Doctor’s Point
★★★★★
Twenty minutes north of Dunedin is Doctor’s Point Garden. The area is named after where Dunedin’s Doctors used to holiday at their weekend cribs. The one and a quarter acre plant collection has over 1300 species and cultivars of native and exotic plants, many very rare or commercially unavailable. Dunedin’s climate is maritime with microclimates enabling sub-tropical plants to be grown alongside hardy species, Bananas to Trilliums, native alpines to carnivorous Sarracenia, continental Chinese trees to Cacti and succulents. The large selection of hardy trees are displayed in an arboretum setting with beds containing woodland plants and shrubs, a fern and Rhododendron dell sweep back to the house where alpines and sub-tropicals are found.
The site has been developed over 18 years from three metre gorse and wildling 30 metre pines with underlying poor drainage heavy clay. The result is a small woodland haven sheltered from all but the North-Westerly winds. No organic or woody material has been removed from site, with all composted in situ to produce a rich organic layer. This continues today with all vegetation to increase insect and fauna diversity with Kaka, South Island Robin, and Tom Tits all regular visitors.
The abundance of colour is created by over 80 maple species and unusual flowering shrubs. Most plants have been grown from seed or grafted by the owner including unique varieties and hybrids not seen elsewhere. The garden shows the owners love for plants and with many in decorative pots what anyone can do regardless of garden size.
Facilities and Amenities
-
All year by appointment
Garden Entry Fees $10
-
-
Tree collection verified by award from International Dendrology Society visit November 2024
