Hawthorne Gardens

Hawthorne Gardens is a five acre garden on McIvor Road at Myross Bush, on the northern edge of Invercargill, run by hosts Heather and Ian Hawthorne. They have been hosting weddings here since 1995, and over that time the garden has been shaped into a series of outdoor rooms, each with its own feel. Couples can marry among wooded areas, in the formal rose garden, under the umbrella garden or beside the duck pond with its water wheel, jetty and little bridge. Tui and bellbirds are part of the soundtrack. When the Southland weather turns, a purpose-built indoor space with a kitchen and bar takes over, holding up to 150 guests or 110 seated. The gardens are wheelchair friendly with parking close to the buildings, and packages include an accommodation option for the bridal party through the on-site boutique bed and breakfast. It suits couples after a relaxed garden wedding rather than a formal ballroom.