The Dunedin couple celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary yesterday.
Mrs Donaldson (91) said it did not feel like so much time had passed with Mr Donaldson (93), but they had lived a good life together.
She believed the foundation of a strong marriage was patience, tolerance and shared interests.
Their main interest was travel, and they had visited more than 60 countries over the years.
They began in 1975 with a three-week camping trip to Australia, then took a six-week camper van journey through Britain in 1980.
Together they explored much of the world, including travelling on the Trans Siberian Railway and spending four and a-half months travelling overland from the United Kingdom, through Europe, the Middle East, India and Asia.
They were good travel companions and the only argument they had while travelling was due to an incorrect map in Wales.
Mr Donaldson was driving while Mrs Donaldson, nee Peck, read the map and the pair had a disagreement over the existence of a roundabout.
The last trip they took together was to several Greek Islands, Italy and the UK in 2007.
Mrs Donaldson said she could not pick a favourite country, as each had something unique to offer.
The pair had three children, nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
They met at the York Pl social hall during a St John’s dance and later married at Iona Church in Port Chalmers, in 1952.
There were more than 100 guests and the "poor bride’s parents had to pay", Mr Donaldson said.
Last weekend they held a lunch for family and friends at Pioneer Hall in Port Chalmers, the venue of their wedding reception.
For much of their life, they ran Donaldson’s rose nursery and garden centre, in Leith Valley, which operated six days a week.
Between the business and the house the pair spent a lot of time together and it was good they had their own independent interests to enjoy as well, Mrs Donaldson said.
After deciding to retire, they moved to East Taieri, then Mosgiel before shifting to St Kilda, where they now lived, she said.
Mr Donaldson said they were less active now, but still enjoyed spending time together, reading and learning more about the world.
"If you’re interested in the world you’ll never be bored."
