The arboretum represents the native flora of New Zealand. This brief has been expanded to illustrate New Zealand’s ancient connection to the Gondwana land mass, through links to Australia and Chile.

A number of plants in the arboretum are the living descendants of those on the former Gondwana continent, which formed present day Antarctica, Africa, South America, Australia and New Zealand.

The arboretum adjoins Windsor Park and the Carrington Walkway, and covers around 4000m, and a looped path provides an easy walk.

The arboretum is still very young in terms of plant growth. Plantings of rimu, miro and native conifers will eventually become a patch of rainforest as the trees mature.