Eastbourne Garden Tour

Step into a world of six acclaimed private gardens each a living canvas of colour, design and inspiration from lush natives to sculpted landscapes. Each garden tells a story and provides a visual image of wonderful creations.

One garden, allegedly with the best vista, has not been opened to the public before. Another garden has previously featured in the House and Garden magazine. This is more than an impressive garden tour and is in support of earthquake strengthening of St Alban's church and hall to create a safe community hub.

• The tour (self-guided) will begin with an opportunity to buy potted plants with a garden raffle from 11.30 (Eftpos available) and sit-down lunch from 12 midday, both in the tranquil St Alban's church garden, 11 Ngaio St Eastbourne, Lower Hutt, Wellington.

• The garden tour proper will start at 1pm from St Alban's church and will end with hors d'oeuvre, Italian wine and live music in an Italian courtyard of the last garden in Days Bay at 5pm.

• An address with map of gardens will be supplied by email in the week prior to Nov 29. Some people, not coming for the potted plants sale, raffle or lunch may want to begin their garden visits from Lowry Bay rather than starting in Eastbourne.

• Car travel is stop start on the coast road with the cycleway construction, but weekend traffic flow should be better. Allow 15-20 mins for car travel on the blue marked section.

  

• Postponement by 1 day to 30 Nov if weather were to dictate and would be announced on this web site.

This is a chance not just to visit amazing gardens but support the earthquake strengthening of St Alban's historic church and hall for a rejuvenated community hub.

St Albans church garden

The six-seven private gardens all lie within a less than 100 m walk of the 83 Metlink Marine Parade bus route, but a car or bicycle would be more convenient.

A glimpse of the six separate gardens (a-e).

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The garden show is in support of earthquake strengthening of the Frederick de Jersey Clere designed St Alban's church and adjacent hall to remake this a community hub.

St Alban's church 1910

For the last hundred years and more, this beautiful church designed by acclaimed architect Frederick de Jersey Clere has been the heart of Anglican parish life for people in the eastern bays of Wellington. People have rejoiced, prayed and wept in it through happy family milestones and sad occasions, through two world wars and countless celebrations and crises. Along with its parish hall and tranquil garden, it has been the base for social and community services and outreach, and its memorial wall houses the ashes of local residents.

But in 2016 the congregation had to suddenly leave the church, which was deemed an earthquake risk.

Since then, the parish has explored alternatives for continuing its life and service to the people of the eastern bays. In that process it has kept its ministry and worship going through borrowed premises in local schools and other churches. Now, however, the parish has decided it needs to go back to its original base and strengthen both St Alban’s Church and the parish hall so it can continue to serve the community from its heart and home in Ngaio Street, for the next hundred years and more.

Detailed plans for strengthening the church and hall to meet acceptable safety standards have been drawn up, and fund-raising is under way. The parish is a registered charity (CC22188) and tax-deductible receipts will be issued for all donations.