Welcome to Otari-Wilton's Bush
Otari-Wilton's Bush is New Zealand's most significant native botanic gardens and Wellington's largest area of original native forest. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is free to enter. This website aims to provide you with all the information you need to appreciate this natural resource to its fullest.
Visit the official Wellington City Council website here.(external link)
Coming events
Walks. All walks start at the Otari Information Centre at 2pm on the day indicated
Sunday 25 July. Plant stories
This walk will look at some of the survival techniques of plants, the relationships between plants and their environments, and how one can affect the other. It will be a relatively easy walk, not going beyond the Troup Picnic Area and will be no longer than 2 hours duration. Leader: Chris Moore.
Sunday 22 August. Cockayne's collectors.
In naming the paths in the Otari Open-Air Native Plant Museum, Leonard Cockayne and J.G. MacKenzie gave recognition to the many amateur and professional botanists who collected plants for Otari in the period up to 1933. The walk will take in as many of the paths and other locations commemorating these helpers as can be fitted into a two-hour walk. A little information on the people commemorated will be provided as we go. Sneakers or walking shoes will be adequate although there will be some steps. Leader: Rodney Lewington.
Sunday 26 September. The Waterfalls on Ferguson Creek.
We will walk the Yellow Trail to the mature pukatea then follow the Ferguson Stream to the waterfall at the boundary fence. From there the walk will follow the stream to the 4-wheel drive track to the Skyline Ridge. The return will be by the track to the Flax Clearing and the Kirk Track (part of the Red Trail). Boots are advisable as there will be a little scrambling. Leaders: Chris Moore and Rodney Lewington.
Sunday October 24. The Nature Trail.
The Nature Trail is our showcase walk which tells the overall Otari story. It leads through the original forest past some forest giants with wonderful epiphyte gardens. Delicate ferns grow on the forest floor. Duration: 1½ hours. Some steep steps. Leader: Chris Haronga.
Sunday November 28. Plants that poison, maim and kill.
Leader: Rewi Elliot.
Sunday December 26. The Blue Trail.
Recover from the Christmas festivities! Bring your out of town visitors for a walk on the Blue Trail through the forest to the 800+ year old rimu. Steep with some steps, good shoes recommended. Duration: 2 hours. Leader: John Dawson.
Other events
Friday 24 September and Friday 15 October at 7.30pm. Glow Worm Trail
Glow worms are alive and well and living in Otari. We walk down through the bush at night, past tree ferns, rimus, epiphytes in profusion, ratas, freshwater crayfish - and glow worms. This is your chance to see glow worms up close and personal, complete with their midge-catching, sticky-thread nets. The tour starts from the Information Centre. You'll need good shoes, warm clothing and a torch. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Glow worms guaranteed! Participants must book through the Treehouse, Tel 499 1400 before 1pm Friday. Cost is $4, $2 for children. In the event of bad weather, phone WCC on 499 4444 after 5pm on Friday for cancellations.
Saturday 18 September. Open Day.
Your chance to buy quality native plants and to patronise the Otari Wilton's-Bush Trust cake stall and barbecue.
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