Gardens
Heritage Trees & Woodland
Pihopa Retreat is set in 5.5 acres of beautiful, park-like gardens and borders alongside the 2.4ha Bishopdale Reserve. The grounds are enhanced by heritage landscape trees which are over 100 years old. 14 of these trees are protected, along with a heritage woodland. Join us for a walk around the property where we can point out the Quercus robur (English oak), planted in 1864 by Edmund and Walter, the young sons of Edmund Hobhouse, the first Bishop of Nelson, the Pinus radiata (Monterey pine), planted about the turn of the century, the Araucaria bidwillii (Bunya Bunya), and the Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (Lawson cypress).
The Orchard
We are lucky to have an abundance of fruit trees in the Pihopa Retreat gardens, bringing treats to our table and your breakfast platter at different times of the year. Plums and apples are the most delicious and plentiful, peaches and figs provide a race to see whether the birds or humans get to enjoy! Lemons and mandarins are dotted around in the sunnier spots, while two seemingly small feijoa bushes provide too much fruit to use here at Pihopa Retreat, so others get to enjoy as well. Grapes, blackberries and macadamia nuts also grow on the property. Watch this space for Avocados, passionfruit, nectarines and grapefruit which are newly planted.
Garden Games
Challenge a travel companion to a game of croquet on the lawn, plot your next move over a giant chess board, shoot a few hoops on the basketball court, or take your pétanque very seriously indeed. Pīhopa’s garden games are here for guests who know that the best part of any trip is the bits in between. Relaxed, unhurried, and genuinely good fun!
The History
The house sits on the site which was part of the original Nelson Diocese estate, consisting of 158 acres purchased in 1862. The original Bishops Residence was built in 1868 and the Bishopdale Chapel which is still a working chapel today was built in 1877. The main house we live in today was the second Bishops Residence, built in 1925 after the closure and demolition of the Bishopdale Theological College.
