RHODENZA 2024
‘Rhododendron Odyssey’ 2024
The organizing committee cordially invite you to join them for three days of beautiful gardens, stimulating speakers, amazing scenery, impressive art, delicious food and great hospitality.
Geraldine and Timaru are located in the central South Island the gateway to many of New Zealand's popular tourist attractions.
Main Venue: Woodbury Hall located in the picturesque village of Woodbury, just 7km North West of Geraldine.
Rhododendron Bloom Display: Will be held in the Woodbury Hall. We encourage you to bring blooms to add to the colourful bloom display.
Programme:
Tuesday 29 October:
1.00 pm Bloom display set up. Hall set up
3.00 pm Conference bags will be delivered to your motel. If staying privately, registration will be at the Woodbury Hall 5:30pm onwards.
5.30 pm Pick ups from pick up points
6.00 pm Meet and Greet. Drinks
6.30 pm Opening
6.45 pm Buffet Meal
7.45 pm Speaker - Nicky Donkers
8.15 pm Arrangements for Wednesday
9.00 pm Depart for accommodation
Wednesday 30 October:
8.00 pm Pick ups from pick up points
8.30 pm NZRA Annual General Meeting
9.00 pm Morning Tea
9.30 pm Depart for garden visits
9.45 pm Arrive Hamilton garden, Waihi Gorge
10.25 pm Depart
11.40 pm Arrive Coulter garden, Woodbuy
11.20 pm Depart
11. 35pm Arrive Harvey/Woods garden, Woodbury
12.25 pm Depart
12.35 pm Arrive at Woodbury Hall. Lunch
1.05 pm Lisa Williams – talk and demonstration.
2.00 pm Ken Jordan - Large Leaf Rhododendrons
2.30 pm Depart
2.45 pm Arrive O’Keefe garden. Woodbury.
4.00 pm Depart.
4.15 pm Arrive Geraldine. Free night.
Thursday 31 October
8.00 am Pick ups from pick up points
8.30 am Arrive Mc Culloch garden. The Downs Geraldine
9.15 am Depart
9.30 am Arrive ‘Capricorns’, Burdon garden. Geraldine/Orari
10.30 am Depart
10.45 am Arrive Thatcher garden. Geraldine. Morning Tea
12.00 noon Depart
12.15 pm Arrive MacKenzie garden. Lunch
1.45 pm Depart
2.00 pm Arrive Scott garden. Geraldine.
3.30 pm Depart. Snack – fruit, biscuit
3.40 pm Arrive Geraldine
5.30 pm Pick up from pick up points
6.00 pm Arrive Woodbury Hall. Drinks followed by dinner. Conference speaker – Jeff Elliott
Friday 1 November:
8.00 am Pick ups, including luggage
8.30 am Depart Geraldine
9.20 am Buses split – one to Potter garden, two to Benyon and Bryan gardens.
10.20 am Depart Buses switch
10.35 am Arrive two to Potter garden, one to Benyon and Bryan garden
11.35 am Depart
12.00 am Arrive Johnstone garden. Lunch and closing ceremony
1.30 pm Bus departs for airport (if we run a bus)
1.45pm Buses depart for Timaru and Geraldine motel drop-offs.
Transport from Christchurch airport: If there is sufficient demand transport will be provided from Christchurch Airport to Geraldine. If we operate a bus service the departure time from Christchurch airport will be 1.30 pm Tuesday 29 November 2024. If there is sufficient interest a return bus from Timaru to Christchurch Airport will operate leaving Friday 1.30pm.
Direct flights Wellington to Timaru: There are daily direct flights from Wellington to Timaru. If you choose the flight on Tuesday 29th October, departing Wellington at 9.30 am arriving Timaru at 10.50am, the committee will arrange transport from Timaru airport to Geraldine.
The price for this service is listed on the registration form.
Accommodation:
To book the following motels you must ring or email and state it is for the NZ Rhododendron conference. You will not be able to book these online as they have been block booked and will appear as no rooms available. Buses will pick up from the first four Motels listed.
Andorra Motel 03 6938622 [email protected]
Asure Scenic Route Motel 03 6939700 [email protected]
Four Peaks Motel 03 6938339 [email protected]
Geraldine Motels 03 6938501 [email protected]
Black on Grey Motels 0800 400070 [email protected] A car required if staying at this motel as it is 2.5 kms from the town centre and there will be no bus pickup from here.
For other accommodation options check out the Geraldine website: visitgeraldine.nz
Click on ‘Visit’ tool bar at the top of the page then click on ‘Places to stay’.
Those staying in accommodation away from the town centre of Geraldine must be able to provide their own transport to the pickup points, those being any one of the first four motels listed above.
Block bookings of the five motels listed will end 16th September so it is strongly recommended you book before this date.
The venue for Rhodenza is the Woodbury Hall. Camping is encouraged in the Hall grounds. Those wishing to bring their caravan/camper van can camp onsite. Booking is not required.
Please note: The morning of Friday 1st November Rhodenza will move to Timaru for garden visits, lunch and closing. For those wishing to stay Friday night in South Canterbury we encourage you to book accommodation in Timaru for Friday night 1st November.
Enquiries to:
Joy O’Keefe Email: [email protected] Phone: 021 09053669
Ann Johnstone Email: [email protected] Phone: 027 3163313
Sandra Nichelsen Registration Enquiries Email: [email protected] Phone: 021 1550002