News | 22 September 2023
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Friday Five: Spring celebration at the Wellington Gardens

Tiptoe through the tulips at the Botanic Garden ki Paekākā! With only a couple of weeks left of the Spring Festival, there’s still awesome events to check out and nature to see. Here’s five ideas.

Bunch of tulips in a flower bed.

1. Enjoy Tulip Sunday 

SUNDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2023 | 10AM – 2PM | BOTANIC GARDEN KI PAEKĀKĀ

Experience the vibrant celebration of Tulip Sunday, brought to you by the Wellington Dutch Club. Welcome the spring season with a day filled with culture, delicious food, and delightful fun for the whole whānau.

The Wellington Dutch Club will be based at the Treehouse Visitors Centre, sharing their culture and selling delicious Dutch food (cash only). There will also be speeches at 12pm from the Netherlands Embassy.

Find out more on Eventfinda.

2. Take a stroll through the gardens

Embrace the beauty of spring in our garden and explore blooming bulbs, sculptures, trees, and the secret life of bees and glow worms. There's plenty of things to explore on a walk-through of the gardens from the Begonia House, to the Lady Norwood Rose garden and Picnic Cafe.

Check out the things you can do in the gardens. 

3. Go on a guided walk of the Herb Garden

MONDAY 25 SEPTEMBER | 11AM – 12.30PM | BOTANIC GARDEN KI PAEKĀKĀ

Join this guided walk to see which herbs are flowering, and to hear about their fragrant, medicinal, and culinary properties.

Meet at the Herb Garden lookout for this easy 90-minute walk. Tickets cost $5 (cash only), or Friends of the Wellington Botanic Garden are free.

This is part of the regular walks run by the Friends of the Wellington Botanic Garden, they run twice monthly throughout the year with a different topic every time. Join the Friends for only $30 a year and all the walks will be free, as well as other great benefits. 

Pathway with trees and plants at Ōtari Wilton's bush.

4.  Head over to Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush

Explore New Zealand’s only native botanic garden! The Ōtari-Wilton's Bush plant collections contain about 1,200 species, hybrids, and cultivars. The collections include plants from New Zealand's mainland and off-shore islands. On your next visit, why not join a guided walk and tour, try out a new walking track or even stop at the Picnic and BBQ area. 

Check out things you can do.

5. See the Scots College wearable design showcase

THURSDAY 21 SEPTMEBER – WEDNESDAY 11 OCTOBER | 10AM - 3PM | TREEHOUSE VISITOR CENTRE, BOTANIC GARDEN KI PAEKĀKĀ
Scots College students exhibit wearable design concepts and garments, exploring natural dying and sustainable textile practices. Come along to the Treehouse and be inspired by the works throughout the Spring Festival.

Find out more.

Read more

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