Easy Wellington Hikes – The Best City Views

If you’re lucky enough to catch Welly on a good day, the Brooklyn Wind Turbine is one of the best places you can be. When the sky is clear, you are able to see the rolling hills, the city, and the ocean stretched out before you. Plus, the whirring of the turbine stood more than 40 metres above you makes for a pretty surreal feeling!

We wouldn’t say that making it to the top is a ‘walk in the park’, but it’s definitely a worthwhile walk! One option is to start from the bottom of Aro Valley at the Polhill reserve and walk up to Brooklyn through the clearly marked bush track (watch out for cyclists!). After that, walk past the concrete bunkers and along the predator-free fenceline until you get to the wind turbine.

This is one of my favourite walks in Wellington, only taking around 2 hours for a return trip if I’m stopping at the top to take in the views!

Make sure you’ve got a jacket with you because the Red Rocks coastal stroll gets chilly in the ruthless Wellington wind!

This walk can take up to 3 hours depending on how far along you go. The entire track is flat, making it a nice and easy walk. If you walk far enough down the coast, you’ll come across the seal colony’s resting ground! So keep an eye out during the winter months for the seal pups!

With massive rocky cliffs and loud crashing waves surrounding you, it can feel a bit daunting! Note that this walk follows a 4-wheel-drive track, so look out for cars behind you. Aside from the cars, the Red Rocks walk is a lovely way to explore the coast.

Adventure through the native bush to the Korokoro Dam! Located in Belmont Regional Park, this loop takes under an hour to complete.

For walking, running or a stroll with your dog, this well-marked and maintained path is an excellent option if you are short on time. The dense native bush makes it a great place to spot native birds, such as Tui and Kererū.

We recommend going early in the morning as it is a popular spot with families. This walk is a loop track with lots of parking, making it easy to access.

Mount Victoria has lots of different tracks for both walking and biking. The main loop can be started either at the bottom of the hill at Oriental Bay or from Alexandra Road. It’s super easy to access!

No matter where you start, you’re in for a steep climb to the top. Keep in mind that there is a road up to the viewpoint, so this spot can be quite busy on weekends.

From the lookout, you will be able to see the entire city and the rolling hills in the distance. Mt Vic is guaranteed to satisfy your scenic cravings.

Starting from Oriental Bay, the Southern Walkway route to Island Bay takes just over 3 hours to do one way. However, there are multiple off-tracks so you can spice it up depending on how long a walk you’re wanting!

Make sure you’re wearing sunscreen as most of it is out in the open. This isn’t a super populated track once you get past mount victoria so it’s a good hike if you’re wanting some peace and quiet.

Escape the Wellington CBD and take Bus 83 for a short scenic trip just out past Petone, to the Butterfly Creek track. With a name like this, it sounds like it could be magical, doesn’t it? IT IS!

The track starts at the end of Kowhai Street. It’s mostly uphill and is a nice challenge, but the views are totally worth it! The forest is full of the songs of native birds and is ideal if you’re into bird-watching. The track is also well marked and there is plenty of parking if you are driving.

Lastly, there are a few spots along the creek with picnic tables. So when you need a break or want somewhere to set up for lunch, you’ll have a place to rest. You can even go for a dip in the creek during the warmer seasons!

Just a quick bus ride out to Owhiro Bay and you can witness the jaw-dropping views of the endless ocean, blue skies, and surrounding suburbs from the top of the hill in the Tawatawa Reserve.

At the peak of the hill stands a stone pillar (also known as a ‘Pouwhenua’ in Māori culture) which depicts the faces of Te Rauparaha and Te Rangihaeata, two significant people in Aotearoas history.

The walk to the top isn’t too difficult and takes only an hour or so to come back to the start. You’ll also see lots of dogs along the track too, as there’s a nearby dog park!