After a disappointing visit to Kaitoke to see no progress on the land, we cheered ourselves up with a local bush walk, the kiwi equivalent of a walk in the woods.

Otari-Wilton’s Bush is the only botanic garden in New Zealand solely dedicated to native plants, as well as being the country’s foremost native plant collection. In this unique plant sanctuary there are 5 hectares of plant collections and 90 hectares of mature and regenerating native bush. The mature podocarp-northern rata forest is the only remnant of this once common forest type in the Wellington peninsula.

Being 5 minutes drive from Khandallah with lots of picnic spots I can see it being a regular haunt when the weather is conducive!

Spring growth in the fern trees

Waterfall – home to dragon fly and glow worms