Gaultheria colensoi is an endemic usually erect, sometimes almost sprawling shrub growing up to 1m in height. The uniform alternate leaves (8-12mm long by 5-9mm wide) are very thick. stiff and coriaceous (like leather) and have prominent veins on the lower surface. The flowers white, bell-shaped, in a cluster at the tip of twigs. The fruit is a dry capsule.

It is found in subalpine to low alpine shrub (900-1700 masl) around the mountains of central New Zealand, the Ruahine range and southwards. It is present on Mt Egmont/Taranaki.