Wellington Botanic Garden
Wellington Botanic Garden
Wellington Botanic Garden
4.5
About
Visit Wellington Botanic Garden and enjoy its 25ha of unique landscape, protected native forest, conifers, specialised plant collections, colourful floral displays, and views over Wellington city. The garden is a Garden of National Significance by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture and is an Historic Places Trust Heritage Area. Take the Cable Car up and follow the Downhill path to the city.
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Neighbourhood: Northland
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- petermack2011Bungay, United Kingdom410 contributionsBeautiful gardensSpent a relatively short time in the gardens following a particular path but was suitably impressed. The path chosen was from top to bottom so far more easily coming down than going up if your mobility is limited. The gardens are well established and beautiful. The Lady Norwood Rose Garden at the bottom was impressive and in full bloom. Other parts were not quite in bloom yet but would be impressive as spring progresses into summer.Visited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 14 November 2023
- Michelle6 contributionsBeauty, Nature, and ArtWonderful option for a day hike in the fresh air. Start at the rose gardens (and don't miss the begonia greenhouse -- my personal favorite part of the area), then head up the hill for a bushwalk. Continue uphill and end up at the Carter Observatory & Cable Car Museum. 2-3 hours to really take it all in. I loved the art installations along the path. You can read descriptions and history of each piece.Visited November 2023Travelled soloWritten 26 November 2023
- Rotiman1Sydney, Australia2,018 contributionsPleasant way to enjoy a few hours surrounded by natureKilled two birds with one stone by catching the cable car up, enjoying coffee, cake and views then walking down through the gardens. There are a number of interesting side trails. Information boards give good insights into the development over time. The children’s area was particularly well designed. The lookout above the rose garden would be spectacular when in full bloom. The small peace memorial was ideal for reflection. Option of coffee/lunch beside the rose garden was a nice finish option.Visited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 5 December 2023
- ND FVancouver, Canada826 contributionsLots of places to sit and enjoy the beauty of the gardens.Spectacular gardens overlooking Wellington. Take the cable car up or walk (a bit of a hike). Walking paths lead to different areas/gardens in the complex. Very well maintained. A number of volunteers on hand to answer questions, provide directions and pamphlets. There’s a souvenir shop and cafe.Visited January 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 31 January 2024
- wombatdavidHobart, Australia2,757 contributionsRelaxing place.I love this place. I walked up through the Bolton Street cemetery and also took the cable car up. It has so much area and many different things to see. The rose garden and herb garden are lovely. It is free to enter. A lovely relaxing place.Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 2 February 2024
- Brian DDarlington, United Kingdom982 contributionsDefinitely worth a visitGet the cable car up to the top and walk back down through the gardens - very beautiful and well worth a visit. The cafe is also worth visiting. The content of the glass houses is stunning and so well looked after.Visited January 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 9 February 2024
- A J11 contributionsA Must Do in WellingtonThe Wellington Botanic Garden was absolutely stunning. I knew it had high reviews but it exceeded expectations. The plant groupings made for a beautiful setting. There were plenty of paved paths, but there were lots of “off the beaten path” side shoots to explore as well. We spent a lot of time around the hydrangeas and in the xeric garden because we could not get enough. The rose garden and scent garden were also incredible. Whenever I am next in Wellington, the Botanic Garden will always be on my list to visit. And, it’s free!!! I’ve been to less impressive gardens in the US that have an entrance fee!Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 19 February 2024
- gizzmo0402Stafford, United Kingdom195 contributionsReally peaceful visitI took the cable car 🚡 up to the top and spent a good few hours around the stunning gardens. It was really peaceful and had such a fantastic variety of different areas, my personal 😍 being the herb garden and the Lady Rose 🌹 garden was just beautiful! I must visit when in Wellington!Visited February 2024Travelled soloWritten 22 February 2024
- Adventurers049Brisbane, Australia3,509 contributionsA peaceful and tranquil settingBeautiful botanic gardens with a lovely view over Wellington. Getting off the cable car, there is a well signposted path that takes you through the gardens to the Beehive. A very tranquil spot and well worth visiting.Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 3 March 2024
- BigMerkGlasgow, United Kingdom2,709 contributionsHuge garden area in the middle of a busy cityI was on a cruise ship which stopped in Wellington. I did t bother with any organised tour here but made my own way, taking the Cabke Car to the top and walking back down thru the gardens. It’s a lovely big area - so green and so close to the centre. Lots of different areas to look at too. Worth a visitVisited February 2024Travelled soloWritten 6 March 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
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207
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30
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5
Car0le88
Manchester, UK299 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We took the cable car up to the gardens and walked all round, took quite a while, but you don't have to do it all. There are walks downhill and up steps but again the gardens are so extensive you can go where you choose. Views over Wellington are nice too. You can walk back into town or start the Northern walkway from here. We opted to take the cable car back as it was too warm to walk and we had paid for a return ticket ($18 return). Beautiful gardens, lovely walks. Spend half a day or more here.
