Treehouse

The Treehouse play area at Wellington Botanic Garden ki Paekaka in Kelburn is a destination playground for families visiting Wellington, combining nature-immersion with equipment that spans toddlers through older children. Set among mature trees around the Treehouse Visitor Centre, it draws a steady mix of local families and visitors to the garden.

Equipment

The main draw is a dual flying fox, one of the few in central Wellington, alongside a large climbable tower with three long slides and an all-ages swing set. Sensory features include talk tubes, musical panels, and a sensory play module, widening the appeal for children with different needs. Synthetic safety surfacing covers the main equipment areas. The play area connects to the Matairangi Nature Trail, which runs through the garden with its own stepped logs, balancing beams, wobbly bridge, and novelty climbing structure threaded between established trees.

Access and Inclusion

The sensory play module, musical panels, and talk tubes make the space accessible for a range of abilities. Public toilets and a drinking fountain are on site. Off-street parking is available at the Glenmore Street and Tinakori Road garden entrances.

History and Cultural

The Treehouse Visitor Centre was built in 1991 as a joint project between Wellington City Council and WWF, designed as an interpretive hub within the canopy. Wellington Botanic Garden ki Paekaka was established in 1868 and is one of New Zealand's oldest botanic gardens. In 2019, Taranaki Whanui gifted the garden the name ki Paekaka, meaning kaka perch, recognising its enduring significance to mana whenua.