Peninsula garden comes to life on Glenfalloch Gala Day

Dunedin girl Millie McRodden (8) clings on to Carlos the Donkey as the animal’s owner, Sonya Verdoner, of Balclutha, keeps him steady at the Glenfalloch Gala Day yesterday. 

Hundreds of people braved the drizzle for the event which featured tree climbing, food stalls, face painting and a wedding dress exhibition.

It was part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Otago Peninsula Trust, which bought the gardens as its first project in 1969.

Trust general manager Robyn McDonald said the addition of Carlos was a way to recreate the donkey rides the garden used to offer in the 1960s.

The event was "fantastic", she said.

"We’ve really brought the place to life."