Wellington Walks: City to Sea

A interesting walk that takes you from the Bolton Street Cemetery ending up at Island Bay on the South Coast of the North Island.
The beauty of the walk that is that it will take you through some of the older parts of Wellington with some beautiful old houses and some of the parks that for the Town Belt.

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From the quiet of the Cemetery you weave your way up through the Botanical Gardens experiencing the different plants that are on show, depending on time of year you glimpse something in flower or smell a scented plant.

At the top of Botanical gardens it will afford you views of the capital and its harbour. From the cable car you down through Kelburn Park and through Te Aro.

The first major park is Central Park which over the last few years has had some improvements to it. You slowly climb up following the stream until you come out of the park onto the Brooklyn Road.
Take a look at the Community Gardens after the short climb from Epuni Street.

Crossing the road will take you to the edge of Nairn Street park and onto Prince of Wales Park. The track continues along the town belt Passing through Macalister Park. You become aware of the Scottish connection with the hall that is painted with Scottish Dancers.

Macalister Park then becomes Berhampore Golf Course with their fairways and manicured greens. So take of the golf balls and if you see some one about to take a shot then wait until completed.The track take you around the edge of the course but there is one interesting sight of a small low bridge. The area was dry at the time but clearly could form a small area of wet land.

Following the track it will climb up towards the Tawatawa Ridge. Here there has been a lot of work to make the tracks wider and the climb a little easier. Also a lot of replanting has taken place. In the distance is a section that has some goats in. Yes the goats are being used to keep the area clear of vegetation.

When you get to the top of the ridge you then get a sense of the area. With Happy Valley to one side, The Coast and Cook Straits dead ahead and the Te Kopahau Reserve,

A very short climb to the top and the highest point of the walk(approc 200m) yoy get to see fully Island Bay,Owhrio Bay. Both Bays you can finish the walk at.

There are two points of interest at the top. One a large metal pipe that is used to tie up horses and a Statue. The Statue appears to be a Folly as those we did meet on the walk could not give any onfo to us about it. Also there is no information about its history attached to it.

Follow the ridge down made easy by some impressive woodern steps until you arrive at the end of Frobisher Street.

Follow the road and witha short climb to the top of the Oku Street Reserve. Here you get to see the Island that gives Island Bay its name.

The walk ends in Shortland Park. Here you then either can pick up your lift home or catch the #1 bus back into Wellington.

If you are feeling up to it there is nothing to stop you heading back into Wellington along the Southern Walk Way. You are able to see this across the valley.

Along the walk you will get to see sports fields that seem to crop up in the most unexpected places.