Attractions
As well as the famous plant collections and ancient forest, Otari-Wilton's Bush offers several other attractions.
Information Centre
The Information Centre, Te Marae o Tane, next to the main entrance on Wilton Road, provides lively and insightful information about New Zealand's natural flora and fauna with interactive interpretation panels and facilities for lectures. It is the base for most organised events at Otari and is open from 9am to 4pm daily, with toilet facilities open 24 hours.
Outside the Information Centre is a large deck overlooking mature forest.
In this photo by Tim O'Leary, it is being used on Open Day in 2005.
Canopy Walkway
A 75-metre-long Canopy Walkway entices you from the Information Centre across a 20-metre deep ravine to the main plant collections area. This walkway provides a unique chance to view life in, and from, the top level of trees such as mature tawa, rewarewa and hinau. The tree tops are the domain of wildlife, such as the gardens' resident kereru (native wood pigeons) and tui, which can often be spied feeding or whooshing past on their search for food.
The Canopy Walkway provides ideal viewing of a little known Wellington suburb - the tree tops of our last remnant of pristine native bush. Photo by Tim O'Leary.
Nature Trail
The self-guiding Nature Trail gives independent walkers an insight into New Zealand's dense conifer broadleaf forest. It takes 30 to 60 minutes to walk and is steep in places but well worth the effort. An excellent pamphlet on the Nature Trail is available, free of charge at the Information Centre. This pamphlet guides you to 12 marker posts where it describes significant plants and fascinating ecological features.
Picnic Areas
There are three scenic picnic areas at Otari, all situated along Kaiwharawhara Stream.
The Troup Picnic Area is the oldest and most popular place for families and other groups to refresh themselves with food, drink and the tranquillity of the native surrounds. It has been used for well over a century, and after major modifications in 2006, now includes a large shelter, electric barbeques (free), a fresh water supply, toilets and an expansive lawn.
The North Picnic Area is the easiest picnic area to get to, lying only a stone's throw from Otari's northern entrance, just off Churchill Drive.
The Cliff Clearing Picnic Area, about 700 metres up valley from the Troup Picnic Area, is the newest location and offers a table set on a large, sunny clearing, surrounded by revegetation sites.
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