Garden of Tane
Garden of Tane
4.5
Full view
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Reach out directly
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
72 reviews
Excellent
33
Very good
33
Average
4
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Perpetual_Student_NZ
Auckland, New Zealand633 contributions
Oct 2020
This is a quiet, shady area of bush which includes some interesting specimens, an old-fashioned kids playground, some lovely viewpoints and access to the Akaroa cemeteries. I enjoyed an evening walk here and sighted my first ever brown creepers (Mohoua novaeseelandiae) as well as bellbirds, kereru, riroriro, yellow hammers and plenty of other birdlife. Not a huge reserve, but signposting could be better, so recommend photographing the map at the entrance so you can refer to it en route.
Written 25 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IowaTravelFan
Panora, IA234 contributions
Feb 2016 • Friends
We were enjoying a great day in port and decided to head over to the lighthouse. On the way, we saw a sign for the Garden of Tane. As we were looking at the sign, a nice local stopped by and encouraged us to take the path, promising it was safe from dangerous wildlife, had a great lookout of the bay and was a way to end up at the lighthouse without walking the entire way in the sun, on the road. Since we had the time we headed up and we so happy with our choice. What a find. After days at sea and in towns, it was nice to see natural beauty up close. Great paths that criss cross the mountainside, lots of foliage (gotta love all the ferns!), birds and more. Depending on your choice of path you can explore a couple of cemeteries, go to the lookout and come out on the road near the lighthouse. You could also do this in reverse. A great respite from the town and got us out of the sun for awhile.
Written 9 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barry5252
Christchurch, New Zealand361 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Close to the town centre, this garden provides a great natural oasis for bush walks through both native bush and introduced trees planted by the early settlers. A place for quiet contemplation and a playground area for children. There are a number of trees planted to commemorate significant historic events and viewing points to look over the harbour.
Written 11 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lois G
Auckland, New Zealand527 contributions
Jan 2020
This walk snakes its way through Tane's Garden and up the hill to the French cemetry. Lots of trees and native plants. Good place for a picnic.
Written 29 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
654GregP654
Cheltenham, UK843 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
These gardens contain some of the oldest cultivated trees in New Zealand, with the planting starting around 1870. There are several well-marked tracks in this haven for bird life. There is a small playground area for children with equipment reminiscent of my childhood in the 1950s.
Written 23 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ronald B
Orem, UT1,271 contributions
Jan 2016 • Couples
So, there you are bored with shopping so you take a walk and what do you see? The Garden of Tane entrance. It is a free attraction. There are play toys for children. There are trails for little hikes. The flora are interesting. The birds are noisy and fun to hear. The views are lovely. The out-of-doors are great when you have been on a cruise ship for several days.
Written 28 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
laura j
Auckland, New Zealand38 contributions
May 2021 • Solo
This wild area is like a child's best kind of secret garden. Lots of paths and trails run through a forest with huge trees and mysterious understory. The huge trees are mainly exotic conifers and oaks, many almost 150years old. The understory is made up of natives, including some very large kanuka and young nikau palms.
For little effort there are beautiful views across the harbour.
The 2 cemeteries are very historic as Akaroa was the first planned settlement by Europeans in what would later be Canterbury. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed here by Maori chiefs.
For little effort there are beautiful views across the harbour.
The 2 cemeteries are very historic as Akaroa was the first planned settlement by Europeans in what would later be Canterbury. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed here by Maori chiefs.
Written 14 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BelleNovaScotia
Nova Scotia, Canada109 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
This is just before the Akaroa lighthouse, on the left side of the road. Enjoyed seeing the large trees and graveyard.
Written 10 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GreenThumb331
San Fernando, Philippines2,870 contributions
Feb 2018 • Solo
On the way to the lighthouse, you will see a sign pointing to the Garden of Tane. It was started back in 1874 as a reserve where many exotic species of trees were planted. In 1964 it was transformed into a garden and fitted with a children’s playground. You will also find a cemetary of early Akaroa inhabitants in the garden.
Taking an unexpected bush walk under an exotic tree canopy so near the port is a bonus for our Akaroa visit. There are several paths you can take depending on the time you can spare.
Taking an unexpected bush walk under an exotic tree canopy so near the port is a bonus for our Akaroa visit. There are several paths you can take depending on the time you can spare.
Written 17 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter3152
Auckland, New Zealand353 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
This is series of interlinking bush trails abundant with New Zealand native plants and trees. It is locally maintained and really worth a walk. Akaroa is a delight, but for a change from the relative busy nature of the tourist element of the village...to beyond the obvious and escape to the country
If arriving by cruise-ship tender, turn left towards the lighthouse from the main quay (away from the town) and watch for a modest entry sign on the shore side of the road. This also offers a trail map, which is quite important as there are several options depending on your energy and time.
Basically, it is a most pleasant walk in the bush, coming out onto the road again near the lighthouse…which is also very interesting.
If arriving by cruise-ship tender, turn left towards the lighthouse from the main quay (away from the town) and watch for a modest entry sign on the shore side of the road. This also offers a trail map, which is quite important as there are several options depending on your energy and time.
Basically, it is a most pleasant walk in the bush, coming out onto the road again near the lighthouse…which is also very interesting.
Written 16 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Please provide walking directions from the cruise port in Akaroa. Thanks Elizabeth
Written 20 November 2016
Hi Elizabeth, From the wharf, you can see the lighthouse. Straight across the road from the lighthouse is a walking track that takes you up to a couple of old cemeteries. from there, you can detour left to find Tane's Garden. That's the way we found, and it was a pleasant short walk. You can also reach the garden from one the roads across the road from the wharf, which is quicker and you can still find the old cemeteries with a little walk. The walk around the waterfront is beautiful, and to us we loved that more. The town is not big, so you can see most things with ease. John
Written 23 November 2016
Showing results 1-1 of 1
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing