Wellington Botanic Garden
| Wellington Botanic Garden | |
|---|---|
A path in the Wellington Botanic Garden during spring | |
| Type | Municipal botanical garden |
| Location | Wellington, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 41°16′58″S 174°45′58″E / 41.2829°S 174.7660°E |
| Area | 25 ha (62 acres) |
| Created | 1868 |
| Operated by | Wellington City Council |
| Status | Open all year |
| Public transit access | Metlink route 2 Wellington Cable Car |
Wellington Botanic Garden ki Paekākā is a botanical garden close to central Wellington in New Zealand. It covers 25 ha (62 acres) of land in a valley between Thorndon and Kelburn, with Glenmore Street as a boundary along the valley floor. One of the access points is from the top of the Wellington Cable Car. The garden is managed by Wellington City Council, and features protected native forest, conifers, plant collections, seasonal displays and an extensive rose garden. Large sculptures are located throughout the garden.
Before the garden was established, the area was used by the Ngāti Te Whiti hapū of Te Āti Awa for growing and gathering food. It was later established as a botanic garden on a 5.3 ha (13-acre) site in 1868 and extended to 28 ha (68 acres) in 1871. The Botanic Garden contains remnants of lowland broadleaf native forest. A variety of native birds can be found in the garden.
It is classified as a Garden of National Significance by the New Zealand Gardens Trust, and in 2004 it was listed as a historic area by Heritage New Zealand.