Written 25 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
775traveller
NSW237 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
Lovely lush gardens with a wide range of themes such as a rose garden and a fragrant garden as well as heated indoor begonia garden with orchids. Signposting could be better so you know where the themed walk is, and if you are still on it or detoured, but otherwise it's a beautiful place. Buses stop right outside or you can walk from the city centre or the train station.
Written 12 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wucie
Bern, Switzerland477 contributions
Feb 2020
Established in 1868 and encompassing 25 hectares near central Wellington, the garden is well worth a visit, not just for the plants (native as well as non-native, arranged into sections, such as succulent and Aussie gardens, for example), sculptures (Wellington Sculpture Trail), summer events, museum (cable car) and tours (summer months), but also for the views across the capital and harbour beyond.
While it doesn’t house the largest or the richest plant collection and could do with more plant name tags, it does provide sweeping views from the summit and a network of winding paths, as well as helpful guides dispensing directions and panels dispensing useful botanical information. Some of the paths are steep, but most are shady and all are picturesque with fabulous views and vegetation.
Entrance is free and the Garden usually closes at night (unless glow worm tours are being offered). Food and drink can be purchased at the cable car summit station and at the Lady Norwood Begonia House (rose garden), near the bottom, with the additional Treehouse Visitor Centre providing info, gift shop and toilets half way down, along with a kid’s exploratory garden and playground.
We spotted quite a few birds here too, both native and non and it proved a good introduction to New Zealand’s vegetation. There are some wonderful, old trees and we particularly liked the hairy pohutukawa, the curly Chinese Saucer Magnolia and the massive Monterey Pines on Druid Hill (some of the oldest in NZ, planted in 1871). And, if cemeteries are your thing, then don’t miss the one at Bolton Street, located at the bottom of the Garden below Anderson Park (cricket). It too is full of birds, plants and of course historical headstones and you can pick up a map at the entrance to navigate your way round, then carry on across the Urban Motorway and onto Bowen Street to reach the Beehive—NZ’s parliament.
The Garden is popular with locals, especially at weekends, as well as with tourists, most of whom seemed to take the cable car up and down and were concentrated around the summit station and Observatory (best views), though being a weekend the entire Garden was quite crowded.
Tip: take the cable car up (NZ$5 pp single or $9 return, adult fare), which leaves every 10 mins and walk down. Don’t forget a hat and sunscreen in summer because although the paths are largely shady, the antipodean summer sun is unrelenting.
While it doesn’t house the largest or the richest plant collection and could do with more plant name tags, it does provide sweeping views from the summit and a network of winding paths, as well as helpful guides dispensing directions and panels dispensing useful botanical information. Some of the paths are steep, but most are shady and all are picturesque with fabulous views and vegetation.
Entrance is free and the Garden usually closes at night (unless glow worm tours are being offered). Food and drink can be purchased at the cable car summit station and at the Lady Norwood Begonia House (rose garden), near the bottom, with the additional Treehouse Visitor Centre providing info, gift shop and toilets half way down, along with a kid’s exploratory garden and playground.
We spotted quite a few birds here too, both native and non and it proved a good introduction to New Zealand’s vegetation. There are some wonderful, old trees and we particularly liked the hairy pohutukawa, the curly Chinese Saucer Magnolia and the massive Monterey Pines on Druid Hill (some of the oldest in NZ, planted in 1871). And, if cemeteries are your thing, then don’t miss the one at Bolton Street, located at the bottom of the Garden below Anderson Park (cricket). It too is full of birds, plants and of course historical headstones and you can pick up a map at the entrance to navigate your way round, then carry on across the Urban Motorway and onto Bowen Street to reach the Beehive—NZ’s parliament.
The Garden is popular with locals, especially at weekends, as well as with tourists, most of whom seemed to take the cable car up and down and were concentrated around the summit station and Observatory (best views), though being a weekend the entire Garden was quite crowded.
Tip: take the cable car up (NZ$5 pp single or $9 return, adult fare), which leaves every 10 mins and walk down. Don’t forget a hat and sunscreen in summer because although the paths are largely shady, the antipodean summer sun is unrelenting.
Written 8 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ksufan88
Wichita, KS6,795 contributions
Dec 2019
This garden has many paths leading through different areas of the garden. The paths are very well marked with many of them on uphill or downhill slopes. We started at the highest point near the cable car, and walked downhill the main path back into the city center. This route takes you through a cemetery and across a pedestrian overpass that crosses a major highway. Many of the trees and plants are quite interesting to look at and most are labeled with signs.
