Daltons included in tulip festival

Matamata is going to enjoy a slice of the action when New Zealand’s largest tulip festival kicks off on the weekend.

The Rotorua Tulip Festival, held from October 1-9, will feature more than 100,000 tulips in bloom, as well as a host of other activities.

One of those activities is on Matamata turf.

Bus tours will travel to two well known destinations in Matamata, one of them being the beautiful and scenic Dalton’s Plantation gardens, with a detour to Dalton’s potting mix plant, where robots will be seen in action.

The trips to Daltons will take place on Monday, October 3 and Thursday, October 6.

Tulip Festival manager Brigitte Nelson says it is wonderful to include such a high calibre destination in the festival programme.

It is especially worthwhile given that acclaimed NZ landscaper Xanthe White was involved in the design of the plantation gardens and she is one of the festival’s celebrity speakers.

Another celebrity speaker includes chef and television show Kiwi Living foodie sensation Michael Van de Elzen (whose address will include a cooking demonstration).

Also included is award- winning contemporary furniture designer and maker David Trubridge and NZ Gardener magazine editor Jo McCarroll.

Brigitte says she hopes people from Matamata will make the trip to Rotorua to see the festival for themselves, which incorporates 40 events – 30 of them free of charge.

Tulip accommodation packages are available, as detailed on the festival website www.tulipfestrotorua.co.nz

‘‘It’s a perfect opportunity for a day trip, or weekend away,’’ says Brigitte, ’’to enjoy not only the Tulip Festival but Rotorua’s many other attractions’’

The festival will include an array of activities including a Dutch Apple Cake competition, bike and walking tours, bus tours and many activities for children.

Also included in the launch is Rotorua’s Farmers’ Market on the Sunday.

Two art exhibitions with a distinct Dutch flavour are being staged at Rotorua Museum during the festival.

Digitally remastered Rembrandt works will be exhibited, as will the work of Dutch-born Rotorua artist, the late Walter Bakkenes (1920 – 1986).