2014 marks 200 years since the first roses were introduced to New Zealand and to celebrate this occasion, Heritage Roses Northland is hosting ‘Pilgrimage North’ from November 20th – 25th 2014.
Rosa Slaters Crimson China
It is widely regarded that the early Christian Missionaries brought the first roses to New Zealand with them and that the first rose introduced was Rosa chinensis semperflorens or ‘Slaters Crimson China’, (right) a rose that is still grown today
Program
Welcome dinner and Guest Speaker Fiona Hyland 6pm. Stay at Copthorne Paihia Hotel.
Friday 21st November
The pilgrimage will start with a visit to the Historic Marsden Cross. The site where Samuel Marsden established the first Mission Station at Hohi. Travelling there you will experience some of the beauty of the Bay Of Islands.
You will see Rosa eglanteria, the sweet briar rose which would have been planted there originally by the first missionaries. We will visit some of our Kerikeri members gardens and The Kerikeri Mission House which is also known as Kemp House and is New Zealand’s oldest existing building along with the Stone Store, New Zealand’s oldest stone building and their surrounding restored mission gardens. Visit Waitangi Treaty Grounds and House rich in history and culture. Stay at Copthorne Paihia Hotel.
Saturday 22nd November
The tour will visit Pompallier in Russell, named after the Catholic Bishop Jean Bastiste François Pompallier of France. It is New Zealand’s oldest Catholic building and our oldest Industrial building to walk around the gardens. Travelling south along the old Portage route from Pahia (New Zealand’s oldest road) via Kawakawa to see the iconic Hundertwasser Toilets to Whangarei where visits will be made to members gardens. There will also be a visit to the historic Reyburn House at the Town Basin where Heritage Roses Northland has recently planted more Heritage Roses thanks to the generosity of Heritage Roses New Zealand and Tasman Bay Roses. The day will finish in Waipu visiting Paul and Sonja Mrsich’s garden before returning to the Settlers Motel in Whangarei which will be our base for the next two nights.
Sunday 23rd November
The tour will travel west to Dargaville visiting member’s gardens before travelling south and east to Totara House, and the Kauri Museum at Matakohe on the Kaipara Harbour where Northland Heritage Roses have an extensive planting of roses, approximately 200 plants. Thanks must go to Heritage Roses New Zealand and Tasman Bay Roses for making his possible. In the Kauri Museum you will experience the awesome history of the mighty Kauri tree and its Gum and an insight into Northlands pioneering past.
Monday 24th November
The tour will visit members gardens at Kaiwaka and Te Hana on our way south to Auckland and our drop off destination at Britomart in the central city at 4pm. For those staying on, the tour will take in ‘Party in the Park’ to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Nancy Steen Rose Garden at Parnell. Stay at Roses Park Motel, Parnell – included in tour cost.
Tuesday 25th November (Optional Day)
There will be visits to the Auckland Botanic Gardens at Manurewa and the world renown ‘Ayrlies’ garden at Whitford developed by Bev McConnell. Airport drop off at 3.30pm, Britomart 4pm. Tour finishes.
Tour price includes: Accomodation, meals, buses, garden fees and entrance to Historic places. Price does not include shuttle from Kerikeri Airport to Paihia, “Party in the Park which is being run by Heritage Roses Auckland and dinner on the 24th which is a free night.
Refund policy: Full refund before 20th August; 50% up to 20th October 2014: Thereafter at the discretion of the Committee.
For further information and registration forms, contact Olga Yuretich (09) 423 7237 or email olgamilica@xtra.co.nz
Registrations close 4th October.