Christchurch Botanic Gardens Quiz: Avon River and Old Trees

This Christchurch Botanic Gardens quiz strolls through the green heart of New Zealand's Garden City. Play 10 interactive questions on the 1863 oak planting, the loop of the Avon River, Hagley Park, punting under willows, giant old trees, the Cuningham House glasshouse, the Peacock Fountain, native plant collections and how the city recovered after 2011.

Start Christchurch Botanic Gardens Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

City
Which city are the gardens in?
Nickname
What is Christchurch's nickname?
Founded
Which tree planting in 1863 marked the gardens' start?
River
Which river loops around the gardens?
Park
Which large park surrounds the gardens?
Boats
How do visitors often travel on the river?
House
What is Cuningham House?
Fountain
Which ornate fountain stands near the gardens?
Native
What does a special section showcase?
Quake
Which year did major earthquakes strike the city?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which city are the gardens in?
Answer: Christchurch
It is on the South Island.
Q2: What is Christchurch's nickname?
Answer: The Garden City
Parks fill the center.
Q3: Which tree planting in 1863 marked the gardens' start?
Answer: An English oak
It honored a royal wedding.
Q4: Which river loops around the gardens?
Answer: The Avon
Its Maori name is Otakaro.
Q5: Which large park surrounds the gardens?
Answer: Hagley Park
It covers about 165 hectares.
Q6: How do visitors often travel on the river?
Answer: By punt
Guides push with long poles.
Q7: What is Cuningham House?
Answer: A tropical glasshouse
It opened in the 1920s.
Q8: Which ornate fountain stands near the gardens?
Answer: The Peacock Fountain
It was installed in 1911.
Q9: What does a special section showcase?
Answer: New Zealand native plants
Ferns and flaxes are included.
Q10: Which year did major earthquakes strike the city?
Answer: 2011
The gardens became a place of calm.

The Green Heart of the Garden City

Christchurch Botanic Gardens began in 1863 when an English oak was planted to mark the wedding of the Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra. The gardens lie inside a loop of the Avon River, called Otakaro in Maori, and are surrounded by the wide lawns of Hagley Park.

Many trees planted by early settlers are now giants, including oaks, limes and conifers. Cuningham House, a tropical glasshouse opened in the 1920s, shelters palms and orchids, while collections showcase New Zealand native plants such as ferns and flax. The Peacock Fountain was installed in 1911.

Punts glide under willows on the Avon, guided by boatmen with long poles. After the 2011 earthquakes damaged much of the city, the gardens remained a place of calm, and a new visitor center opened in 2014. They help give Christchurch its nickname, the Garden City.

What This Quiz Teaches

Garden and travel fans will enjoy these questions.

How the gardens began
Which river surrounds them
Which buildings stand out
How visitors explore
What happened in 2011

Did You Know?

Rose gardens bloom in summer.
Ducks paddle the Avon all year.
Autumn colors draw photographers.
Entry to the gardens is free.
Canterbury Museum stands at the gate.