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Home , Barrett Reef, Breaker Bay, Miramar Peninsula, Rongotai, Seatoun, Strathmore Park

EXPLORE Wahine Disaster, 1968 BROADWAY Though there have been worse shipping The Eastern Walkway extends GORE disasters in with greater along the southern end of B EASTERN STEWART E loss, the sinking of the Wahine on STRATHMOREAVE A from the RD MONORGAN WALKWAY C April 10 is by far the most well known. O Pass of Branda to Tarakena Bay. Scots N The tragedy can be attributed to one INGLIS ST Fort Dorset EXPLORE H

College STRATHMORE major cause – the weather. The storm

I The track is 2.5 km long and L LYONS

L Walk overleaf HECTOR ST which exploded upon was takes about one and a half hours to complete. The track surface is BEACON Miramar PARK HILL RES one of the worst ever recorded in New

mainly gravel and much of the track is exposed. Golf Zealand. Its ferocity was due to a A WELLINGTON D SIGNALLERS START combination of two storms which

Discover Wellington’s Town Belt, reserves and walkways The route is described here from the Pass of Branda to Tarakena Bay, Course N P A A happened to merge directly over R R A but marker posts mean it can be walked in either direction or in the T B U F Wellington. DUFF DRIVE DUFF O

recommended circular route back along Road (see map). W Wellington SS A T PA At 6.41am the Wahine struck on the L S There is also an extra walk which can be done out to Point Dorset, D E LEVESON C 2 southernmost rocks of where International E T DY allow one hour to discover World War II gun batteries and observation N ANNA the vessel grounded and suffered severe AVE posts. Please don’t climb or enter the observation posts as they Airport damage to her hull whereby seawater RES BREAKER entered parts of the ship. She was then are unsafe and near collapse. The track is steep in places and very Breaker Bay driven northward by the storm towards W ST exposed. LA A Point Dorset, slowly dragging her anchors SID BAY NGATIAPA Point Dorset E along the western shoreline until she

Along the way you will see many Maori historical sites and spectacular R

O reached a position where her stern was

views of . You will also learn about some of the M close to Steeple Rock. Here her anchors

H

T

T THMOR E U fascinating history behind the geological formation and diverse local A gripped and held.

K R RAUKAWA ST A ST history of Miramar Peninsula. N Reservoir At about 1.20pm Captain Hector Robertson A Eve Bay E SID gave the fateful ‘abandon ship’ order. From the city, take the No.11 bus to the Seatoun terminal. LA T TUKANAE W S EASTERN WALKWAY VIA MIRAMAR PENINSULA, STRA Between 2.15 and 2.30pm with her THE PASS OF BRANDA, TARAKENA BAY Refer to the map for the Pass of Branda start (the walkway entrance stability completely lost, she heeled over AND ALSO POINT DORSET is signposted). Sewerage and crashed heavily to the seabed where Treatment BIRKHALL she rested on the sandy bottom. Fifty- All along the route are numerous seats and picnic spots. Dogs are S S Plant GA T E one lives were lost. Remnants of the N W E WHAREKAURI permitted but must be on a leash. The walkway is closed to O Flax Bay R ST BURY Wahine are present at both Wahine and RI B E URI

mountain bikers. K AH Churchill Parks (both on the map and E K mentioned further on). www.feelinggreat.co.nz

