FESTIVAL EVENTS

The Dunedin Rhododendron Festival offers a wide range of events for families, visitors and gardening enthusiasts. There are plenty of activities during the four-day festival so make sure you take the time to read through the various event listings as follows:

Exhibitions

Art Exhibition by Alan Waters

Friday, 28 October

12:30pm

The Artist's Room, 2 Dowling Street, Dunedin

$20 - includes finger food lunch and a glass of wine

Bookings: Michelle Chalkin-Sinclair (03) 474 1111

Limited Numbers

Meridian Mall Rhododendron Display

Thursday, 27 October - Sunday, 30 October

9:00am - 5:30pm

Visit the Meridian Mall Rhododendron Display that has been constructed especially for the Dunedin Rhododendron Festival.

Vases and Flowers - A Celebration of Spring

Thursday, 27 October - Saturday, 29 October

10am - 5pm

The Stuart Street Potters Co-operative Gallery, 14 Stuart Street, Dunedin

Visit the gallery filled with flowers arranged in a unique collection of vases.

(Photo credit - The Dunedin Camera Club)

Activities

Alongside the key events, there are a wide range of activities to enjoy during the festival.

Dunedin Rhododendron Festival Golf Tournament

Sunday, 30 October

11:45am

Otago Golf Club, Balmacewen Road

Three Grades - four ball better ball stableford

$10 per player

For entries phone Otago Golf Club (03) 467 2099

Enjoy a round of golf at one of NZ's most scenic courses and the historic home of NZ golf. All prizes on offer are rhododendrons.

Lions Club of Port Chalmers and District Garden Fete

Saturday, 29 October

11:30am - 2pm

Lady Thorn Dell, Church Street, Port Chalmers

Featuring plant and craft stalls. Sit and enjoy the live entertainment.

Ceramic Workshop

Saturday, 29 October

12:30pm - 3:30pm

Cargills Hotel, 678 George Street, Dunedin

$20

Bookings Communication Link (03) 474 5162

Discover your hidden artistic talent and take part in this workshop of making 3-dimensional clay flowers. All equipment is supplied.

Drums and Dance in the Dell

Sunday, 30 October

3pm

Azalea Garden - Rhododendron Dell, Dunedin Botanic Garden

Dancers celebrate spring in the rhododendron dell. Includes African, Cook Island and Belly dancers.

Garden Design and Working with Water Workshop

Sunday, 30 October

2pm

Nichols Garden Centre, cnr Timaru and Teviot Streets, Dunedin

Take part in this informative workshop on working with water in your garden and garden design.

Kids Carnival

Sunday, 30 October

10am - 3pm

The Oval, Dunedin

Contact Sharon McCombe (03) 455 8892

The Kids Carnival is a fun day out for the whole family to enjoy and will include a range of stalls and activities.

(Photo credit - The Dunedin Camera Club)

Garden Tours

There are a number of Garden Tours available during the festival.

Tours are one of the most popular festival attractions.

Middlemarch Garden Tour and Floral Demonstration with Peter Johnstone

Friday, 28 October

11am - 2pm

$45 - includes garden visit, lunch and demonstration

Bookings Communication Link (03) 474 5162

Enjoy at garden visit at the Middlemarch home 'Strathburn' and a floral design seminar by international designer, decorator and landscaper Peter Johnstone. Own transport is required.

The Zonta Club of Dunedin House and Garden Tour

Sunday, 30 October

11am - 2pm

$35 - includes 3 house and gardens and champagne brunch

Bookings Lyn Bunton ph (03) 4775 434

The Zonta Club of Dunedin will host this house and garden tour especially for the Dunedin Rhododendron Festival. Own transport is required.

Judith Cullen Garden Tour and Cooking Demonstration

Friday, 28 October

11:00am - 2:00pm

$45 per person - includes finger food, glass of wine, garden tour, cooking demonstration and light lunch

Bookings: contact Judith ph (03) 455 8381

Popular culinary identity Judith Cullen will run a cooking demonstration and seaside garden tour at her St Clair home.

Rhododendron Dell Guided Tours

Friday, 28 October - Sunday, 30 October

10am and 2pm

Meet at the Rhododendron Dell Car Car Park, Upper Botanic Garden, Lovelock Avenue

The Dell covers six hectares of hillside complete with more than 3,500 rhododendrons.

Larnach Castle Guided Tour

Thursday, 27 October - Sunday, 30 October

2pm

$14-50 - includes afternoon tea

Larnach Castle will run a guided tour of the new Native Plant Trail especially for the Dunedin Rhododendron Festival.

Cargills Garden Tours

Thursday, 27 October - Friday, 28 October

9:30am tour, 12:30pm lunch

$25 - includes bus garden tour, main course, dessert, tea or coffee

Bookings: Cargills Hotel ph (03 477 7983

Park your vehicle at Cargills Hotel and take the opportunity to look around spectacular Dunedin gardens. Return to Cargills for a leisurely lunch.

Rhodos Gone Bush

Saturday, 29 October

9:30am - 12:30pm

Meet at the Flagstaff/Pineapple track "Bullpen" car park on Flagstaff - Whare Flat Road

Put on your tramping shoes and discover a dell in the wild. Reasonable fitness and agility is required. Bring a rain jacket, strong footwear and snacks.

Local Garden Tours with Arthur's Tours

Thursday, 27 October - Sunday, 30 October

Morning tour 9am - 1pm

Afternoon tour 1:30pm - 5:30pm

$65

Bookings call Arthur 0800 840 729 - prior bookings essential

Each tour will feature a public and private garden.

Country Garden Tour

Friday, 28 October

8:30am - 6:00pm

$120 per person, all inclusive

Bookings: phone Louise Foord (03) 467 5041

Enjoy a full day tour through the landscapes of the Strath Taieri and the Maniototo with garden visits.

Tannock Glen Guided Tours

Friday, 28 October - Sunday, 30 October

12pm

Tannock Glen, Torridon Street, Opoho

$3

One of the hidden treasures, the specialist rhododendron collection at Tannock Glen has been built up since 1975 by members of the Dunedin Rhododendron Group.

(Photo credit - The Dunedin Camera Club)