Clan Donald Canterbury’s Ohinetahi House and Garden Visit – 6th November 2021

On Saturday morning 6th November, 12 members of Clan Donald Canterbury visited the Ohinetahi House and Gardens at Governors Bay which is just a 20- minute drive over the Port Hills from central Christchurch.

 

Clan Donald Canterbury members pictured (left to right).
Front row. Alan MacDonald, Carolyn Alsop, Gloria Davis
Second Row. Gordon McIvor, Jill Tomlinson, Ann Smith
Back Row. Sheila Cuthbertson, Brent Tomlinson, Jan Thomas, Maggie Donald, Pauline McIvor

 

Encompassing 1.25 hectares of garden, Ohinetahi is also home to two art galleries, sculpture and woodland trails, and a significant 19th century homestead. Ohinetahi was gifted to the nation in 2012 and is now run by the Ohinetahi Charitable Trust.

 

View of an enclosed garden in front of the homestead.

 

In 1976 Sir Miles Warren, his sister Pauline and her husband John Trengrove bought the property. They restored the Grade 1-listed house, constructed in 1851, and over the years there have been a number of extensions, additions, and earthquake repairs.

 

Sheila Cuthbertson views the formal garden while the gardener’s dog keeps a close eye on the goldfish.

 

After restoring the house, the three set about establishing the gardens taking inspiration from some of the finest gardens in Britain. The formal garden consists of several separate garden rooms of differing style and character arranged about two axes running east-west and north-south.

 

Spring flowers make a bright show.

 

Brent and Jill Tomlinson relaxing in the gardens.

 

Rhododendrons in flower beside the woodland walk.

 

Pictured left to right. Jill Tomlinson, Maggie Donald, Brent Tomlinson, Ann Smith, and Sheila Cuthbertson.

 

After two hours visiting the gardens, we enjoyed a nice lunch at the historic Governors Bay hotel, Otoromiro, which overlooks Lyttleton Harbour.

 

Otoromiro Hotel, established in 1870.