re NZ and Oz - some favourites you may like to try are: NZ - auckland domain - wintergarden - glasshouse/fernery complex - edwardiana auckland regional botanic garden, south of the city wellington - botanic garden, in thorndon, in the city wellington - Otari native plant garden (need a day here!) new plymouth - pukeiti rhododendron trust /native bush as well as rhodos galore, a day trip new plymouth - Tupare garden, large private valley garden new plymouth - Pukekura Park, in the city Christchurch - botanic garden Oz - Canberra - Australian National Botanic Garden - natives only - need a day here too Canberra - gardens of Old and New Parliament House (insist on a courtyard tour of the New - v. interesting) Canberra - sculpture garden of the National Art Gallery (all native and quite something) Canberra - Commonwealth Park, north side of lake Sydney - Botanic gardens - need all day here Sydney - Bicentennial Park - brand new parklands next to the site of the 2000 Olympics at Homebush Bay Syd - Mount Tomah botanic gardens - cool climate plants including interesting Gondwanaland garden and formal use of Oz native plants Syd - Mount Annan bot gardens - natives only Mount Wilson, Northern Blue Mountains - many private gardens, very lush hill station - atypical for Australia Cairns - botanic garden in the tropics Brisbane - botanic garden in the subtropics Brisbane - Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens - relatively young and fascinating Cooktown - botanic garden in the hot tropics! This list looks very institutional - apologies, there are thousands of private gardens in both countries which are open to the public, some all the time, some only for certain days etc. I have a guidebook to Oz open gardens if you want me to look up certain places - happy to - it depends what sort of thing you're interested in really - as well as horticultural show-off pieces there are many historic gardens open too, often only known about by locals... enjoy! Adelaide - botanic gardens Perth - King's Park, botanic gardens (not to mention wildflowers) Hobart - botanic gardens Melbourne - Royal Botanic Gardens Melb - Fitroy Gardens Melb - Cranbrook botanic gardens - new and native only Mount Macedon - half an hour's drive north west of Melb - a Victorian hill station with lush, bush girded gardens, & the Dandenongs, similar but to the south east... Dromana garden, large private garden on the Mornington peninsula - about 45mins drive from Melb - Rippon Lea, suburban Mansion garden - boom era gold/merchant's paradise Victoriana - National Trust icon Thailand/ Bangkok - visit Jim Thompson's house - not far from the city centre and quite charming - the house is worth a look too - tropical plants and intimate scale, water much in use /blended traditional thai architecture/ silks and antiques galore - a heady mix and an oasis in a busy city... Vietnam/Hanoi - visit the Temple of Literature - a 1200s university with again very tranquil courtyard gardens, in the middle of the...

In addition to the following - it's usually worth a trip into the local Information Centre to ask about gardens open to the public. And a visit to the Auckland City library will also be helpful: there are books on NZ gardens open to the public. Most of them seem to charge around five dollars, though some are less or free. A few URLs to get you started perhaps: all www. marshwoodgardens.co.nz tramplitewalks.co.nz landsendtexotics.co.nz tauponativeplants.co.nz parnassus.co.nz aucklandbotanicgardens.co.nz koanga.org.nz gardens.org.nz heroicgardens.org.nz - based in Ak. Garden tour of LOTS of gardens. Two days - Feb 17-18 projectcrimson.org.nz King Country tour - fax (add all the bits for international) 7 878 4837 Green's Subtropical Gardens - Maungakaramea, Whangarei. Durant Subtropical Garden 40 Trig Rd, Whenuapai, Auckland Waitoka Gardens - north of Taihape 06 388 7822 (ring ahead) Worth a google - Pukeiti Rhododendron Trust Cross Hills, Otari Native Plant Museum, Ayrlies. There are heaps of others - I think the gardens.org.nz link will get you started. If you find you want to particularly follow an interest eg Fuchsias - do ask - and keep asking. If you are members of the Automobile Association, there may be a reciprocal agreement between countries so you can go to branches here and get maps and travel advice. You may also find the regional council offices helpful, and the conservancy or field offices of the Department of Conservation. Hope you enjoy your visit. Oh. A raincoat/umbrella is always prudent, ;-)

Hi. Fushias do well in NZ. They are probably hardier in Auckland and further north than where I am in the South Waikato. Here they die down in winter but are away easily in spring. Roses do very well in NZ, Auckland has beautiful rose gardens and are within easy driving distance wherever in Auckland you are. Blackspot can sometimes be a problem. Most roses seem to bloom from September/October to April. Thats why some rose breeders moved to NZ from the Norhern Hemisphere. Hope you enjoy your trip out. and hope you love living here. Its really a great place to be.

This morning the 2nd Sept the heavens have opened and the rain is pelting down. There are a few gardens to visit. The Botanical Gardens and Eden Gardens close to the city are looking a picture I believe. Eden Gardens were bilt from a disused quarry. If you go to the Visitors Centre in the city they should be able to give you several places to visit. Heather