7. Frog Lodge

Frog Lodge will not be opening this year.
David and Noeline Sampson have made the right decision for their family not to open for the festival. David suffered major injuries after a fall last month, which caused serious damage to both legs. He is still on the long road to recovery. I’m sure you will all agree with us, this is the right move but a very sad one. We wish him a full recovery.

After selling their nursery Cedar Lodge 10 years ago, these plantspeople have transformed 7ha of rural farmland into Frog Lodge. David and Noeline’s passion for conifers feature throughout this “tree garden”. A long driveway and a substantial-sized lake offer a great opportunity to see how tree varieties thrive in these conditions. A newly developed area features a restored Railway Station nestled amongst the young trees and a hillside planting of young natives. Visitors will also see two forms of weeping blue Atlantic Cedars, four cultivars of yellow New Zealand native trees, and new forms of miniature conifers.