Take a walk in the gardens, or a hike in the bush, pack something to cook on the barbie, wander the plant collections, enjoy the birds, see what’s flowering, or join a Trust guided tour – we just love showing off Ōtari!
Main entrance and car park: 150 Wilton Road, Wilton.
Northern entrance and car park: opposite the end of Blackridge Road.
Getting here: drive, bike or walk, or take the Number 14 (Wilton) bus from the city. It’s an approximately 15 minute journey by car from Wellington city centre to Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush. Route | Map
Please, no bike riding in Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush. Dogs are welcome on a leash only!
Want to know more about the special plants and fauna living here at Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush? Our annual programme of Sunday guided walks offers opportunity to explore with the experts, to discover where all these special things live, learn more about them and what’s being done to protect them.
All walks begin at the Ōtari Visitor Centre, Tāne Whakapiripiri at 2pm, involve easy walking and last from about 90 minutes to two hours. Numbers are restricted to enhance your experience . Please make your booking via Eventfinda (eventfinda.co.nz). All walks are free to Trust members, otherwise cost $6 (this includes a $1 booking fee). Family groups are welcome.
March 26: The ‘wonderful’ world of Wellington weeds
At last count, more than 150 weed species have been noted within Wellington City Council reserves! Illona Keenan, the council’s weed specialist, will discuss the challenges of managing weeds in the city, then lead a walk to discover and discuss the problems these invasive species cause.
April 16: Discover the cutting-edge research taking place it the Lions Ōtari Plant Conservation Laboratory
From towering kauri to minuscule native orchids and their mycorrhizal fungi: Dr Karin van der Walt (Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush Conservation Scientist) will discuss the nationally-significant research work going on at Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush to save some of our rarest species.
April 23: Animal pests and predators in Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush
Learn about the pests and predators found in Ōtari and how they are being controlled by RAMBO (Rats and Mustelids Blitzing Ōtari), one of the first predator control groups in Wellington. RAMBO volunteers, Jim Tait and Kathy Ombler, will walk you along one of the trap lines to see the traps and monitoring devices in action. (It might be a bit steep, but not too bad!)
April 30: An introduction to the fungi kingdom
Let mycologist, Geoff Ridley, introduce this enormous biological kingdom and give you an idea of where to find fungi in Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush.
May 7: More about the fungi kingdom
For those who already know the fungi basics mycologist, Geoff Ridley, goes into more detail about the fungi present in Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush on the day.
May 14: Birds of Ōtari
Join one of New Zealand’s foremost ornithlogists, Dr Hugh Robertson (Principal Science Advisor, Department of Conservation), on this always popular walk to find and learn about the wonderful variety of native birds who visit and live in Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush.
May 21: How do the plants of Ōtari-Wilton Bush defend themselves?
Look out! Just like animals (but without arms and legs) plants can defend themselves. Join Lara Shepherd, Evolutionary Biologist, as she describes the crafty, self-defence techniques some plants of Ōtari-Wiltons Bush employ to ensure their survival.
May 28: Everything you wanted to know about tawa but were too shy to ask
Learn about the biology of this important forest tree and why it’s the dominant canopy species in many North Island forests, with ecologist (and Trust Chair) Dr Carol West.
Each year Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush Trust hosts a seminar series featuring specialists in their fields. Here is the programme for next March. Don’t miss these opportunities to learn from the experts. All seminars will start at 7.30 p.m. in the Ōtari Visitor Centre, Tāne Whakapiripiri, 150 Wilton Road. Gold coin donation.
Tuesday March 21: “An introduction to NZ geckos”. Reino Grundling.
Reino is an active conservationist with a great passion for sharing his love of native reptiles. His goal is to “take the geckos out of the manuka bush” and into the hearts and minds of his fellow kiwis.
Tuesday March 28: “The wonderful world of Wellington weeds”. Illona Keenan
Illona has helped manage ecological weeds for Wellington City Council for the last 10 years. At last count, there were over 150 weed species that have been controlled or noted within Wellington City Reserves.
Myosotis pygmaea. Photo: © Carol West
Northland Green Gecko. Photo: © Reino Grundling
The Trust organises regular . Many focus on themes and are led by specialists in their field. Some examples: finding our fungi, discovering our glow worms, growing native plants, predators and how we are controlling them.
Maps, displays and botanic artwork will get you in the mood for appreciating your Ōtari visit. Take your time to learn about Ōtari from the interactive display. Pick up a brochure, and if our volunteer hosts are in attendance during weekends, they have some interesting books you might like to buy, also they’ll love to answer any questions you might have about exploring Ōtari. Our hosts’ hours are 11am to 4pm (summer daylight saving time) and 10.30am to 3.30pm (winter). The visitor centre is open daily 7.30am to 4pm.
Be like a bird, cross the walkway that soars 18 metres above the forest floor. Look directly into the tree tops. Look out for the birds, kererū could be feeding on fruit right beside you. Don’t trip over a forest gecko, they also like to cross the canopy, which leads from Tāne Whakapiripiri to the Cockayne Lawn and plant collections.
This viewpoint gives perspective to the treasure that is Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush; the myriad plant collections around you, the tall, green forest beyond, the sheer scale of it all, and most likely a kākāriki, or kākā, or tūī flying by. It’s also a place for reflection, to perhaps give a quiet nod of thanks to Dr Leonard Cockayne, who rests here with his wife Maude, beneath the memorial stone in the coastal garden.
More than 1200 plant species, hybrids and cultivars are set out in families, groups and specially created habitats to replicate their natural environments. Check out the fernery, alpine garden, hebe and flax cultivars, and much more. The collections sprawl over five hectares, connected by gentle, meandering pathways and all close to the main entrance. Pick up a brochure from Tāne Whakapiripiri.
Explore this self-guided tour that starts at the Fernery (near the main car park) and ends at the Cockayne Lookout. It was designed by the late Dr John Dawson, a renowned author/botanist and founding Trust member. Pick up a brochure from Tāne Whakapiripiri.
Probably the most popular spot in all of Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush, the lawn is great for picnics and birthday parties, splashing in the stream or just relaxing in the sun with the forest all around - and usually kererū swooping through. There are barbecues, a shelter and toilets and you can walk in from the main entrance (10 minutes down a bit of a hill) or along the path beside Kaiwharawhara Stream from the northern car park (15 minutes, mostly flat).
‘Moko’ is more than 800 years old and probably the biggest, oldest rimu tree in the whole of Wellington. The track to Moko starts at the Troup Picnic Lawn. In 2022 a more gentle, zig zag route was opened to save your legs and lungs, allow about 20-30 minutes (one way). The platform around Moko was a Trust project, designed to protect the tree’s vulnerable root system from being trampled by visiting humans!