Orton Bradley Park

Picnic, walk or view the camellias and rhododendrons at this popular park left to the nation by Orton Bradley in 1943. There is a small admission charge. Because of the lambing season the park is closed to the public for a month between 15 August and 15 September. A variety of horse treks are available.

"Orton Bradley was passionate about trees and in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century planted 150 species from around the globe. The fine old specimen trees in the vicinity of the former homestead and farm buildings were planted by him. However his interest in trees was more than merely aesthetic. He experimented with the timber potential of a range of exotic trees, from planting establishment through to milling the timber. The arboretum is primarily a conifer collection, and has expanded from experimental plantings in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Most of the plant groupings can be seen from the Arboretum loop track. We have one of the largest macrocarpas in New Zealand. Its trunk girth is nearly 16 metres. A list of the trees in the arboretum is available here."

Please let us know your impressions and send us a photo.