Otari-Wilton’s Bush Wellington: Native Plants and Bush Walks

Last updated May 2026

Otari-Wilton’s Bush is a combined native plant botanic garden and bush reserve in the Wilton suburb of Wellington, about 5 kilometres from the city centre. It is the only public botanic garden in New Zealand dedicated entirely to native plants, and contains the largest collection of indigenous New Zealand flora of any botanic garden in the country. The reserve covers approximately 100 hectares and includes areas of original bush that have never been logged — some of the most intact remnant native forest in the Wellington region.

Practical Information

About Otari-Wilton’s Bush

The reserve combines two originally separate areas: the Otari Native Botanic Garden, established from 1926, and Wilton’s Bush, an area of regenerating and original native forest. Together they offer an experience that ranges from cultivated garden plantings — with clear labelling and educational information — to immersive native bush walks through unlogged forest.

The plant collection holds more than 1,200 species of indigenous New Zealand plants, including many that are rare or threatened. The reserve contains an estimated 800-year-old rimu tree, one of the largest remaining in the greater Wellington area, and sections of dense tawa, kohekohe and podocarps that give a sense of what pre-European Wellington once looked like across the harbour hills.

Birdlife is a significant part of the experience. The reserve’s proximity to the Zealandia ecosanctuary means that birds reintroduced there — including kākā, tūī, kererū and kākāriki — are regularly seen and heard throughout Otari-Wilton’s Bush. It is one of the better spots in Wellington for urban birdwatching without the Zealandia entry fee.

Tracks and Walking

The reserve has a network of well-maintained tracks ranging from easy loop walks near the garden entrance to longer routes through the deeper bush. Most tracks are suitable for a moderate fitness level, though some sections involve steps and uneven ground. The main circuit through the garden and upper bush area takes approximately 1–1.5 hours. Longer combinations using the outer tracks can extend this to two hours or more.

Track maps are available at the visitor centre near the Wilton Road entrance. The visitor centre also contains interpretive displays on native plant ecology and the history of the reserve.

What Visitors Say

FAQ

Is Otari-Wilton’s Bush free to visit?
Yes — entry is free and the reserve is open daily from dawn to dusk.

Can I bring my dog to Otari-Wilton’s Bush?
No — dogs are not permitted anywhere in the reserve, to protect the native wildlife and plant collection.

How long does it take to walk through Otari-Wilton’s Bush?
The main garden loop takes about 30–45 minutes. A fuller circuit through the deeper bush sections takes 1–2 hours depending on pace and route.

Are the tracks suitable for children?
Most of the tracks are suitable for older children and adults with moderate fitness. Some sections have steps or uneven terrain. The garden area near the entrance is easier and suitable for young children.

Is there parking at Otari-Wilton’s Bush?
Yes — free parking is available at the Wilton Road entrance off Wilton Road.

What birds can I see at Otari-Wilton’s Bush?
Tūī, kererū, kākā, kākāriki and fantail (pīwakawaka) are all regularly sighted. The reserve benefits from the Zealandia sanctuary nearby, with kākā especially common overhead.

Otari-Wilton’s Bush is part of Wellington’s network of green spaces — see Wellington Parks and Reserves for more options. Zealandia in nearby Karori is the source of many of the native birds found here.

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