HOT PROPERTY: NZ House and Garden Tours 2026 - NEW SUNDOWN SESSION

From exquisite homes on sprawling properties to manicured gardens nestled in coastal suburbs – the hotly anticipated NZ House and Garden Tours 2026 go on sale today. And next year’s summer season will be like no other with an exciting new ticket – the Sundown Session – held at the VIP property in each region.

No two locations are the same, no properties are repeated, and each is chosen to showcase all that these popular tours are known for – spectacular architecture and craftsmanship, the perfect pairing of décor and furnishings, or gardens bursting with creative flair.

The 2026 tours will run through February and March in four towns and cities – Wānaka, Ōtautahi Christchurch, Taupō and Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s North Shore.

There are now three ticket options for the tours – General Admission (GA), GA plus Sundown Session at the VIP home, or the strictly-limited VIP guided package.

“The team spends months visiting and selecting the houses for each region. As a result, the tours are like stepping into the pages of NZ House and Garden,” says editor Naomi Larkin. “I look forward to meeting readers and their friends and family during the tours.”

The new Sundown Sessions are a fantastic way to end a truly unique day, says the event’s director Henry McLernon.

“We have very limited tickets to experience the VIP homes – and we’re announcing the dates early knowing that many will visit more than one region. The NZ House and Garden Tours are a wonderful excuse for a weekend away, more than half of tour-goers come from out of the region.”

The NZ House and Garden Tours are in their 17th year and are the country’s largest charity house tours. Run by Stuff Events, they help raise funds for Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.

The tours would not be possible without generous homeowners who open their homes, and the hundreds of foundation volunteers who help welcome attendees, often they too have been through a cancer journey.

Breast Cancer Foundation NZ Chief Executive, Ah-Leen Rayner, adds “While hundreds of people will be experiencing homes across the country, we know for many New Zealanders undergoing treatment for breast cancer, they are missing being at home. These tours are a wonderful way to help our nurse specialists provide support when they need it most.”

The 2026 NZ House & Garden Tours will be held in four locations across Aotearoa:

Wānaka – February 13 and 14
Ōtautahi Christchurch – February 20 and 21
Taupō – March 13 and 14
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s North Shore – March 27 and 28

Tickets are purchased for either Friday or Saturday, with tour houses open from 9.30am
to 4pm on those dates only.

There are three tickets to choose from:

General admission ($120) – offering access to a minimum of seven properties and the Tour Hub, allowing you to travel at your own pace. These are available for one full day only. [NB: This ticket does not include the VIP house.]
General admission + Sundown Session ($179) – This strictly-limited ticket includes general admission to all homes, plus viewing of the VIP home from 4.30pm-5.30pm, including a glass of Wairau River wine and light refreshments.
VIP tickets ($295) – These premium packages are strictly limited, and include small coach transport with a dedicated guide, visiting the VIP house, admission to the tour homes, plus early access to the Tour Hub for registration, lunch at a local venue and a goodie bag.

For more information and tickets, go to www.nzhouseandgardentours.co.nz