Roses in late October?

[Robin7]

We will be cruising from Auckland to Sydney, October 24-November 7th, Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Picton, Christchurch, Dunedin, Burnie, Melbourne, Sydney.

 

There will be six of us--us, my inlaws, and my brother-in-law and his wife. I am trying to put together some private tours and some do-it-yourself-tours. My mother-in-law LOVES flowers, particularly roses. I know that a few of the cities we stop in have beautiful gardens. Which gardens in which cities would you all recommend and will the flowers be blooming during those dates? I know it's spring, but is it too early??? (I hope not!)

 

Robin

[mochuck]

I know that Christchurch has beautiful public gardens with lots of flowers. Sydney - not so much because of water shortages. I suspect the same for Melbourne as well. Nice gardens but not lots of flowers - they're too thirsty.

[cands]

Don't miss the rose garden at the Wellington Botanical Gardens. Fantastic! We were there two days ago!

 

Chris and Steve

[M&A]

Don't miss the Gardens in Dunedin, we walked from the city center through the University to the Gardens, very impresssive. Also the Gardens in Christchurch are worth a visit and the beautiful gardens in Wellington including the Rose Garden. In Wellington take the cable car to the top and walk back down through the various gardens - very impressive.

The Roses were out in April but not sure about October.

[Aussie Gal]

We do have magnificent roses ready by the 1st November as that is when we have our Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse. I am not sure if our roses here are out any earlier. Our Public gardens are still beautiful even though we are in a drought and have water restrictions, though the lawns are not as good as usual.

 

We are all hoping by October that our drought will be well and truly over.

 

Jennie