2 minute read
City to Sea Walkway
Where is it?
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Start at Bolton Street Cemetery in the city and walk towards Island Bay on the south coast.
Terrain
City walking, town belt and bush tracks, pretty parks, quite hilly.
Grave news
Bolton Street Cemetery is made up of three separate cemeteries with gravestones dating back to the 1840s. It’s elegant, peaceful and beautifully maintained so take a moment to reflect before setting off on the walk, if there’s time.
TRACK OVERVIEW
Watching out for the orange trail markers, depart from the historic Bolton Street Cemetery before crossing the motorway on the Denis McGrath Bridge. Arriving in the formal rose gardens of the Wellington Botanic Gardens, 25 hectares of impressively grand planting, you’ll want to make some time to explore here before heading to the top of the Wellington Cable Car. Walk down the steps to Kelburn Park and through the grounds of Victoria University and onwards, down to Aro Valley past all the old houses clinging to the hillsides. Then you’ll go up through Central Park in Brooklyn before making a beeline for MacAlistair Park. Walk around the fringes of the Berhampore Golf Course before arriving on Tawatawa Bridge. This can be quite bracing when the wind is blowing but it’s also where you’ll discover some of the best views. This is also the steepest part of the walk, so ideal for a break to catch your breath. Once you see the Oku Reserve Trig, you’ll know you’re not far from Island Bay, which you’ll get to by walking down Shorland St.
Need to Know
No dogs, this is a kiwi area
TIME & DISTANCE: 6-7hr; 12km
FITNESS: Reasonable fitness required
TERRAIN: City walking, quite hilly
While you're here
Although you'll feel as though you're deep in the wilderness, you're not too far from the bright lights of Wellington. From the bustling promenade along the waterfront to colourful street performers in Cuba Mall; the tempting wine lists in intimate bars to the pockets of gastronomic pleasure within walking distance of each other, Wellington is the perfect place to spend a weekend.
There is so much to see and do here, but don't miss exploring the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the ecosanctuary of Zealandia and a trip up Mt Victoria in the iconic Cable Car.
Wellington Botanic Gardens © Getty Images
