Video produced by: Quest Video and Media
Gisborne’s Famous Eastwoodhill Arboretum
John (from Tourism and Travel Directory ONZAMAP) and a film crew visited Gisborne’s famous Eastwoodhill Arboretum on what looks like a particularly gorgeous day for a garden ramble.
The clip’s a bit out of date, though, so just remember that the arboretum celebrates its centenary THIS year Easter April 2 - 4, 2010.
You can buy tickets to one or any of the events below by filling in a centennial registration form. There will be no door/gate sales for any ticketed events.
Ticket sales close on March 24.
The clip’s a bit out of date, though, so just remember that the arboretum celebrates its centenary THIS year Easter April 2 - 4, 2010.
You can buy tickets to one or any of the events below by filling in a centennial registration form. There will be no door/gate sales for any ticketed events.
Ticket sales close on March 24.
Gisborne: Nudist's dream laid bare
15 May 2008
By Jim Eagles
www.nzherald.co.nz
I reckon they should erect a statue at the entrance to the Eastwoodhill Arboretum in Gisborne featuring a fit old gentleman clad only in a straw hat and a single gumboot. Oh, yes, and he probably should be brandishing a sherry bottle.
If that sounds a little strange, well, William Cook who founded the arboretum was a little eccentric. An enthusiastic nudist, he often did his gardening unimpeded by clothes, apart from the boot he wore to help with digging holes, and visitors soon learned that it was a good idea to phone for an appointment.
But, then again, it probably does take someone outside the ordinary to establish such a remarkable institution, spending all his money buying trees and shrubs, and most of his time planting them on the farm at Ngatapa he won in a government settlement ballot in 1910.
The plant collection he started nearly a century ago now comprises more than 4000 species and more than 15,000 individual plants, covers 135ha with 25km of walking tracks, holds the largest collection of northern hemisphere trees in the southern hemisphere, and is officially recognised as both the national arboretum and a garden of national significance.
It's a wonderful place to spend a day strolling around, enjoying the colourful flowers and foliage, marvelling at the amazing variety of plants (some of them quite unusual), resting in the many leafy glades, contemplating the meaning of life in the cathedral-like groves and admiring the wonderful views from the high points around the property.
But, I have to confess, I arrived late and in a hurry and did none of that. Instead I took the motorised tour, in a cut-down four-wheel drive donated by a local supporter, which allows you to whiz around the highlights in an hour.
Our driver, Ross Gaukrodger, who manages the farm associated with the arboretum, was a fund of entertaining stories, as well as knowing all the most interesting plants, beautiful glades and spectacular viewing points.
One minute he was showing us the newly planted glade with about 50 varieties of New Zealand flax. The next he was letting slip that another of Cook's little quirks was to take a break from showing round a tour party, pluck a bottle of sherry from under a bush and enjoy a reviving swig, or line up two trees, dig in the ground and extract a bottle of wine (though I notice the park history suggests: "It is more likely he did this to amuse the visitors than it being a regular habit").
Gaukrodger thought that my idea of erecting a statue of the gumbooted nudist at the entrance to the arboretum was very amusing but I was actually quite serious.
Anyway, Gisborne has a bit of a history of putting up eccentric statues of people called Cook. Up on Kaiti Hill, beside a spectacular coastal lookout, is a bronze figure erected in 1969 in the belief it was Captain James Cook but later turned out to be some little-known Italian admiral. It's worth the climb or the drive just to enjoy the joke ... and when you've finished chuckling there are some fabulous views over Poverty Bay to be savoured.
Another statue of the great navigator, apparently showing what he did look like, was erected in 1995 on the city's waterfront.
The city council has recently completed a great new walkway which allowed us to stroll alongside the three waterways which meet at the heart of the business area - the Waimata, Taruheru and Turanganui Rivers - past the statue of Cook, which sits opposite the port, and down to the rolling surf of Waikanae Beach.
It's a delightful walk, past busy boats and amateur anglers, and there are plenty of good spots to eat a lunch from one of the city's many nice cafes.
Halfway along, just in case you hadn't got the message that this is where Cook made his first New Zealand landfall in 1769, is another statue, this time of Nicholas Young, the 12-year-old cabin boy credited with making the first sighting of land, pointing out towards the headland named after him, Young Nick's Head.
In fact, historians now think Young Nick almost certainly sighted another headland further south, but the peninsula that bears his name still gets all the publicity, it does look impressive, its white cliffs gleaming in the sun, and it's another reminder of the whimsical approach to life in this part of the world.
Source: Click HERE
Autumn Splendor
Eastwoodhill Arboretum is a fantastic place to visit, no mater what time of the year. Autumn, however is the highlight and this video captures some of the vivid colour on display at this magical time of year.
Eastwoodhill Arboretum Wins Gold!
