Welcome to Lavender Downs, home of Lavender Innovationz Ltd., a lavender farm situated in West Melton, Canterbury just 15-20 minutes from the centre of Christchurch and 10-15 minutes from Christchurch International Airport. Set against a picturesque background of the Southern Alps, lavender seen en masse creates a sense of tranquillity with its myriad of soothing colours and heady fragrance. The steady hum of bees working the lavender fields and gardens adds to that gentle sense of serenity and well being.

Lavender Innovationz grows many types of lavender for producing pure lavender essential oil, cut fresh, dried and stripped lavender flowers and for supplying the lavender products, gifts and crafts sold from the gift shop on site. Plants are also grown for display and research.

The display garden features many different varieties of lavender along with other ornamental plants in a delightful garden setting and feature oamaru stone sculptures created by Christchurch sculptors.

A large Lavandula collection built up over 20 years containing plants from around the world is maintained at Lavender Innovationz. It is a national collection held by Virginia McNaughton as part of the Herb Federation of New Zealand collection initiative set up in 1987. At least 60 different cultivars of the 300 plant collection can be viewed in the display gardens and the remaining cultivars are maintained in a private collection on the property.