Otari-Wilton's Bush
Native Botanic Garden and Forest Reserve

In rugged terrain on the edge of Wellington are two native botanic gardens linked by a 75 metre Canopy Walkway which is guarded from a symbolic wooden arch by a Maori carving of Tane Mahuta, God of the Forest and Birds. Here, while standing above the native bush, one finds the first of many interpretation panels throughout the gardens which give a wonderful eyes-on explanation of the many unique features of New Zealand native flora.

Once covered by dense conifer and broadleaf forest, the area was used by generations of Maori for hunting. They called it Otari, meaning Place of Snares. By the end of the 19th century the land was partly Maori reserve and partly owned by a farmer named Job Wilton. Concern over the loss of native forest in Wellington led to the purchase of the land and in 1926 the eminent botanist Dr Leonard Cockayne together with J. G. McKenzie, Director of Parks and Reserves, established the Otari Open-Air Native Plant Museum. Their concepts of conserving native vegetation and educating the public continue to this day.

Covering 95 hectares, the gardens are divided into areas of specific interest:

The native collections bring together different species of many New Zealand native plants which have evolved over millions of years in complete isolation from other lands. The dimorphism and divarication of New Zealand plants is demonstrated and explained. Plant collections contain about 1200 species, native hybrids and cultivars with examples of flora from all parts of the country. These are well labelled and explained.

Areas of native bush are crossed by forest paths and board-walks beside which one may observe extraordinary plants and consult panels which explain their peculiarities. These include the transformation of the rata from hanging epyphyte to full-grown tree and the unusual hen and chicken fern Asplenium bulbiferum whose young develop on their fronds and then drop to the ground to take root.

The Fernery contains about 60 species of ferns and tree ferns out of the estimated 200 which grow in the country. Plants include native Dixonia and Cyathea ferns.

The Wild Garden and Dracophyllum Garden provide frost-free environments for tender native species such as those from northern offshore islands. Here will be found the northern rata, Pennantia baylisiana, Dracophyllum and Chatham Island forget-me-nots.

The Alpine Garden and the Rock Garden (built in the 1940s) are designed to provide varied microclimates and contain a selection of plants from both the country's alpine and coastal environments.

This is a place to experience and wonder at New Zealand's rich and unique heritage of native plant material in an environment which also supports an interesting variety of native birds and wildlife. Visit the Otari-Wilton's Bush web site.

Glossary