Eastwoodhill Arboretum won the the prestigious gold award for its display at the 2009 Ellerslie International Flower Show.
From Acorn To Oak, NZ's Largest Arboretum Celebrates 100 Years
Gisborne's Eastwoodhill Arboretum returns in 2009 to the Ellerslie International Flower Show with an exhibit to celebrate the centennial of Douglas Cook's dream to establish New Zealand's largest arboretum.
At the centre of the Acorn to Oak - from Small Beginnings come Great Things exhibit will be a relatively large oak, which the Eastwoodhill Trust hopes will be supplied from within the greater Christchurch area.
Eastwoodhill - the National Arboretum is one of the key features in the Hort Galore Marquee, a specialist marquee at Ellerslie for garden clubs and societies to showcase rare and premium quality plant species.
The park's founder Douglas Cook arrived in the Gisborne district in 1910 to take up 250 hectares of farmland. Within just a few years he had planted his first arboretum trees and by the time he died in 1967, he had brought more than 4000 different species and cultivars of trees and shrubs to Eastwoodhill.
Eastwoodhill now boasts the largest collection of Northern Hemisphere trees and shrubs in the Southern Hemisphere. More than 25kms of walking tracks traverse the 135-hectare property with more than 15,000 trees, shrubs and plants.
Following Douglas Cook's death, Eastwoodhill was established as a charitable trust in 1975. It continues to run as a charitable organisation relying on the generosity of its Friends - a number of who will be manning the stand - benefactors and donations. The arboretum is cared for by a group of dedicated volunteers passionate about preserving its legacy and a small team of dedicated staff.
Ellerslie International Flower Show Exhibition Manager Kate Hillier says the Eastwoodhill Arboretum is a perfect example of the exhibits found in the Hort Galore marquee.
"This marquee is dedicated to fostering interest in garden clubs and societies, while also preserving our horticultural history for future generations. It is a must see for all plant lovers."
Eastwoodhill Arboretum spokeswoman Dana Kirkpatrick says the national arboretum celebrates 100 years in 2010 and to celebrate, the Ellerslie exhibit will depict an autumn scene from the arboretum.
"Oaks are a feature at Eastwoodhill at all times of the year and Eastwoodhill is home to some spectacular specimens - some of which are extremely rare." she said.
Ms Kirkpatrick says the Eastwoodhill Friends committee is appealing to anyone in the greater Christchurch area who early next year will be cutting out or de-limbing a large oak tree.
"We need a relatively large-sized oak tree trunk preferably with one or two large branches attached for our exhibit. We hope this can be supplied from Canterbury, saving us significant freight costs."
Source: Click HERE
At the centre of the Acorn to Oak - from Small Beginnings come Great Things exhibit will be a relatively large oak, which the Eastwoodhill Trust hopes will be supplied from within the greater Christchurch area.
Eastwoodhill - the National Arboretum is one of the key features in the Hort Galore Marquee, a specialist marquee at Ellerslie for garden clubs and societies to showcase rare and premium quality plant species.
The park's founder Douglas Cook arrived in the Gisborne district in 1910 to take up 250 hectares of farmland. Within just a few years he had planted his first arboretum trees and by the time he died in 1967, he had brought more than 4000 different species and cultivars of trees and shrubs to Eastwoodhill.
Eastwoodhill now boasts the largest collection of Northern Hemisphere trees and shrubs in the Southern Hemisphere. More than 25kms of walking tracks traverse the 135-hectare property with more than 15,000 trees, shrubs and plants.
Following Douglas Cook's death, Eastwoodhill was established as a charitable trust in 1975. It continues to run as a charitable organisation relying on the generosity of its Friends - a number of who will be manning the stand - benefactors and donations. The arboretum is cared for by a group of dedicated volunteers passionate about preserving its legacy and a small team of dedicated staff.
Ellerslie International Flower Show Exhibition Manager Kate Hillier says the Eastwoodhill Arboretum is a perfect example of the exhibits found in the Hort Galore marquee.
"This marquee is dedicated to fostering interest in garden clubs and societies, while also preserving our horticultural history for future generations. It is a must see for all plant lovers."
Eastwoodhill Arboretum spokeswoman Dana Kirkpatrick says the national arboretum celebrates 100 years in 2010 and to celebrate, the Ellerslie exhibit will depict an autumn scene from the arboretum.
"Oaks are a feature at Eastwoodhill at all times of the year and Eastwoodhill is home to some spectacular specimens - some of which are extremely rare." she said.
Ms Kirkpatrick says the Eastwoodhill Friends committee is appealing to anyone in the greater Christchurch area who early next year will be cutting out or de-limbing a large oak tree.
"We need a relatively large-sized oak tree trunk preferably with one or two large branches attached for our exhibit. We hope this can be supplied from Canterbury, saving us significant freight costs."
Source: Click HERE
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