Take a Tour with Deryn Thorpe
Deryn first worked as a tour guide in the mid 1980s for Top Deck Travel, taking young people around Europe while sleeping, cooking and travelling on a double decker bus. In the late 1990s Deryn started tour leading around Australia and overseas.
She has maintained her enthusiasm for new adventures and passion for sharing the travel experience, but these days prefers to explore the world of gardens, art and history in a little more comfort.
Join Deryn on a Travelrite International Garden Tour in 2025 or 2026
garden cruise to new zealand with Deryn Thorpe
20th november - 7th december 2025
Embark on an enchanting journey through New Zealand’s breathtaking landscapes, led by award winning Garden Journalist Deryn Thorpe. This immersive experience offers a unique blend of vibrant garden visits, including stunning private estates and public gardens, showcasing the country’s diverse flora. Participants will explore the lush scenery of both the North and South Islands, enjoying expert insights from Deryn and engaging with local gardening enthusiasts. The itinerary is thoughtfully crafted to provide ample opportunities for relaxation and inspiration, making it perfect for both avid gardeners and nature lovers alike. Discover the beauty of New Zealand’s gardens while savoring its rich culture and stunning vistas on this unforgettable tour. Join us for an adventure that will inspire and rejuvenate!
Tour Highlights:
Tour leadership by Deryn Thorpe
Sight-seeing city tour of Auckland
Ayrlies Garden and Wetlands - Auckland
Highwic homestead and garden
The 12ha Tikiteret garden, developed since 1987
Art Deco Centre - Napier
Visit Welton House, a plant lovers paradise
Paripuma, a 20-year-old garden, which has created habitat for wildlife
Ohinetahi garden
New Zealand’s ‘castle’ which overlooks the Otago Peninsular
Milford Sound, star of Fiordlands National Park
Hannah Moloney’s garden
Cloudehill - a maze of stone walls and jewel
Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden
Farewell drinks
Cruising onboard MS Noordam
For tour details visit travelrite.com.au
To down load the full day-by-day itinerary >>>
For more information please contact Travelrite International
T 1800 630 343
E sales@travelrite.com.au
Garden Tour to UK, Italy, Slovenia and Austria with Deryn Thorpe
19th May - 7th June
The 19-night Garden Tour to the UK, Italy, Slovenia, and Austria with Deryn Thorpe offers an immersive exploration of some of Italy's most charming towns and gardens in the Italian Lakes area and takes in jewel-like towns and villages in the nearby countries of Slovenia and Austria. The tour begins in London with visits to the renowned Kew Gardens and the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show. We will then journey through the Italian Lakes region, experiencing the lush landscapes of Villa Rizzardi and the expansive Parco Sigurta. The itinerary continues with botanical highlights in Slovenia and Austria, including the Volcji Potok Arboretum, Celje Castle, and the Eggenberg Palace's Schlosspark. Throughout the tour, participants will be guided by award-winning garden journalist and passionate horticulturist Deryn Thorpe.
Tour Highlights:
Tour Leadership by Deryn Thorpe
The famous Kew Gardens, London’s largest UNESCO World Heritage Site
The famous Chelsea Flower Show
Welcome dinner
Visit the Royal Horticultural Society Garden, Wisley, one of the world’s great gardens
Gardens of Villa Rizzardi - Lake Garda
Parco Sigurta a natural park of 60 hectares, one of the world’s most visit-worthy gardens by the Garden Tourism Network
Andre Heller Botanic Garden
Travel to Le Paradise de Papillons
Botanical Garden of Padua - Venice
Travel to Trieste, the largest port on the Adriatic Sea
Miramar Castle - Trieste
Sezana Botanical Gardens, a park once owned by a maritime nobleman from the Scaramanga family
Slovenia’s most popular botanical park, the Volcji Potok Arboretum
Celje Castle, the biggest Medieval castle in Slovenia
Visit to Eggenberg Palace, Schlosspark
Farewell dinner
For tour details visit travelrite.com.au
To down load the full day-by-day itinerary >>>
For more information please contact Travelrite International
T 1800 630 343
E sales@travelrite.com.au
““I had the pleasure of being part of an Italian Garden tour with Deryn as the horticultural guide in May 2014. The trip also included a memorable visit to the Chelsea Flower Show. Deryn’s plant knowledge with historical context complimented the beautiful gardens and places that we visited. Her relaxed style, gentle good humour and sense of fun ensured that we all had a wonderful experience.””
““Thanks for the superb Travelrite French tour. It was very interesting both historically and horticulturally and you made everyone in the group feel very welcome and relaxed. The choice of hotels was fantastic and the schedule suited me perfectly, it was neither too rushed nor too slow. You managed everything in such a relaxed and friendly way that it felt like we were a group of friends travelling together rather than an ‘organised tour’. I have already recommended your tours to my friends who had no idea a tour that took in gardens would include so many other interesting sites.” “A bientot””
““I booked on to the Melbourne and Ballarat tour rather on a whim, as I knew it went to Paul Bangay’s garden and I have long wanted to see that. However our tour took us to so many wonderful gardens and I know that they were your choice, so it is you I need to thank.
Since I moved to live in Melbourne permanently I have been to see as many great Victorian gardens as I could whilst my knees still allow the walking around, so I have recently seen some magnificent ones. However I think you had chosen the best.
My sincere thanks for the planning, knowledge and commitment you put into our tour. You are an excellent tour guide, good with a group and not intrusive, and it was a very happy week indeed.” ”
“Hi Deryn, a belated thank you for the Ballarat and Melbourne Garden Tour - it didn’t only live up to expectations, it exceeded them! It was a wonderful week, made even better by your expert guidance and relaxed manner. A highlight for me was meeting Phillip Johnson, he is such an inspiration and I am enjoying reading his book.”