The Eastern Walkway is one of the shortest walks that is in the Wellington area but it does gives you some good views and a couple of interesting places of interest at either end of the walk.
You can start at either end of the walk and can be completed as a circular walk.The main place that most people will start from is Tarakena Bay, located between Moa Point and Palmer Bay on the Breaker Bay Road.
From Tarakena Bay, take a short climb up to the Ataturk Memorial. He you will find the memorial to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk,the president of modern Turkey. At 2pm each ANZAC day a service of remembrance is held here.
The foreshore at Palmers Head was named (1975) as Wahine Memorial Park in memory of the sinking of the ferry Whaine on April 10th 1968
Follow the road until it carries to the left, at this point follow up to the right where a short climb will take you to the ridge. Here follow the track as it works it way in and out of the trees and scrub giving you some great views across to the Cook Straits and across the Wellington Harbour entrance to the Pencarrow Lighthouses.
After a while you will come to Breaker Bay. Located above the track is Beacon Hill Signal Station, It has been in operation since 1864 and operates 24/7. From here the staff controls the shipping in and out of Wellington Harbour. The views from here explains why the spot was chosen. Access to the site is restricted and is not open to the public.
As you head round under the Station you gently head down through the tree until you arrive at the main road. To your left is Seatoun and to the right takes you along the Breaker Bay road back to Palmers Head.
Across the road you will see some more steps. These will take you to the Fort Dorset Conservation Reserve. He you will see the remains of old military gun battery. The views from here are stunning,giving a great view from Wellington all the way round along the south coast.
If starting from Seatoun you have the option,once you reach the Ataturk Memorial, you can head back along the road and then take a left. From here turn into Bowers Crescent followed by a left into Birkhall. You will come across a track that will take you through Rangitatau Historic Reserve.
You will pass some airport electronic masts. Then you will come to some military bunkers above Moa Point giving you views of Lyall Bay and surrounding area.
Additional Information: Distance 2.5km each way
Number 11 bus from Wellington to Seatoun then a 10 minute walk to start.
Dogs allowed on leads only
No Mountain Bikes
Some of the tracks have been improved with further work expected.
Eastern Walkway Map Downloadable Map.
James/ Windy Hill Flying Club
WildBay 