The Wellington Botanic Garden in Wellington, New Zealand covers 25 hectares of land on the side of the hill between Thorndon and Kelburn, near central Wellington. The garden features 25 hectares of protected native forest, conifers, plant collections and seasonal displays. It also features a variety of non-native species, including an extensive rose garden. It is classified as a Garden of National Significance^[1] by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. In 2004 it was listed as a historic area with Heritage New Zealand.^[2] Large sculptures and carvings are located throughout the garden. These are by artists such as Henry Moore, Andrew Drummond, Mary-Louise Browne, Regan Gentry, Denis O'Connor and Chris Booth.

The Garden was established in 1868.^[3] It was initially managed by the New Zealand Institute (later named the Royal Society Te Apārangi) and its manager James Hector until 1891.^[4] The New Zealand Institute planted conifers as part of a programme to import plant species and assess their potential for economic benefit to New Zealand. The first map of the garden in 1875, by John Buchanan, also included the compilation of a list of all plants growing there, and a survey of native plants indigenous to the reserve.^[4]

Some animals were kept at the Botanic Gardens prior to the formation of Wellington Zoo in Newtown in 1906, including the "City Emu" which died shortly after being relocated to the Zoo from the garden.^[5]

Wellington City Council began managing the garden in 1891, developing various parts of the garden such as the Lady Norwood Rose Garden (1950), the Begonia House (1960), and the Treehouse Visitor Centre (1990), in conjunction with the World Wildlife Fund.

The Wellington Botanic Garden is home to several organisations, including:

• Carter Observatory, the National Observatory of New Zealand
• Wellington Cable Car Museum
• Meteorological Service of New Zealand

The garden features a large Victorian-style glasshouse called the Begonia House, the Lady Norwood Rose Garden and the Treehouse Visitor Centre. There is a large children's play area, a duck pond, and glowworms visible some nights along paths in the Main Garden. There are monthly tours during autumn and spring (the garden is otherwise closed at night). In 1975 the Japan Society of New Zealand gifted a carved stone lantern that is now located in the Peace Garden adjacent to the Lady Norwood Rose Garden.^[6] In 1994 the lantern was adapted to house the Hiroshima Peace Flame in recognition of Wellington's nuclear free status.

The main entrance to the Botanic Garden is the Founders Entrance on Glenmore Street, which leads past formal flower beds to the duck pond. As of 2024, a No. 2 public bus stops outside this entrance. The Centennial Entrance near the Founders Entrance provides vehicle and pedestrian access from Glenmore Street to the Lady Norwood Rose Garden, and a path from Bolton Street Cemetery past Anderson Park also leads to the rose garden. Further up Glenmore Street from the Founders Entrance are the Pipitea Entrance and West Entrance, which lead to the Puriri Lawn and Magpie Lawn. Three more pedestrian entrances provide access from the south, at Glen Road, Mariri Road and Boundary Road.^[24]

At the top of the hill, the Cable Car Entrance gives access from the top of the cable car route. The Wellington Cable Car runs between the top of the Botanic Garden and Lambton Quay in Wellington's central business district. A wide paved path provides a popular downhill route, taking about 30 minutes to walk from the Cable Car entrance to the Founders Entrance.^[24]

• Wellington Botanic Gardens
• Part of cacti and succulents garden
• Rudderstone, by Dennis O'Connor, one of many sculptures in the Garden
• Part of Main Garden and Floral Displays garden, with Wellington Anglican Chinese Mission Church in the background
• Playground at the Garden
• Begonia House
• Aloe Polyphylla group
• Historical image of summer event in 1979 in the Dell
• People at a Soundshell concert
• Light show at Gardens Magic
• Concert, Gardens Magic