Coniston Gardens on the outskirts of Ashburton consists of 6.5 acres of woodland, lake and formal gardens. Many of the mature trees were planted in the 1870s and include gigantic Wellingtonias, Oaks, Elms, Cedars, and Kauri. Queen Elizabeth II visited Coniston in 1981 and there is a tree planted in her honour.

There is a small chapel on the property, formerly the Flemington Presbyterian Church which was built in 1885 and relocated to Coniston in 2008, where it has been lovely restored. 

Motor Garage houses a collection of vintage and classic cars, and the Granary Museum houses a collection of farm machinery and memorabilia from years gone by.

Coniston is a small working farm growing cereal, grass seed and small seed crops as well as fattening winter lambs. There is also a small flock of Valais Blacknose sheep.