Windwhistle Wander

Benlea and The Point Station are opening their gardens – the inaugural Windwhistle Wander day being Saturday 14th of November 2026. So, put the date on your calendar and join us in these two iconic gardens. Come and wander around the pathways. Let the kids discover all the pretty items on the object hunts. Bring a picnic to have on the lawn.

There will be plants for sale including Middle Rock perennials, and a few stalls to browse. Plus, the Country Yard Gallery will be open at Benlea, and Teena’s Studio at the Point Station, for those gifts or mementos to take home with you.

Sorry – no dogs allowed as both gardens are on working farms.

Important Information:

Accommodation – The Windwhistle Wander is being held on the Canterbury Anniversary weekend Saturday. Why not make a weekend of it and stay a night or two in the area. Visit http://www.lakecoleridge.co.nz for accommodation close to the gardens.

Cuttings and seedlings: Please do not take cuttings or remove seedlings or flowers without permission.

Health and Safety: Phone 111 for emergencies, Benlea 0274319079, The Point Station 021994747

• Both gardens are on working farms. Please stay in the parking and garden areas, and do not go through any closed gates or roped off areas as there may be chemicals or animals within.

• Both gardens have water features, swimming pools, and ponds near the parking areas. Please do not enter the pool or pond areas.

• Children are welcome but must stay with you at all times.

• Watch for tree roots, uneven or slippery ground, slopes, overhead branches, sharp edges/plants.

• We sometimes find wasps in the garden and there will be honey bees and bumble bees.

• Please do not let children walk off the tracks, climb on the rock gardens or walk along the garden edges as these may not be stable.

Houses: No entry to houses on the day. Toilets provided (portaloo at Benlea).

Stall purchases: Most stalls will be cash only but the gallery at Benlea will take paywave or eftpos. (Sorry no cash out possible)

Tickets

Tickets for the Windwhistle Wander will be available from the TryBooking Website. We can also take cash or pay wave payments (Benlea only) at the gate. Entry price is $20 which covers entry to both gardens.

Purchase tickets on the Try Booking site (From September 1st)

Directions:

You can visit the gardens in any order. This link will take you to a downloadable map you can keep on your phone to get directions to both gardens or print and bring with you. Windwhistle Wander Map

Check out the “Windwhistle Wander” facebook or instagram pages for more info and photos.

The Gardens

The garden at Benlea covers over one hectare and is a mixture of English trees, perennials and NZ native plants. First planted in the 1950s the garden has been greatly enlarged. More recently the Bell family have added pathways, native plants and rock gardens. It is a very down to earth garden with new areas as well as very established trees. Something for everyone to relate to, find ideas and simply enjoy wandering around.

The site is on a hill side facing Southwest, in a windy and snow prone area. It is at an altitude of 500m so has it’s challenges. Various weather events have led to big changes in the garden so it is continually evolving.

The Point Station garden is a large (around 4 Hectares) rambling garden surrounding the historic cob cottage built in the 1860’s. It celebrates 6 generations of the Richards family. Their garden is full of huge mature trees, rock gardens, art installations created by the family. It contains over 100 rhododendron plants including some bred by the family. Many will be in bloom on the day.