Welcome to Villa Toscana

Villa Toscana Experiences

Jenny’s hillside garden is more than just a beautiful destination. It is a place where you can find solace, rest and an uplifting connection with the natural world.

Villa Toscana offers a range of bespoke transformative experiences tailored to nurture your mind, body and spirit. These provide the perfect escape from the everyday stresses of life; a peaceful retreat to recharge and reflect; a thoughtful gift or reward for colleagues and staff, someone special, a mothers day or fathers day celebration; a team-building getaway, a gathering with friends; or a picturesque setting for taking those important photographic memories.

LINGER – PAUSE – ABSORB – RESTORE

Contact Jenny today to discuss your tailored experience and begin your journey to rejuvenation.

Autogenic Alpha Calm Training and Performance Mentoring

Garden and Villa Tours

Personal Restoration

Autogenic Alpha Calm Training and Performance Mentoring

Transform how you feel and restore your equilibrium, finding harmony and repose, within this beautiful garden sanctuary, on the Port Hills of Christchurch. 

A learning experience with Jenny, for those seeking renewal and physical health, with a unique tool kit of techniques that will empower and create confidence in all areas of your life, whilst enabling you to recharge and revitalize, at your will.

"My background and experience, including overcoming personal tragedies and intense health challenges, has been invaluable for my work and the solutions I offer. I have a deep understanding of personalities, stress, the mind, body and emotion connection, alongside an awareness of the challenges and realities of your daily world.”

Autogenic Training and Performance Mentoring

(1.5 - 2 hours)

A personalised session with Jenny, set within the Villa, to stimulate fresh perspectives and provide solutions, according to your specific needs and concerns.

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Autogenic Training and Performance Mentoring with Garden Rejuvenation

(3 - 3.5 hours)

A tailored experience with Jenny, set within the Villa, to stimulate fresh perspectives and provide solutions, according to your specific needs and concerns. Followed by refreshments and a mini tour of the garden, with time to sit and reflect within this tranquil setting.

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Testimonials

“I worked hard to stay at the top in the entertainment industry, but the constant pressure often took its toll. I tried so many things to manage it, but nothing truly clicked - until I found Jenny. Her techniques, her passion, and her unique approach completely transformed the way I navigate challenges. I’m endlessly grateful for the strength and clarity she’s brought into my life.”

Jason Gunn
I’ve worked with Jenny in a professional and now personal level for many years. She has enabled me to overcome many personal challenges through Autogenic Techniques and providing new perspectives. Her ongoing support is enabling me to take on things I didn’t think possible and grow into a stronger person.” 

Kirsty Coombe
“​ I have worked with Jenny Oakley for the past 18 years. Her ability to guide me to an inner platform of emotional certainty has had a profound effect on family, relationships and work. I was introduced to Jenny by my then partner (now wife) when I was addressing challenges over my four young children following a difficult separation. Immediately I found the inner focus to deal with external turbulence. Over the intervening years her vision and guidance has assisted me build a successful professional career that has seen me travel the world, take a senior national position in research management in Australia, and continue to expand my managerial skills and responsibilities. Today much of this involves international travel, keynoting conferences, workshops and formal presentations. As our children grew and embarked on their own adult and professional careers, we have recommended Jenny to them where she has been able to provide a listening post and positive individual direction to match their skills and interests. Her ability to quickly read across one’s current situation, define the core challenges, and then find the themes and focus to go forward is quite remarkable. For ongoing maintenance, my wife and I both have quarterly sessions with Jenny. We use these times to maintain perspective, focus, productivity, health and happiness in our personal and professional lives. When the opportunity arises, we regularly recommend Jenny for an outside perspective and navigator’s hand to chart a forward path

Professor, Lincoln University - Christchurch

What is Autogenic Alpha Calm?

The effects of stress and tension on the nervous system in upsetting fundamental balances and functions are well proven and accepted in medical science.

Science has shown that by using the mind-body link in certain ways, we can learn how to regulate the autonomic nervous system and thereby control our experience and reactions to stress and everyday demands. Autogenic Training has evolved from this field of research since the 1930’s and was also applied in high performance training and as a basis for super learning programmes in Europe.

Following my training in both this system and biofeedback procedures whilst in the UK, I integrated them into my practice to deliver a complete practical tool kit for clients. The techniques and understandings, enable you to operate in the calmness of the Alpha brain-wave zone. This enhances concentration, memory, clarity of thinking, creativity, judgement and confidence. Hence a physiological state of balance, relaxation and order is maintained in the nervous and muscular systems, removing the side effects of anxiety and tension. This prevents the over-domination of the sympathetic - adrenalin branch, which otherwise causes accumulative effects of tiredness, jadedness, circulatory, digestive and blood pressure issues.

More can be achieved with less intense effort; your stamina and energy increase; you remain centred and at ease whilst facing challenges or uncertainty. These capabilities are critically needed to manifest your potential and talents.

