Whānau friendly backyards & activities

This year we have five Backyards, three community and two school gardens with activities for families. Kids (under 12 yrs) visit properties for free, and all kids events are free or koha, plus they take home a packet of seeds (while stocks last). 

Garden INSPIRED Rock PAINTING

Various location - keep an eye out!

Rock painting stations will be set up ahead of the Trail, but you can paint at home too!

Keep an eye on our Facebook for rock painting events at the EnviroHub, Govett Brewster Art Gallery and more.

Garden Rock hide & seek

All Garden Explorer Backyards

Take your painted rocks with you and hide them as you explore - find rocks from other explorers in exchange. Didn’t have time to paint a rock? Pick one up from the EnviroHub and join in the fun!

Find the ‘golden rock’ at each backyard to go into the draw to win all sorts of great prizes!

17. Creekside Cottage

Building a Lizard Lounge 1 Nov 11.30am (Sat)

Learn how to build a safe, natural habitat for lizards in your garden so they're protected from predators. Ages 8-14yrs

Building a Bug Hotel 8 Nov 11.30am (Sat)

Turn wooden pallets and natural materials into a bug hotel to shelter pollinators and pest-controlling insects. Ages  8-12yrs

G1. Marfell Māra

Sprouts & Pizza Slices 9 Nov 12pm-3pm (Sun)

Dig in to an afternoon of garden fun at Marfell Māra with family friendly activities and pizza.  Kids can enjoy and add to the play-mound, play lawn games and pick vege toppings for their pizza. Any koha towards pizza toppings appreciated but not necessary. All ages

G7. Stratford Community Childcare

Little Green Thumbs: Make a compostable pot, plant a seedling, then take it home to plant straight into your garden!  Ages 3-8yrs

Making a Liquid Bird Feeder: Make a feeder native birds love! Within a week of having this in your tree you will hear tūī and silvereye.  Ages 8-12yrs

9. Magpie's Rest

Games & Play: Swingball and croquet ready to go at Magpie's Rest. Get creative with chalk and other art activities! All ages

14. Greenbridge

Lambs & Friends: Come play in the hut then visit our lambs, ducklings and fish. Ages 5-12yrs

G6. Ōmata School

Build a Bumblebee Home: Learn how to make a bumblebee home to attract pollinators. Ages 5-12yrs

3. Hobart Haven: Find colours of the rainbow around the garden.

16. Sweet Spot: Hunt for plants or get creative with flower arranging and chalk art.

21. Little Insect Farm: Hunt for bugs or relax with a colouring competition. 

12. Māra Kai: The great bug hunt - finding native bugs in their natural habitats.

G3. Northpoint: Several hunts in the garden, and creative rock painting.

All scavenger hunts are all ages.