Dunedin Botanic Garden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dunedin Botanic Garden |
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The lower gardens in 2008
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| Type | Botanical garden |
| Location | Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Created | 1863 |
| Operated by | Dunedin City Council |
| Status | Open all year |
The Dunedin Botanic Garden is a wonderful park located in Dunedin, a city in the South Island of New Zealand. It's close to the University of Otago and sits on a hill called Signal Hill, stretching down to a flat area by a river.
Because of where it is, the gardens are very popular with university students. They are also easy to reach from the city centre. You can find them near the top of George Street, which is a main street in Dunedin.
Contents
Exploring the Dunedin Botanic Garden
The Dunedin Botanic Garden is split into two main parts: the lower gardens and the upper gardens. The lower gardens are about 25 metres above sea level. The upper gardens climb up the hill to a height of 85 metres. This means you can find different types of plants and views in each section!
Discover the Lower Gardens
The lower gardens are full of exciting things to see and do. Here you'll find the Winter Garden, which is a warm glasshouse from the old Edwardian times. It's a great place to see plants that love tropical weather.
You can also explore beautiful rose and herb gardens. There's a fun duck pond where you can watch ducks swim around. Kids will love the playground, and there's even a Japanese garden. This special garden celebrates the friendship between Dunedin and its Japanese sister city, Otaru.
The lower gardens also have many cool sculptures and statues. One is a fancy fountain, which was a gift from someone named Wolf Harris. There are also two statues by Cecil Thomas that show Peter Pan and the Darling children from the famous Peter Pan story.
A small stream called the Lindsay Creek flows through the lower gardens. Next to a big duck pond and a tropical greenhouse, you'll find a cafe and a visitors' centre. It's a perfect spot to relax and learn more about the gardens.
Explore the Upper Gardens
The upper gardens are divided by a winding road called Lovelock Avenue. This road is named after Jack Lovelock, a famous Olympic gold medallist from Dunedin. On both sides of this road, you can enjoy lovely bush walks.
In the upper gardens, you'll discover a collection of plants from different parts of the world. There's also a small aviary where you can see birds. You can explore a collection of native New Zealand plants and a large area filled with beautiful rhododendron flowers.
There's even a special walking trail that shows you the different stages of the Dunedin Volcano's eruptions. It's like a journey through time, learning about the geology of the area!
History of the Garden
The Dunedin Botanic Garden is the oldest botanical garden in New Zealand. It first opened in 1863. Back then, it was located around the Water of Leith river, where the University of Otago is now.
After a big flood in 1868, the gardens were moved to their current spot in 1869. The garden grew a lot in the early 1900s, thanks to David Tannock. Today, the garden is part of Dunedin's Town Belt, which is a green area surrounding the inner city. It covers a huge area of about 28 hectares (or 69 acres).
In July 2010, the Dunedin Botanic Garden received a special award. It was named a "Garden of International Significance" by the New Zealand Gardens Trust. This is a very high honour, and only a few gardens in New Zealand have it. The only other garden in the South Island with this ranking is also in Dunedin, at Larnach Castle.
Gallery
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The gardens in the 1920s
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The upper gardens in 2005
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Cecil Thomas's Peter Pan statue, one of a pair of statues based on J.M. Barrie's novel, added to the garden in the 1960s
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The Wolf Harris Fountain was built in 1890
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The sound shell, built in 1914
See also
In Spanish: Jardín botánico de Dunedin para niños
