You don't need to be into trees to appreciate Brightwater, the Otago Peninsula garden of Gill and Tudor Caradoc-Davies, where creating an arboretum has been the couple's focus for 15 years.
The site of their new home looked unpromising, judging by Tudor's photographs.
Perched on a cliff, surrounded by elderly and infirm macrocarpas, the only flattish piece of ground had to be carefully scraped out so a house could be built.
The macrocarpas went and the house was designed to take advantage of splendid views across the harbour.
"Basically, we live in a glass shelter," Gill says.
Starting from scratch, they decided not to rush the project.
"The whole idea was to do it over time," Tudor says.
Parts of the garden have deliberately been left wild to encourage birds, and a walk along the arboretums paths is accompanied by birdsong.
The range of trees is impressive - a splendid yellow Magnolia, flowering cherries and sweet-scented Michelia are interspersed with numerous eucalypts, conifers and natives.
Rainwater is collected in two 5000-litre tanks to ensure the precious plants will not suffer in a drought.
Near the house is a series of garden rooms, including a Chinese garden, while behind the house, a steep bank has been planted with old roses that need little upkeep, although getting banana passionfruit plants out of this area is a challenge.
A lawn in front of the house drops down to another bank of roses, whose position means the view is never obscured.
On a pergola, lavender Wisteria frames the harbour view and the pergola runs around each side of the house.
As well as an eye-catching display in spring, the Wisteria shades the house in summer and, being deciduous, lets light through in winter.
"I love it," Gill says.