Written 3 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DavidGreed
Cambridge, New Zealand40 contributions
May 2020
There is so much to look at and admire. We visited in late autumn, with many trees still showing their autumn colours which I love. The terrain is very hilly but well maintained paths make the walking easy. The views of Wellington and its harbour from the top are stunning (the weather was fine and calm when we were there). Easily accessible with the iconic cable car being a great option to quickly get to the highest point from the centre of the city.
Written 5 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sprog
england46 contributions
Feb 2020
Took the cable car to top, worth it for the view and walked down through the botanical gardens, really lovely thousands of plants, if you have children there is a lovely play area about half way down.
The walk back to the CBD takes you through a wonderful old cemetery and a lovely rose garden, a conservatory full of colourful plants, a lovely way to spend time in a really lovely City. Also went to the Cathedral, inside is just lovely, also worth a visit.
The walk back to the CBD takes you through a wonderful old cemetery and a lovely rose garden, a conservatory full of colourful plants, a lovely way to spend time in a really lovely City. Also went to the Cathedral, inside is just lovely, also worth a visit.
Written 27 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Constanza Diez Riera
89 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
It’s a botanic garden, plants it’s what you are going to see. The rose garden is lovely, and the duck pond also. You can get there by the Cable Car and at the top you get great views of the city, you have many paths to choose and walk your way down to the center.
Recommendation: stop to smell the roses and read their names at the Rose Garden 🌹 , definitely worth it. The roses are at the bottom of the garden, so no need to go all the way up.
Recommendation: stop to smell the roses and read their names at the Rose Garden 🌹 , definitely worth it. The roses are at the bottom of the garden, so no need to go all the way up.
Written 22 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KarenM1_10
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan1,042 contributions
Feb 2020
We took the cable car from Lambton Quay to Kelburn Lookout, which is much easier than walking up from the city center. After taking in the stunning views from the Lookout, we started walking through the Botanic Gardens. There is a lot of walking up and down while visiting the gardens. If you have children, there is also a nice play area as well. Make sure you pick up a walking map before entering the gardens so you can decide which route you would like to take since the area covers 25 hectares.
Written 19 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert W
Waltham, MA308 contributions
May 2022
This garden is one of the most spectacular I have ever visited. Although my wife and I are not always attracted to such gardens, this was recommended by locals. Indeed, you could spend all day wandering through the multi-level garden examining plants that are strange in the US.
The cafe, which is at ground level, serves breakfast all day, and people seem to gravitate there in the morning to meet friends.
And you can reach the garden simply from central Wellington by taking the cable car.
Highly recommended!
The cafe, which is at ground level, serves breakfast all day, and people seem to gravitate there in the morning to meet friends.
And you can reach the garden simply from central Wellington by taking the cable car.
Highly recommended!
Written 7 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julia @Scrumptious Solent
Southampton, UK4,381 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Take the funicular up to the botanical gardens (€6 one way) and enjoy a lovely view of the bay before wending your way down through the gardens back to the city.
It took us about 1:5 hours including a stop for coffee at the cafe near the rose gardens (there’s also a cafe by the funicular at the top).
It’s lovely to hear the birds in the park and enjoy the local flora and fauna.
If you follow the main path down you’ll end up back by the bay near the beehive parliament building.
It took us about 1:5 hours including a stop for coffee at the cafe near the rose gardens (there’s also a cafe by the funicular at the top).
It’s lovely to hear the birds in the park and enjoy the local flora and fauna.
If you follow the main path down you’ll end up back by the bay near the beehive parliament building.
Written 21 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mui Hui
London, United Kingdom
Hi, we plan to visit in Feb/Mar period. Can we expect roses to be blooming? Thanks!
Written 25 November 2017
Could be - depends when they deadheaded the last lot - it takes about 52 days for a new set of blooms - there weren't many out when I was there in October.
Written 26 November 2017
Mui Hui
London, United Kingdom
Hi, we plan to visit in Feb/Mar period. Can we expect roses to be blooming? Thanks!
Written 25 November 2017
Roses should be in blossom in the rose garden, different types are planted to blossom at different times of the year.
Written 25 November 2017
There is a quote about the 'soul flying' on a bench which I wish I had written down if anyone visiting sees it please can they tell me exactly what it says and who said it please?
Written 11 September 2017
Hi Karen, was it in the Rose Gardens?? There is a plaque for Agnes Tarcque...
Remembered with love.
The immortal soul flies out into empty space,
To seek her fortune in some other place.
- Ovia
Is this is?
Written 3 December 2017
Você não pagará para ter acesso ao Jardim Botânico de Wellington. A Entrada é gratuita.
Written 18 November 2016
Yes. They continually are moving in new flowers to match their seasons. In April it will be the start of the fall season so the roses may not be blooming but the garden beyond the roses is such a vast land of beauty it is well worth the trip. Don't forget to take the trolley!!
Written 15 March 2015
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