Location: Wellington
Top Things to do in Wellington
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5 Scenic Walking Areas in Wellington That You Shouldn't Miss
Wellington boasts a compact downtown area that’s easy to explore on foot and a wealth of architectural styles, from 19th-century wooden cottages to Art Deco masterpieces. Discover the city’s Maori roots at the Museum of Wellington City & Sea and the Museum of New Zealand. Sip coffee and people-watch in lively Courtney Place, or survey the city from scenic Mount Victoria. When the sun goes down on Windy Wellington, take a nocturnal tour of Karori Wildlife Sanctuary to meet some colorful inhabitants.
Restaurants in Wellington
1. Odell Reserve
2. Oriental Terrace Zig Zag
3. East Harbour Regional Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9 reviews
East Harbour Regional Park is a contrast of native forest and rocky coastline, providing a magnificent backdrop to Wellington Harbour. Greater Wellington manages the park which includes land owned by Hutt City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Taranaki Whanui and the Crown. There are two distinct areas. To the north, the hills between Eastbourne and Wainuiomata are clothed in some of the best beech/rata forest in the Wellington area. In contrast, the damp valley floors contain lush semi-swamp forest including kahikatea, pukatea and nikau palms. To the south, the Parangarahu Lakes Area provides sweeping views and diverse geological features. It cradles the nationally significant freshwater wetlands of Kohangatera and Kohangapiripiri and is home to a wealth of native plants and wildlife.
Reviewed By CarolDM1900 - Montpelier, United States
Add a big dollop of nature to your visit at Pencarrow Light by walking through the gloriously vast and beautiful Parangarahu Lakes reserve that is easily accessible via a narrow track down from the lighthouse to the sign marked "Lake Kohangapirpiri Track / Cameron Creek Wetland / Lake Kohangatera Lookout." If you're up for a long hike, you can retrace your steps from the Kohangatera Lookout to pick up and follow the Cameron Ridge Track that joins the Beach Road, which will take you back to Pencarrow Head right at the entrance to Wellington Harbor, with the Pencarrow Lighthouse on the promontory and a smaller one at beach level right along the road. I spent about 5 hours walking through this new reserve, up and down steep hills with remarkable vistas bundling together hills, creeks, glittering freshwater lakes and wetlands, Cook Strait beaches, the Pencarrow Lighthouse and scenic Baring Head. This all in one 360 degree view from any place high up, mind you. The views were jaw-dropping. I had some lunch with me, and, amazed by what I saw, just plopped down on the grassy road below the Kohangatera Lookout to take it all in. The views were almost beyond belief. I found an abundance of wildlife, many native birds, especially aquatic ones, as well as some oddball "left overs" from the time most of this area was leased for grazing. You'll probably see, as I did, some California Quail, a goat or two, and more than a few sheep that somehow escaped relocation when this land reverted to public management in 2004 after the grazing lease was not renewed and it became part of the regional park. Invasive plants like gorse are now being replaced by native ones like manuka, and the area is regenerating, making it a haven for birds, including rare ones like the banded dotterel that nest on protected beaches nearby and other charming natives like the tomtits I saw flitting through the bush. The Maori who lived here considered these lakes their "taonga" -- treasure -- and that is reflected in their names, which derive from "Kohanga Ora," meaning something like "nest nurturing life." They are that, being nationally significant pristine freshwater sources, surprisingly separated by only a narrow strip of beach from Cook Strait. To add to the sense of wonder, in all those hours of hiking, I did not see another human being until I rejoined the coastal road to complete my circular track. This is something one would not expect to experience in a national capital, but Wellington is different in that it includes several vast reserves with trails for those willing to expend a little energy to see some pretty impressive sights while alone and to hear only the sounds of nature. Red Rocks is another one I have greatly enjoyed but these lakes were new to me, and I kick myself for not having explored them sooner. So I tried to make the best of it in one day. There are different ways to get here. I took a long one, by bus (#83) from downtown Wellington to the last stop in Eastbourne, right near the Wahine Memorial honoring those who lost in the 1968 sinking of a ferry of that name. I hiked up to the lighthouse along the coastal road -- about 50 minutes from the bus stop -- and then cut over to the lake trails. Once I looped around Pencarrow and was back near the lighthouse where I'd started, I returned to Wellington the same way. So this was a full day trip for me, because of the time needed to use public transportation between Wellington and Eastbourne and then to walk the coastal road to and from Pencarrow Lighthouse. But you can also get on the coastal road further up, nearer to Baring Head. I saw buses with signs advertising "The Storm Coast" tour going both ways around Pencarrow Head, so if they can do it, so can a car. There seemed to be vehicle access to the coastal road in the direction of Baring head, a bit beyond the point where Lake Kohangatera nears Cook Strait. So with a car, you'd probably have an easier and shorter time getting here. If you want to drive to save time, I suggest you carefully consult a road map for the easiest point of vehicular access. However you get here, no matter how long it takes, your trip will be worth it. Mine was unforgettable. Highly Recommended.
4. Wellington Writers Walk
5. Wellington Waterfront
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 65 reviews
Reviewed By klvmar
Walking the waterfront of Lambton Harbour in central Wellington was one of the highlights of our stay in the city. With so many attractions along the way to draw us in, what was supposedly a one-hour walk took all day. From the great restaurants at Queen's Wharf to the popular green space in Frank Kitts Park, from the eclectic City-to-Sea Bridge to the fabulous Te Papa Museum, the views of the city were as spectacular as those out to sea. In addition, we took the Marine Drive Tour from Oriental Bay on the inner harbor to Owhiro Bay on the outer coast, one of NZ's great coastal drives, where we found loads of beautiful shells and beach glass. What fun!
