Newlands Native Plant Conservation Garden

Newlands, Wellington

Owners:

Arnold Dench

Click images to enlarge

Address:

37 Lyndfield Lane, Newlands, Wellington

Phone:

+ 64-4-478 5873

Open:

October to March, daily, 10am - 4pm, by appointment

Groups:

By appointment

Fee:

$3 per adult

Size:

Small - 1000 sq m (1/5 acre)

Terrain:

Sloping

Newlands features New Zealand plants predominantly, with particular emphasis on alpine plants. It began in 1956 as a vegetable garden on a bleak Wellington hillside, where Ruth and Arnold developed a flat area, before landscaping the slopes. Since 1985 they have been replacing exotics with native species, although they have retained a waratah planted in the late ’sixties, dwarf berberis and small conifers, as well as callunas and ericas. Newlands Alpine Garden has been planned as a small botanic garden with an entirely native rockery at the front, and an exotic rockery on the northern side.

Scree gardens for New Zealand alpine plants have been designed to lessen the effect of the northerly winds. A moraine garden catering for difficult plants is adjacent to a fernery beside the creek. An extensive primula collection is a favourite with Ruth and Arnold, who also grow a variety of irises. In addition to the alpine plants, they also specialise in hebes, with about 130 types ranging from miniature varieties to large shrubs. The spring bulb garden features hundreds of daffodils, muscaris, sparaxis and ixias. Lilies, dahlias and perennials add to the summer display, and then the nerines in the bulb garden appear in autumn when the maples are colouring. It is their vision to provide visitors with the opportunity to see and study many rarely found indigenous and exotic plants.

Directions:

From Wellington, take SH 1 to top of Ngauranga Gorge. Turn right at lights into Newlands Rd, then turn sharp right into Wakely Rd. Veer left into Lyndfield Lane. Newlands Native Conservation Garden on left. On main bus route, just 10 mins from Wellington City