Walking Festival features Botanic Garden stroll

A new addition to this year’s Walking Festival is a guided stroll around Christchurch’s world-renowned Botanic Gardens.

The 90-minute general interest walk is being led by The Friends of the Botanic Gardens guides each day of the festival, running from 28 March until 19 April and including more than 30 walks for all ages and abilities across Christchurch and surrounding areas.

The Botanic Garden walks will highlight all the beautiful spots in the gardens and are accessible for people in wheelchairs and those pushing buggies. Guides will be out, rain or shine, waiting for people to join them and find out more about the history of the gardens, as well as the varied flora and fauna on display.

Guides will leave at 1.30pm daily from outside the Kiosk, just over the bridge from the Armagh Street Gardens car park.

 The festival’s programme includes well-loved favourites, such as “We’re going on a bear hunt” at Mairehau’s Walter Park, and the interactive “Gruffalo 2026 Walk”, perfect for kids, taking them around Bottle Lake Forest.

Many of the walks celebrate the region’s unique landscapes and stories, from scenic favourites like Dunes at Dawn, the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River Walk and the City to Sea pathway.

Explore local history in places like Dallington’s Red Zone , discover art through the SCAPE Walk, or connect with nature at Waikākāriki / Horseshoe Lake and Travis Wetland.

The festival covers all walking abilities, from relaxed strolls to whānau outings to more challenging walks for active enthusiasts. There are also self-guided options available.

• Check out the full programme and plan your walks in advance. Most walks are free, but some require booking.