Wellington Botanic Garden

Enjoy the fantastic view, breath-taking landscapes, a variety of both endemic and exotic trees, colourful flower exhibitions and fascinating plant collections. The Botanic Garden in Wellington offers a total surface of 25 ha to explore a unique world of nature and plants.

Collections

The Botanic Garden is home to a wide range of various plants from around the world.

Of course, you find some collections that are dedicated to New Zealand's natural heritage.

The Botanical Garden Wellington exhibits the following collections:

• Australian Garden with interesting plants endemic to Australia
• Begonia House showing plants from tropical as well as moderate climatic zones
• Bolton Street Memorial Park which contains a huge collection roses
• Camellias collection
• a forest with exotic trees, which were planted in the 1870s
• Fragrant Garden taking you on a journey of the most hypnotic scents
• a herb garden presenting some useful and some more decorative herbs
• Horseshore Bend, a quiet garden with Asian plants and trees
• Hydrangeas garden, which equals an ocean of blossoms especially in summer
• Lady Norwood Rose Garden contains more than 3,000 different roses
• Magnolia, naturally ornamenting the Soundshell Lawn and the William Bramley Drive
• Maori Flax collection with more than 50 different types of flax being processed and used by the Maori
• a native forest with trees, which is known to be older than 200 years
• a garden with decorative grasses
• a garden containing the most varied shrubberies
• a collection of rhododendrons
• a rockery showing plants from the Alpine region and South Africa among others
• a collection of succulents, some unusual and striking plants
• a number of different trees, such as sequoias, redwoods, pine trees etc.

Apart from Wellington's “green gems”, you find a duck pond with many benches allowing you to have a nice short break. Additionally, you find a souvenir store, where you may purchase some nice things to remember your visit here. Not only may you find some souvenirs, but also some useful garden utensils or books. At Lady Norwood Rose Garden, you can relax and enjoy a nice drink in the café. There are a number of sculptures and carved figures spread over the entire Botanic Garden that are worth being looked at meticulously. And don't miss visiting the Peace Garden. It's worth it!

There are many paths...

… to explore the Botanic Garden on. If you don't feel like exploring everything yourself, then you might just follow the signposted trails. This way you won't miss any of the highlights in the Botanic Garden. You may, for instance, walk along the Solander Trail, Waipiro and Pukatea Bush Walks or the Sensation Walk.

For kids

Children will love being at the Botanic Garden as much as adults will. It's a fantastic destiny for excursions. There is a hug playground, allowing children the space they need to play or just get to know the variety of the nature we are surrounded by. On top, a kindergarten is scheduled to be opened in 2016, where children might just be what they are: children. They'll have plenty of things to do and discover. Once the kindergarten is open, kids will have the chance to interactively and playfully explore the world of plants. Children will learn how important and indispensable plants are for our own life and what we can do about protecting wildlife and nature. Trying out and exploring are the key words for children here.

Events and guided tours

Each third Sunday and fourth Monday of the month, there are guided tours offered for the Botanic Garden. In spring and throughout the summer months, Wellington City Council organises a couple of events, for example, concerts taking place here. Spring is also the season when the notorious firefly tours are offered. In this time of the year, fireflies are just all over the place, especially in the main garden. Please visit our website given below for further events and information.

Miscellaneous

The Botanic Garden of Wellington was classified as a garden of national importance by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture and is thus a Historic Places Trust Heritage Area. The Botanic Gardens not only are home to a wide range of plants, but also of the Crater Observatory, the Wellington Cable Car Museum and the Meteorological Service of New Zealand.

The entire area of the Botanic Garden is generally quite hilly, but there are also some wheelchair-friendly parts, such as the Lady Norwood Rose Garden, the segment around the main entrance alongside Glenmore Street and just above the cable car. Electric cars can be rented at Begonia House. 

The Botanic Garden of Wellington was founded in 1868. In 1844, already, there was some land reserved for an eventual Botanic Garden from the New Zealand Company. At that time, the land was covered with dense yellow wood forests, consisting of Rimu, Totara and Matai trees. Originally, the Botanic Garden was managed by the New Zealand Institute aiming at importing plant species to New Zealand to assess their economic potential and market value for New Zealand. Wellington City Council took over in 1891 and has since kept developing and enhancing the garden. Major innovations that were pushed forward by the City Council were, for instance, the Lady Norwood Rose Garden in 1950, the Begonia House in 1960, the Treehouse Visitor Centre in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund in 1990.  

Wellington is New Zealand's capital and is located at the southern tip of North Island, whereas the Botanic Garden is located in the heart of city and easily reachable. The main entrance can be found alongside Glenmore Street.

On foot

The “green gems” of Wellington can be comfortably reached on foot. From the city centre you only need to walk just a few minutes. The Botanic Garden has various entrances: Glenmore Street, Salamanca Road or Upland Road. The most popular way is the one leading from The Terrace all the way through to the main garden via Bolton Street Memorial Park and Lady Norwood Rose Garden. The entire way might take roughly 20 minutes.

By car

The only public car park is located next to Lady Norwood Rose Garden. The parking time is confined to 2 hours only. You get to the Botanic Garden via the Centennial entrance on Glenmore Street. On the very same road you might find further parking facilities. Glenmore Street can be directly reached coming from the SH1.

By public transport

By cable car

The easiest way is to use the cable car, which operates from Lambton Quay each 10 minutes taking you to the upper part of the Botanical Gardens. Back in the city, you may take the way back through the garden leading downhill again.

By bus

Alternatively, you may take bus line no. 3 Karori or no. 13 Mairangi at Lambton Quay and get off at the Centennial or Founder's entrance on Glenmore Street.