Otari-Wilton's Bush (Formerly Otari Native Botanic Garden) A very special garden and one that every keen gardener should visit often. A showcase for and conservation collection of New Zealand native plants. A portion is virgin native bush.
See the Review of this garden
Address: Wilton Rd, Wilton, Wellington
Open- Daily, daylight hours; WC, Wheelchair access, Dogs on leads only, No riding bicycles
Entrance Fee- free
Facilities- No café or food facilities, Coin operated barbecues in the Troup Picnic area
Owner- Wellington City Council
Tel/Fax +64 4 475 3245; website: www.wcc.govt.nz
The Home Lawn, Otari-Wilton's Bush
Wellington Botanic Garden Including formal rose gardens, a woodland path, herb garden and spring displays of bulbs the Botanic Gardens are a welcome respite just minutes from the central city.
Address: Glenmore Rd, Thorndon, Wellington
Open- Daily daylight hours
Entrance fee- none
Owner- Wellington City Council
Tel +64 4-801 3071; Fax +64 4-801 3074
Lady Norwood rose Garden, Wellington Botanic Gardens
Pepped Warbeck A lovely peaceful 2 hectare (4.5 acre) garden in Ohariu Valley. Because of its unusual layout and wide range of plantings there is plenty to see in any season. A lovely courtyard for outdoor meals.
Address: 660 Ohariu Valley Road, Johnsonville, Wellington
Open- By appointment only between 10.00am to 5.00pm 1 October to 30 April.
No Dogs, Children must be accompanied, Wheelchair access
Closed- 1 May to 30 September
Entrance fee- $5.00 adult, children free
Facilities- WC, Teas, lunches and special events, Plants for sale
Directions- Leave Johnsonville by Bassett Road, turn into Ironside Road (opposite St John's Church), turn left into Ohariu Road towards Makara, then turnright into Ohariu Valley Road. Pepped Warbeck is signed on your right.
Owner- Phillida & David Weaver
Tel +64 (4) 478 7586; Fax +64 (4) 478 7586
Prairie Holm Mature native trees, home to native Kereru (wood pigeon), Tui, and Bellbirds are underplanted with rhododendrons, camellias, and azaleas. A gazebo, ponds joined by a water wheel, sunken garden, laburnum arch and rambling roses make this a truly lovely garden. Perennial areas include salvias, penstemons, euphorbias, echiums, wallflowers, lavender and roses.
Address: Western Lake Road, Featherston, Wairarapa (Postal: RD3 Featherston)
Open- 8.00am to 6.00pm all year; No Dogs, Children must be accompanied, Wheelchair access, Groups by appointment
Entrance fee- $4.00 adult, children free
Facilities- WC, Teas available by arrangement
Directions- From Featherston take western Lake Road towards Lake Wairarapa and Ocean Beach. Prairie Holm is on your right after passing Cross Creek Road.
Owner- Bill & Elaine Gooding
Tel +64 (6) 308 9090; Fax +64 (4) 308 9090
Prairie Holm
Newlands Alpine Garden A private botanical garden on hilly terrain with a particular emphasis on New Zealand native plants, especially alpine plants. A fernery and a wide range of New Zealand hebe species and cultivars are grown. All in 1000 sq metres.
Address: 37 Lyndfield Lane, Newlands, Wellington
Open- By appointment between 10.00am to 4.00pm Monday to Saturday from September to March; No Dogs, Children must be accompanied, Groups by appointment
Closed- Sunday all year and April to 31 August
Entrance fee- $3.00 adult, children free
Facilities- WC, Plants for sale
Directions- From wellington take SH 1 to top of Ngauranga Gorge. Cross flyover into Newlands Road, then turn right in Wakely Road and veer left into Lynfield Lane. The gaden is on the left. On main bus route 10 minutes from Wellington City.
Owner- Arnold & Ruth Dench
Tel +64 (4) 938 6208
The Threshold A peaceful and intimate urban garden designed in a series of 'rooms'. A sheltered barbecue and outdoor living area and water features make this an interesting and lovely garden. Planting includes roses, rhododendrons, camellias, trees, shrubs and annuals.
Address: 75 Taylor Terrace, Tawa, Wellington
Open- By appointment between from 1 September to 31 March; Groups by appointment only; No Dogs; Children must be accompanied; No Wheelchair access
Closed- April to end August
Entrance fee- Adult $3.00, Children free, Groups $3.00 each
Facilities- WC, Teas and refreshemnts by prior arrangement only
Directions- From SW1 just north of Wellington City, take the 'Tawa' exit, continue on main road to BP service station, then turn right across railway and then right again into Taylor Terrace.
