Dunedin Rhododendron Festival, 18th - 26th October

The Dunedin Rhododendron Festival includes garden fetes, garden tours, exhibitions, lectures, workshops, garden parties and other events held in Dunedin and the surrounding area between 18th – 26th October. This horticultural celebration focuses on one of the world’s most significant plantings of rhododendrons, the Botanic Gardens' Rhododendron Dell, which covers over 15 acres of land and has over 3,500 rhododendrons, comprising of 178 species and over 200 named hybrids.

The festival official opens at the magnificent surrounds of Glenfalloch Woodland Garden at 5:30pm. An overview of the many festival events follows:

Workshops, Talks and Demonstrations

Easy On the Pocket Vegetable Gardening with Dennis Greville – 19th October, 12:30 and 5:30pm
Demonstration of Rhododendron Care, Dunedin Botanic Garden – 20th October, noon - 2pm
Joseph Jones Summer Floral Workshop – 20 October, 10am
Judith Cullen Seaside Cooking Demonstration and Garden Tour – 20th & 21st October, 11am - 2pm
Open Gardens’ Assessors – 21st October, 7pm
Painting in the Garden with Janet de Wagt – 24th October, 12:30 pm - 3:30pm
Gardens of the Sea (Guided Beach Walk) – 25th October, 2pm - 5:30pm

Garden Tours

Musselburgh School House & Garden Tour – 18th October, 12:30pm - 4:30pm
Peninsula Garden Tours (including tea) – 18th October, 12:30pm - 4:30pm
Dunedin Botanic Garden Rhododendron Dell Tours – 19th to 23rd October, 6:30pm, one-hour tour
Country Garden Tour (including tea and lunch) – 18th October, 8:30am - 6:30pm
Local Garden Tours with Arthur’s Tours (including tea) – Various
Tannock Glen (Rhododendron) Guided Tours – 23rd – 26th October, 12pm
Nichol’s Vege Bus (tea and quiz) – 25th October, 1pm - 5pm
Discovery World Tropical Forest - Live Butterfly Experience – Daily, 10am - 5pm
Dunedin Chinese Garden – Daily, 10am - 5pm

Events and Activities

Art in the Garden – 18th October, 12:30pm - 4:30pm
Dunedin Horticultural Society 38th Annual Rhododendron Day – 18th October, from 9am
Dunedin Rhododendron Festival Golf Tournament – 18th October, 11:45am
Quality Hotel Cargills Rhododendron Breakfast – 18th – 26th October, 7am - 10am
Port Chalmers & District Lions Club Garden Fete – 24th October, 11:30am - 2pm
Tastings in the Garden at Larnach Castle – 25th October, 12noon - 5pm

Exhibitions and Displays

Stuart St Potters Co-op and the Dunedin Floral Art Society Exhibition – 19th – 25th October, 5 - 7pm
Dunedin Rhododendron Festival Photographic Display – 20th – 26th October

Open Gardens

Festival Private Gardens (self-drive tour) – 18 th October, 12 noon - 4pm
Hart’s Black Horse Brewery – Lawrence – Daily, 10am - 5pm
Dunedin Open Gardens Scheme
Plus 20 private gardens.

Find out more about the Dunedin Rhododendron Festival 2009.

Dunedin

Dunedin is New Zealand’s oldest city and well-known for its Victorian and Edwardian architecture, as well as its close proximity to penguin and albatross colonies. Highlights include Larnach Castle, Speights Brewery, Otago Museum and the steepest street in the world, Baldwin Street. Find out more by following the links below:

All Dunedin Accommodation can be booked online.

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