From the Pass of Branda, the track a I Wanganella, 1947 Turn right here and a short The Beacon Hill Signal Station played ROAD POINT MOA Reef Bay ascends steeply by steps and zigzags The Wanganella, nearing the way up the track is the its part in supporting the shipwreck for about 300m, partly in a pine completion of a voyage from Sydney Beacon Hill Lookout. disaster Wahine in 1968. RANGITATAU plantation. A track to Beacon Hill Road to Wellington, ran onto the rocks at Contrasting views can be HISTORIC RESERVE The walkway descends from Beacon Hill is signposted. At the top a resting place the southern end of Barrett Reef on enjoyed – Baring and Pencarrow heads Ranger Lookout past the Sidlaw Street and Bury overlooks Point Dorset, Chaffers and the are in one direction D Point January 19. She remained in this R Crescent tracks. Signposts indicate the Y Passage, Barrett Reef and vessels perilous position for 18 days and after with the eastern suburbs, the Wellington B A B entering and leaving Wellington International Airport, Evans and Lyall main route. The walkway rises enroute 3 a remarkable spell of fine weather she Poito Pa R to Palmer Head and the Ataturk E Harbour. bays in the other. Ataturk K floated clear. The ship was on her first C A Memorial Historic Reserve. Memorial E Palmer Bay 1 I Barrett Reef post-war civilian voyage across the Rangitatau R B Tangihanga-a-) 2 I Beacon Hill and had 400 passengers 3 I Ataturk Memorial Pa D Signal Station on board. No loss of life occurred and If you follow the line of the Wanganella was repaired and back The Memorial rocks from Point Dorset The Beacon Hill Signal WAHINE in service after two years. commemorates Mustafa Southwest of southwest you will see Barrett Reef. Station has been in 4 MEMORIAL Kemal Ataturk, defender Point Dorset operation since 1864. Parts of the PARK The row of jagged rocks at the entrance b I Hunter, 1876 of Gallipoli and first president of modern to Wellington Harbour was named Te original building remain today although On April 8 the schooner became Turkey. The memorial, funded by the MOA POINT Tarakena Tangihanga-a-Kupe. much of it has been rebuilt and stranded on the southernmost rock of Turkish government, was dedicated in CONSERVATION equipment upgraded over the years. Bay Barrett Reef. No lives were lost but the 1990. The site was chosen because of RESERVE There are two stories behind the name; The station maintains a 24-hour all year Palmer Head vessel was completed damaged. its physical resemblance to Anzac Cove the first is because of the fancied round “harbour control” service, much in Gallipoli. Beneath the memorial is a resemblance of the rocks to a row of like airport traffic control. c I Earl of Southesk, 1874 mourners at a Maori tangi (the wailing container of soil from Anzac Cove. party of Kupe). The second story is On May 28 the barque struck heavily The Greater Wellington Regional Ataturk’s mathematics teacher gave him Moa Chaffers

about the place that Kupe stopped to on the southern end of Barrett Reef. Council Harbourmaster's Office operates Passage

the second name of Kemal (which Bay. Tarakena

cry for those whom he left behind in Rough sea conditions caused the the station. Public access to the station Point means perfection), in recognition of his of views spectacular to sites Maori historical many past the area, including his daughter Matiu master and 12-member crew to is restricted by the Maritime Security KEY

Act 2004. very clever abilities. At that time very da, an Br of ass P the om fr you ides gu y wa lk Wa Eastern and niece Makaro (after whom Somes abandon the wreck five minutes before PARKS The few Turkish people had a second name /RESERVES and Ward islands are named after), she slipped off the rocks and sank in 1

Visit the Beacon Hill webcam web site or surname.

while he continued his voyage of 12 fathoms of water. DEPARTMENT OF COOK STRAIT

early history of the area. the of history early www.wrc.govt.nz/beaconhill or Greater CONSERVATION some and

discovery of Aotearoa.

Continue along the undulating track Wellington Regional Council’s web site BARRETT REEF , una fa and a r lo f ng unni t s ews, vi esque ctur pi er v EASTERN disco