Owner- Noeline and Derek Thresh
Tel +64 (4) 232 6300; Fax +64 (4) 232 6300
Email - threshn@xtra.co.nz
Efil Doog A series of interconnected indoor and outdoor features this garden is known internationally. Set in a beautiful 4.5 hectare (11 acre) garden Efil Doog is a scultpure park and art gallery. A unique garden including Bonsai, an Iris Glen, 2000 rhododendrons and countless beautiful trees and shrubs.
Address: 1995 Akatarawa Road, Upper Hutt (Postal: RD2 Upper Hutt)
Open- 10.00am to 4.30pm Wednesday to Sunday from 1 October to 31 March.
Groups by appointment, No Dogs, Children must be accompanied
Closed- Monday and Tuesday all year, also closed every day 1 April to 30 September
Entrance fee- $12.00 adult, $6.00 children, $10 each for groups of 20 or more
Facilities- WC, also Teas for groups by appointment
Directions- From Wellington, take SH 2 and just beyond Upper Hutt turn left at signpost for Waikanae
From Waikane take SH 1 and turn south over the railway line, Efil Doog is 24kms
Owner- Ernest & Shirley Cosgrove
Tel +64 (4) 526 7924; Fax +64 (4) 526 7094; Email- efildoog@xtra.co.nz; Website- www.efildoog-nz.com
Efil Doog, Akatarawa Valley
Moss Green Garden Moss Green Garden is a tranquill 1.4 hectare (3 acre) garden set in native bush through which the Akatarawa River flows. There is an extensive range of hardy and unusual perennials, as well as native plants. High rainfall and shallow soils also mean that the garden features ponds and moisture loving plants. (The story of the garden has recently been told by Jo Munro in the prestigous garden magazine 'Hortus'.)
Address: 2420 Akatarawa Road, Upper Hutt (Postal: RD2 Upper Hutt)
Open- From 1 September to 30 April 10.00am to 5.00pm Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, other days by appointment only.
Groups by appointment, No Dogs, Children must be accompanied
Closed- Tuesday all year, also closed every day 1 May to 31 August
Entrance fee- $5.00 adult, $1.00 children
Facilities- WC, Plant Nursery, and Copper sculpture and hypertufa pots for sale
Directions- From Wellington, take SH 2 and after Upper Hutt turn left at signpost for Waikanae and Akatarawa Valley.
From Waikane take SH 1 and turn south over the railway line to the Akatarawa Valley
Owner- Bob & Jo Munro
Tel +64 (4) 526 7531; Fax +64 (4) 526 7507
Email mgg@actrix.gen.nz Website www.mossgreengarden.co.nz
Moss Green Garden, Akatarawa Valley
Harakeke The garden is on a gently sloping block with a planting of New Zealand native plants on the western boundary. Roses climb over manuka supports and a wide range of perennials are grown. A large vegetable garden, small potager, fish pond and bridge provide interest for all.
Address: Cannock Road, Martinborough, Wairarapa (Postal: RD 4, Martinborough)
Open- 10.00am to 5.00pm mid-October to April by appointment
No Dogs, Children must be accompanied, Wheelchair access, Groups by appointment
Closed- May to mid-October
Entrance fee- $4.00 adult, children free
Facilities- WC, Teas and light lunches available by arrangement; Plant Nursery
Directions- From Martinborough take Oxford Street to the east, after 12 kms turn right into Cannock Road. The garden is 5 kms, signposted on the right
Owner- Susan & John Hughes
Tel +64 (6) 308 8846; Fax +64 (6) 308 8247
Harakeke Garden, Martinborough
Abbotsford A series of garden rooms combining inner borders and outer pastoral ambience. The accent is on design, structure and planting.
Address: Abbotsford Road, Taueru, Masterton, Wairarapa (Postal: RD 9, Masterton)
Open- By appointment between 10.00am to 5.00pm from September to May; No Dogs; Children must be accompanied; Wheelchair access
Closed- June to end August
Entrance fee- Adult $3.00, Children free, Groups $3.00 each
Facilities- WC, Plant Nursery, BYO Picnics, Teas and lunches by arrangement
Directions- 13 kms (10 minutes) east of Masterton on the Castlepoint Road, turn into Abbotsford Road.
Owner- Tim & Penny Bunny
Tel +64 (6) 3788763; Fax +64 (6) 3782829
