Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush: 100 years in the making, new paths for the future

Since 1926, Ōtari has stood as a living collection of Aotearoa’s unique plants and forests, a place where conservation, education, and recreation meet. Generations of Wellingtonians have walked its paths and learned about the taonga that make our natural heritage unique.

Ōtari’s centenary is a chance to look back at its extraordinary history, from the vision of Job Wilton, who first protected this land, to its role today as a research hub, education space, and sanctuary for native flora and fauna.

It will also be a moment to look forward, ensuring the next century of visitors can enjoy, understand, and connect with nature here.

A look at the past

Ōtarikākā (Ōtari), meaning “the place of snares to trap kākā,” was once a mahinga kai, valued for food gathering by successive iwi of Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Today, Taranaki Whānui, Te Āti Awa, and Ngāti Toa Rangatira hold mana whenua over the area, with one tract still owned by Ngāti Tama shareholders.

One farmer, Job Wilton, preserved seven hectares of untouched native forest, fencing it off as Wilton’s Bush. Over time, adjoining land was protected, forming the Ōtari Scenic Reserve in 1906. By 1918, Wellington City Council was managing the reserve for recreation and the protection of native flora, with Wilton’s Bush formally included in 1925.

In the 1920s, botanist Dr Leonard Cockayne sought to counter the destruction of New Zealand’s native forests. His vision was to create an “open-air plant museum” where native species could be cultivated, studied, and preserved. With WCC Director of Parks, J.G. McKenzie, they established the Ōtari Open-Air Native Plant Museum in 1926.

Fresh ways to explore in the centenary year

As part of this impending milestone, Ōtari has also launched refreshed wayfinding to make exploring easier and more enjoyable. From today, visitors will find:

• New track names that were gifted by mana whenua to reconnect each walk with cultural and natural stories.
• New colour-coded signage and bollards with distance markers making navigation clearer.
• Rerouted walking routes (using the existing network) to create consistent experiences.
• Updated map boards at main entrances and key locations.
• New brochures: one for forest walks and one for the native botanic garden which are available in both Māori and English.
• There is also an updated self-guided experience – Te Ara Koukouoro Nature Trail for all ages in both Māori and English.

These changes honour the past while shaping Ōtari’s future, ensuring that visitors of all ages and abilities can find their way and have a great experience in the forest and native botanic garden.

Names that tell stories

In partnership with Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika, each main track now carries a name that reflects both the physical landscape and its cultural heritage:

• Te Ara Porowhita – our Circular Track, which encircles the forest once reserved by Job Wilton, now the heart of Ōtari.
• Te Ara Pīnaki – is a gently rising, meandering path linking Troup Picnic Lawn, Karori Cemetery, and the Kaiwharawhara Stream.
• Te Ara o Tama – honours Ngāti Tama ki Kaiwharawhara, whose history is entwined with this whenua (land).
• Te Ara Tūpoupou – The steeply rising track, a challenging climb where the track drops and rises sharply through native forest.
• Te Ara o Kaiwharawhara Awa – Following the flow of the Kaiwharawhara Stream, our treasured awa.
• Te Ara Koukouoro Nature Trail – leads through dense, dark bush, where the call of the ruru (morepork) echoes and you can learn about key aspects of the local forest on a self-guided walk

These names invite every visitor to walk with deeper awareness of the stories of Ōtari.

A living legacy

Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush has always been more than a garden, it is a living legacy of protection, connection, and discovery. For nearly 100 years, it has inspired people to value Aotearoa’s unique natural heritage. The new wayfinding system is one way of preparing for the next century, helping visitors of today and tomorrow to find their path through the forest.

So, whether you’re a first-time visitor, a family looking for an easy walk, or a local returning to favourite tracks, Ōtari’s centenary is the perfect time to celebrate, explore, and reconnect with this treasured place.

Ōtari Open Day 

This Saturday 13 September, the Ōtari-Wilton's Trust invite you behind the scenes to explore the only public botanic garden in Aotearoa dedicated solely to native plants. Discover the people, plants, and projects that make it special.

Meet the team, chat with partner organisations, join an activity, and find out how they're working together to protect and restore our natural environment. Whether you’ve never been to Ōtari before or it’s been a while, come along, get curious, and reconnect with nature! More information can be found here.