This is the site of many shipwrecks which leads around Beacon Hill. A track at www.wrc.govt.nz/em/manhar.htm WALKWAY in the past century including: to Signallers Grove is signposted. Further to see more. OTHER TRACKS and parks beautiful Wellington’s of some through Walk along a sign points to Beacon Hill Road. From the Ataturk Memorial, The propeller was not POINT DORSET Early in World War II the Seatoun SAFETY AND REGULATIONS look west over the erected until 1978, when Opposite the entrance to the Eastern area was used as a satellite Wharf Rangitatau Historic the Town Clerk wrote to Walkway at the Pass of Branda is the camp with accommodation INELANDS MARINE PDE EASTERN Reserve. the Director of Parks track which leads to Point Dorset. for mainly the heavy Dogs must be kept on a leash WALKWAY suggesting the propeller The start of the track is steep and artillery regiment. Its headquarters were No Fires EXPLORE Before descending to Tarakena Bay and be mounted in the park with a plaque. exposed so take care. Follow the track situated here at Fort Dorset. It provided Moa Point Road, enjoy the views of This was confirmed by the Cultural, up the ridge and enjoy stunning views accommodation for about 200 military CHURCHILL Wellington Harbour heads and on a Libraries and Civil Defence Committee south across the Harbour along Breaker personnel as well as messing facilities FORRES ST 5 PARK No Mountain Biking fine day the South Island and the VENTNOR ST April 3, 1978. Bay Road to the southwest, and and personnel administration. No Camping Kaikoura Ranges. From the road, it is WELLINGTON FERRY ST and the Pencarrow Discover Wellington’s Town Belt, reserves and walkways a very scenic 40 minute walk along Notice the “Slow down! Lighthouse to the southeast. Among the different batteries of guns DUNDAS ST Breaker Bay Road back to the Pass of Penguins crossing – Kia were 6”and 4” guns, Q.F. 12pdr guns as No Litter EASTERN WALKWAY VIA MIRAMAR PENINSULA, Branda or a one hour walk to the Tupato, He Korora e PENCARROW LIGHTHOUSE well as search lights and radar. Along the THE PASS OF BRANDA, TARAKENA BAY Seatoun bus terminal. whiti ana” signs. southern ridgeline were two fire control St FALKIRK AVE SEATOUN AND ALSO POINT DORSET. The cast iron Pencarrow posts and observation posts, as well as Anthony’s LUDLAM ST Cross the road to Tarakena Bay and 5 I Churchill Park Lighthouse was the first BOARDWALK LANE guns infantry pillboxes on the foreshore School RAWSON follow the shoreline along to Wahine permanent lighthouse to be below. On November 1, HECTOR ST Fort Memorial Park. The park was named after ex-Councillor built in New Zealand and GORE Dorset * TOPOGRAPHICAL PROFILE J G Churchill (OBE, Councillor 1950-1964) 1991, Fort Dorset was BURNHAM ST PARK was run by New Zealand's SEATOUN 4 I Wahine to recognise his efforts on behalf of the officially closed, and in only woman lighthouse-keeper, Mrs WELLINGTON Memorial Park people of Wellington and in particular 1999 demolition work 051 Tarakena Bay Hill Lookout Bennett. The cast iron tower was made Signal Station Pass of Branda AtaturkHistoric Memorial Reserve started. Turn-off to Beacon

CITY the residents of Seatoun. As chairman INGLIS ST ) in England and then erected on Pencarrow es 001

On April 4, 1975 the Council of the Reserves Committee he provided LYONS MONRO ST tr