Garden and Villa Tours

After 24 years, I'm thrilled to finally unveil and share the splendour of my garden – a labour of dedication and love. I look forward to hosting you during a tour of Villa Toscana’s unique features, taking delight in its surprises, whilst relaxing within a beautifully uplifting ambiance.

Premium Villa Toscana Garden Experience 

Step into a world of elegance and artistry with our Premium Garden Tour – the ultimate way to experience Villa Toscana. This fully immersive, bespoke journey is personally hosted by Jenny Oakley, the creator of this extraordinary property. 

As you wander through the garden’s enchanting pathways, Jenny will share the captivating stories behind its design, sculptures, and botanical treasures. Pause at artfully placed seats to soak in breathtaking vistas, complemented by moments of reflection and refreshment. 

Your experience culminates in the ‘Villa’s Signature High Tea’, inspired by the rich culinary traditions of Italy, served in one of the garden’s enchanting and sheltered locations. During this time, you are invited to peruse historical and inspirational narratives of the property, along with Jenny’s captivating picture books – visual chronicles of the seasonal beauty and evolving landscape of Villa Toscana, all held in the Central Otago Stone Cottage Library. 

Spectacular illustrated maps, which detail the history and story of the Villa, are included in the tour package, as a keepsake of your visit.

Duration: Approximately 3.5 - 4 hours, with flexibility for a shorter timeframe if required.

Garden Discovery Tour

Pressed for time but still want a taste of Villa Toscana’s magic? Our 2-hour Garden Discovery Tour offers a curated glimpse into beautiful parts of this enchanting property, with Jenny sharing fascinating insights about the design and inspiration behind its evolution, with light refreshments at the conclusion. 

Duration: 2 hours

Night Lights Ambience Tour

Experience Villa Toscana in an entirely new dimension. As dusk falls, the gardens transform into a magical wonderland - of soft illumination and serene beauty. The Night Lights Ambience Tour invites you to wander through glowing pathways and admire the properties architecture bathed in evening light. 

Your evening concludes with luscious Italian desserts, served in one of the Villa’s delightful garden locations under the stars – the perfect finale to an unforgettable night.

Duration: Approximately 2.0 hours

Jenny has curated a selection of stationery from her garden photographs, as a perfect memento of your visit. There is opportunity to browse and purchase from this collection at the end of your tour, in the characterful Central Otago rustic barn.

Garden & Villa Tours

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Creative Location

Villa Toscana offers a stunning and distinctive setting for a wide range of creative photo shoots, from special celebrations to weddings and anniversary portraits.

The property features a variety of characterful staging areas, perfect for capturing unique moments. Key elements of the garden include: the charming Arrowtown schist stone cottage; a rustic barn; the atmospheric chapel folly; an elegant Italian pavillion; winding pathways; Japanese and stone bridges spanning a serene cascading waterway; intimate seating nooks; impressive statues; breathtaking vistas and striking natural rocky outcrops.

Each of these features, provides endless opportunities for creativity and beauty, making Villa Toscana the ideal location for memorable photos.

Contact Jenny to discuss your needs.

The property features a variety of characterful staging areas, perfect for capturing unique moments. Key elements of the garden include: the charming Arrowtown schist stone cottage; a rustic barn; the atmospheric chapel folly; an elegant Italian pavilion; winding pathways; Japanese and stone bridges spanning a serene cascading waterway; intimate seating nooks; impressive statues; breathtaking vistas and striking natural rocky outcrops.

Each of these features, provides endless opportunities for creativity and beauty, making Villa Toscana the ideal location for your next unforgettable shoot.

Contact Jenny to discuss your project needs.

Garden Etiquette

“I welcome you as my guests – manuhiri, in the spirit of respect, kindness and hospitality – manaakitanga. I ask for your commitment to follow The Tiaki Promise – to protect and care for this wonderful environment, to respect my privacy, plantings and wildlife, keeping to pathways and refraining from photographs and picking.

Come with an open heart and mind. Enjoy, absorb and feel the beauty naturally – with your eyes and senses.”


Grazie Molte

Villa Toscana is a hillside garden and has a network of pathways and steps with uneven surfaces. A moderate level of fitness and sound mobility is recommended. The tours can be adapted to suit participants and their requirements. Jenny can advise you on offerings.

Part of Jenny’s ethos is to encourage visitors to ‘switch off’ from modern technology. She believes that not having the distraction of cell phones or cameras, enables you to engage completely with the site and to ‘let go’, so you can maximise your experience, to leave recharged and refreshed. Therefore, no photographs of the garden are permitted to be taken.

A range of photos showcasing the best aspects of the gardens, taken by Jenny over the years, are included in the excellent maps provided as part of the tour. They are also available in the Villa’s cards and stationery, to become a vibrant memory of your visit.

Contact Jenny Today