Apple to Queenstown.
With galleries in Auckland and Queenstown, joined by 1301SW sister spaces in Sydney and Melbourne, Starkwhite is a one of New Zealand's leading art galleries.
COST: FREE
Bookings essential.
4pm | Romer Gallery Floor Talk
Exclusive 30-minute floor talk hosted by Romer Gallery.
Award-winning New Zealand artist Stephan Romer is known for his large-scale and limited edition landscape photography. Discover the stories behind Stephan’s breathtaking South Island collections, profoundly influenced by a deep respect for nature in its most pristine form. Hosted by Romer Gallery, this exclusive 30-minute talk explores his ability to capture unscripted moments—when clouds roll over valleys or the fading light paints the landscape as a helicopter circles back one last time. Through dramatic, visually perfect photography, Romer’s work invites you to experience New Zealand’s untamed beauty like never before.
COST: FREE
Bookings essential.
4:30pm | Milford Galleries Dick Frizzell and Karl Maughan.
We are delighted to present artists Dick Frizzell and Karl Maughan in conversation about the botanical inspired exhibition Bloom. Dick and Karl will discuss the role of Nature within their practice.
COST: FREE
Bookings essential.
6pm | The Gardener documentary at Dorothy Browns
Join us for a special screening of The Gardener, an inspiring documentary exploring the life and legacy of renowned horticulturist Frank Cabot and his extraordinary garden, Les Quatre Vents.
Shortly before his passing at 86, Frank Cabot reflected on his lifelong pursuit of beauty and perfection within his twenty-acre English-style garden in Charlevoix County, Quebec. Opened to film crews for the first time in 2009, Les Quatre Vents has since become one of the most celebrated private gardens in the world—a breathtaking blend of art, nature, and history, cultivated over 75 years and three generations.
Through Cabot’s own words, reflections from his family and insights from gardening experts and writers, The Gardener offers a captivating look into the creative philosophy and personal story behind this horticultural masterpiece.
COST: $25 Bookings essential.
$5 of your ticket is being donated to Wakatipu Plunket.
VOLUNTEER GARDEN AMBASSADORS
We invite you to join the Plunket Gardens + Galleries Tour 2025 as a Volunteer Garden Ambassador! This is more than just an opportunity to help out; it’s a chance to be part of something quite special. Your involvement will directly support Plunket’s vital work in the Wakatipu Basin helping parents and families thrive.
Volunteer for half a day or a full day and enjoy a complimentary ticket.
Volunteers must engage in a health and safety briefing, so registration is essential.
75 YEARS OF PLUNKET IN QUEENSTOWN
Plunket was born on 14th May 1907 in Dunedin. Queenstown Plunket was born in 1950, with very humble beginnings, sharing a very small building attached to the public rest rooms. When this small property in the heart of the booming tourist town was sold in the 1980's, the committee were able to build a purpose-built Plunket rooms in Henry Street. This was a time when the phenomenal growth of the Queenstown community was placing great demands on Plunket.
The resort still attracts many young families from many parts of the world, Queenstown Plunket still offers five-days-a-week facilities with Playgroups and support groups helped run by volunteers.
In 2004, Queenstown Plunket staff commented that the constant support needed for these new families is only possible because of the input from Plunket volunteers. In 2025, the same is true today, - volunteers help run our playgroups, support groups, make up our New Baby Bags and volunteer for our fundraising events.
OUR SPONSORS
Fundraisers like this just cannot run without the support of our sponsors and stakeholders, both past and present. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!!