If you are interested in the native plants of Aotearoa New Zealand, the Ōtari Native Botanic Gardens is a must-visit. It is the only botanic garden solely dedicated to NZ natives, and you will see flowering bushes and trees that are hard to find in the wild or in most private gardens. The gardens are also linked with the Wilton Bush walks, the only remaining stand of ancient forest in the Wellington area.
The gardens start with a treetop walkway a few minutes west of the main car park, then link with stunning examples of rare and common native plants. Look out for the amazing kowhai ngutukākā / kākā beak (the second photo below). It was truly spectacular when we visited in spring, with many plants in flower.
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