Wellington Regional Trails
Three friends walk along a forest trail at Ōtari-Wilton's Bush.

There’s a wide variety of walks available at Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush, ranging from gentle 10-minute strolls to 2.5-hour hikes. Original forests and native botanic gardens attract plenty of native birds.

Length

9.3km

Uses

Walking/Running

Type

Single track

Walking difficulty

Easy: Walking track

Profile

263m highest point

Dogs

Yes (on lead)
3 people gaze into the trees while one points up, on the Ōtari-Wilton's Bush walk.

About the trail

As New Zealand’s only botanic garden dedicated solely to native plants, Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush encompasses 100 hectares of native forest, with five hectares of plant collections containing around 1,200 species, hybrids, and cultivars. The collections include plants from New Zealand’s mainland and offshore islands.

Among some of the gentler tracks is the Circular Trail. It descends to the Troup Picnic Area beside Kaiwharawhara Stream. The shared open space is a sun trap, and its barbeque facilities make for great picnics. The Blue Trail is a little more challenging, with some steeper terrain. But it is well worth the effort to see an 800-year-old rimu.

Suggested routes

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