GARDEN TOUR 2025
Friday, 31 October, 2025
to
Monday, 03 November, 2025
Based at the Cambridge Town Hall
The New Zealand Rhododendron Association invite you to join their exciting 2025 garden tour.
The programme starts with registration available on Friday afternoon from 3.00pm and dinner at 6.00pm at the Town Hall, where Chris Hughes, NZRA President, will officially welcome all registrants.
Saturday morning features guest speakers Chris and Scott from ‘Omaka Lodge’, Taumarunui. Chris is a qualified landscape designer with two decades of experience in hospitality management, wedding planning and interior design; while Scott has a history degree and nearly two decades of experience in sales, marketing, and administration. Chris spends his time maintaining the extensive gardens of ‘Omaka Lodge’ while Scott takes care of the operations - before joining Chris in the grounds. This will be followed by the Annual General meeting and then visits to gardens in Cambridge and surrounding areas, including ‘Moondance Manor’ and two in Tamahere. Free evening. A list of suggested dining establishments will be circulated with the Garden Tour booklet.
Sunday includes a guided tour of the internationally renowned Hamilton Gardens commencing with a talk from the head gardener, lunch at ‘Woodlands Estate’, and visits to Cambridge gardens, including those of Patricia and Brent Murdoch and Peter Millais. Patricia and Brent created a large Dunedin garden, ‘Dalebrook’ which is still extensively used by the Conservation Committee to collect rhododendron species material. Dinner at the Town Hall in the evening.
Monday we visit a garden at Maungatautari, followed by a tour of the amazing ‘Takapoto Estate‘ on the banks of the Waikato River. This is a guided tour of the expansive property and its associated eco-initiatives. Closing lunch will follow and buses, as required, will depart from there for the airport and for Cambridge.
There will not be alcohol available for sale at the dinners but you are most welcome to BYO.
Accommodation: When booking, let them know you are part of the NZRA Tour. Buses will collect participants from listed accommodation.
Cambrian Lodge Motel [email protected]
- 4 x Queen studio $145/night.
- 1x Twin share studio $155/night.
- 1 queen studio with full kitchen $160/night.
- 1xKing studio with full kitchen (1 king and 1 single beds) $170/night.
- 2x one bedroom unit ( king bed in the lounge, 2 single beds in the bedroom) $185/night.
Captains Quarters [email protected]
- 2 bedroom units - Cost for 2 people is $200 per night. Add $25 for each additional person.
- Large 2 bedroom unit - Cost for 2 people is $ 220 per night. Add $25 for each additional person.
- 1 super king bed in the bedroom and 3 single beds in the 2nd bedroom and 1 single bed in the lounge.
- Studio units - Cost for two people $170 - $175 per night
- All units have bathroom with walk-in shower except unit 4 which has bath/shower over. Unit 6 is our access unit with a wet room shower.
Hidden Lake Hotel Front Desk [email protected]
- 28 executive studio rooms and 7x 2-bedroom apartments. 10% off bed and breakfast packages.
- The code is RHODO and can only be used when booking directly through our website
www.hiddenlake.co.nz and click the BOOK ONLINE button at the top of the page.
Cambridge Mews [email protected]
- 4 x 1-Bedroom Units (Queen Bed plus Sofabed). Max 3 Adults if sharing the Bed otherwise suggested occupancy is 2pax. Price for 2 people would be: $235 per night (additional guest is $25 per night).
- 5 x Studios: (Super King Bed / Splits to two singles plus Sofabed). Max 3 Adults. Price for 2 people would be: $255 per night (additional guest is $25 per night).
If you are travelling by car and staying privately, or at other motels, there is some parking available at the Town Hall. Buses will depart from the Town Hall each morning.
Elizabeth Anglesey Email: [email protected] Phone: 027 76 6101
