The New Zealand Gardens Trust is delighted to announce Terrace Station at Hororata as the very first member of our new Collections category.

Collections membership is for places that may not operate as traditional “show gardens” but instead hold a remarkable and significant collection of plants worth sharing with the public. Terrace Station is a perfect example, with its extraordinary trees and shrubs—many dating back to the 19th century.

Driving in from Milnes Road, the scale and history of the planting becomes immediately clear. Groups of historic trees stretch across the landscape, framed by the magnificent backdrop of Mount Hutt. The approach draws you into a tunnel of towering Sequoiadendron giganteum (giant redwoods) on one side and stately Cedrus atlantica (blue cedars) on the other. The journey continues along a hedge-lined driveway that leads to the Heritage New Zealand Category 1-listed homestead.

Here, four great trees define the eastern garden—Elm, Sycamore, Portuguese Laurel, and Hornbeam—thought to have been planted as early as 1863. The original Victorian garden design created by Sir John Hall and his family still underpins the layout, though softened over time into today’s relaxed country garden. Large-scale plantings of woodland bulbs and perennials thrive beneath the canopy of the century-old trees, creating a magical seasonal display.

Spring at Terrace Station begins with winter aconites and carpets of snowdrops, followed by violets, primulas, bluebells, trilliums, aquilegias, and foxgloves. Autumn brings colchicums, woodland cyclamen, and delicate white nerines that flower into May. The snowdrops (Galanthus) are especially treasured, with different varieties blooming from April through to August, while vast sweeps of Galanthus nivalis cover parts of the 17-hectare woodland.

Terrace Station is not just a place of horticultural significance but also a site of national history. Once home to Sir John Hall, one of New Zealand’s foremost 19th-century politicians, it was from here that he led the parliamentary campaign to grant New Zealand women the right to vote in 1893. The historic house and farm buildings, along with displays on pastoral farming, add further depth to a visit.

Today, the property is still cared for by Hall’s descendants, with Kate Foster welcoming visitors warmly to open garden days. Children are especially encouraged to explore and play among the lawns and woodland paths—though dogs are best left at home.

With its living collection of heritage trees, sweeping seasonal displays, and rich layers of history, Terrace Station embodies the spirit of the NZGT’s new Collections membership. It offers visitors a unique opportunity to connect with both the natural and cultural heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Keep an eye on the Terrace Station Facebook and Instagram pages for open days, seasonal highlights, and updates.