Sight guide · Wellington · New Zealand
Visiting Wellington Botanic Garden
Spread over a hillside between Kelburn and Thorndon, the garden combines native forest, exotic trees, playgrounds and the Lady Norwood Rose Garden, which blooms from about November to April.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Wellington Botanic Garden is a garden in Kelburn, Wellington. Allow 1.5 hours; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Garden
- Area
- Kelburn
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- free, outdoors, nature and kids
- Best months
- January–March
About Wellington Botanic Garden
Spread over a hillside between Kelburn and Thorndon, the garden combines native forest, exotic trees, playgrounds and the Lady Norwood Rose Garden, which blooms from about November to April. Paths zigzag down from the cable car station with views over the city.
Tip: Visit the rose garden in summer, then continue down to Bolton Street Cemetery and Thorndon.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1.5 hours.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Kelburn, hilltop suburb by the Botanic Garden and Victoria University.
Best time to visit Wellington Botanic Garden
Wellington Botanic Garden is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:
- February: 21°C (70°F) highs, about 7 rainy days, busy crowds.
- January: 20°C (68°F) highs, about 7 rainy days, busy crowds.
- March: 19°C (66°F) highs, about 8 rainy days, busy crowds.
When to visit Wellington has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Wellington itinerary visits Wellington Botanic Garden on day 3, together with Mount Victoria Lookout and Wētā Cave and Wētā Workshop tours.
- No. 3 of the 18 sights in our Wellington things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
- Listed in free things to do in Wellington.
- One of the picks in outdoors in Wellington.
- A family favourite in Wellington with kids.
Near Wellington Botanic Garden
Also in Kelburn, so you can walk between them:
- Space Place at Carter Observatory — 1.5 hours, mid-priced
If you like Wellington Botanic Garden
- Te Papa Tongarewa — Te Aro, 3–4 hours
- Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne — Karori, 2–3 hours
- Mount Victoria Lookout — Mount Victoria, 1–1.5 hours
- Waterfront walk to Oriental Bay — Oriental Bay, 1–2 hours
Staying near Wellington Botanic Garden
Stay in Kelburn ($$) to walk here: hilltop suburb by the Botanic Garden and Victoria University. All areas to stay in Wellington.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Wellington Botanic Garden?
Plan 1.5 hours. With Space Place at Carter Observatory nearby, it fits a half-day in Kelburn.
+Is Wellington Botanic Garden free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit Wellington Botanic Garden?
January–March for the most comfortable weather. Visit the rose garden in summer, then continue down to Bolton Street Cemetery and Thorndon.
+Do I need to book Wellington Botanic Garden in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Wellington Botanic Garden good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Wellington. Wellington is easy with children: Te Papa is free and highly interactive, the cable car and Space Place are fun, and Zealandia, the zoo and the waterfront fill a few days.