Head, at the entrance to Wellington down to the beach and round to the tip (Me

resolved at a meeting that citizens with all types of areas and had PINNACLE ht

Harbour in 1859. It remained operational of Point Dorset - a great site for a picnic BEACON HILL 05 g the foreshore area at Palmer Head provided open spaces where previously BERWICIK Hei until 18 June, 1935 when it was replaced if the wind is not too strong. From here RES MIRAMAR PENINSULA would be known as the Wahine there had been none. In the early GNALLERS F 0 by an automated light erected at Baring you can follow the track back the way MANTELL ST G 0 005 0001 0051 0002 0052 0030 Memorial Park. The park faces onto 1990s, a Wahine Memorial was erected tsiDa )s erte M ( e c n Head east of Pencarrow. The Pencarrow you came to the Pass of Branda or F Barrett Reef, which the Interisland O PASS OF BRANDA and designed by Peter Kundycki. U continue along and head north. Along S Ferry Wahine struck on the day of its Lighthouse was offered to the New Zealand S E the northern ridge you can look down PA FORT DORSET tragic capsize on April 10, 1968. There Historic Places Trust in 1966, and the Trust CONSERVATION RESERVE POINT DORSET has maintained the building ever since. on what was the town of Bree. is a plaque bearing the inscription FLORA AND FAUNA "Wahine Memorial Park" on a large It is now a popular destination for hikers THE LORD OF THE RINGS SET Breaker Bay boulder, near to the manoeuvring and bikers, and is surrounded by a recreational reserve. Introduced plants dominate the ridge TARAKENA BAY propeller from the Wahine. The first scenes to be filmed in Peter along which the walkway runs. Along the track take time to explore Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy Point Dorset and discover Fort Dorset and the now were in and around Bree and The KEY However native plants are common long abandoned gun batteries and Prancing Pony Inn. The town was PARKS and their colonisation of the ridge /RESERVES MAORI HISTORICAL SITES observation posts. constructed on parts of Fort Dorset where is being encouraged by plantings of filming took serve al nights and the use DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION A I Paewhenua E I Oruaiti Pa FORT DORSET of “watermakers” gave the illusion of a species such as flax, cabbage tree EASTERN * Please do not climb on the gun Above Eve Bay is a Maori kainga (village) site. Signs of occupation have been Fort Dorset now occupies the site of Oruaiti Pa, one of the rainy night in Bree. At the completion of and broadleaf (kapuka). In 1908 work began on WALKWAY batteries and observation posts as noted in the form of shell heaps and human remains. At one time a considerable old Rangitane stockaded villages of past centuries. Prior to filming the set of Bree was destroyed. they are unstable and not safe. constructing a two-gun FORT DORSET number of karaka trees grew along the coast, but by the 1950s many had being interfered with, the ridges showed many levelled hut TRACK Native birds along the walkway battery on the top of the disappeared or were dying. sites, sufficient to accommodate about 50 huts. A number FORT DORSET NOW OTHER TRACKS ridge at Point Dorset. From 1911 this battery and Breaker Bay Road include of water worn boulders scattered about were probably used became Wellington's main coast defence. Seatoun School now occupies the Motu-kairangi was first visited by Kupe (the legendary explorer credited with the tauhou (waxeyes), kotare B I Poito Pa as blocks on which to pound fern root and for other purposes. Five years on, a 12-pounder (12pdr) southern sportfield as well as areas that discovery of New Zealand), then later by Toi and Whatonga. Whatonga first came here A heavily terraced, palisaded and stockaded village under Ngati Ira Chief Takatua, (kingfisher), karoro (black-backed Oruaiti means “place of the small pit” where kumara and examination battery was added. the parade ground, the 22 (D) gunbays by chance when, while competing in a canoe race, a sudden storm blew his canoe was attacked and destroyed, along with Rangitatau Pa, by raiders from the north gull), tarapunga (red-billed gull) potatoes were stored. The Rua potato possibly got its name and offices occupied. The land both out to sea. His grandfather, Toi, followed in search of him. Whatonga’s sons fathered under Nga Puhi’s Tuwhare in 1819-20. Large numbers were killed. It was not however until 1929 that Fort the first tribes to inhabit the island Ngai Tara and Rangitane. Later tribes associated from this site. north and south of the new school and korora (little blue penguin). with the area included Ngai Tahu, Ngati Mamoe and Ngati Ira. The original Maori Dorset was officially declared a military contains all new subdivisions which C I Rangitatau Pa establishment . However, this was just a name for Wellington Harbour was Te Whanga-Nui-a-Tara (Great Harbour of Tara). F I Te Turanga-o-Kupe occupy what was the sergeants mess, One of the earliest fortresses constructed in Te Whanganui a Tara (the great legal change of status as it had been The place where Kupe stood after landing at Seatoun and conference room and gym, guard house, European contact began when Captain Cook used this shore for anchorage in 1773. harbour of Tara) was an ancient site thought to have been occupied in Tara’s formally used for military exercises before The first Pakeha resident was James Coutts Crawford who bought land deeds from the Other Explore Wellington Brochures featuring Wellington Town Belt, the stretch of water between it and Steeple Rock where he Fort Dorset headquarters and barracks. time. The fortified pa protected the approach to Whetu Kairangi from the sea, World War I, and proposed as a battery in the 1840s. He established the quarry site west of Breaker parks and reserves, and art and heritage walks in the city are available went swimming. In Kupe’s time Miramar was an island, with its clear view of Cook Strait and the approaches to the Harbour. The nearby site since the 1870s. Fort Dorset and the After walking along the beach you Bay. Crawford named the peninsula Miramar which means “behold the sea” or at stands at the Visitor Information Centre on Wakefield Street, entirely hilly and without any fringing flat land or broad “wonderful sea”. In 1901 land companies and individuals began to move onto village of Poito often used this pa as a citadel in times of stress or as a retreat new 6” battery built at Palmer Head can head up Boardwalk Lane and Wellington International Airport and the Wellington Railway Station. beaches at Seatoun or elsewhere. Miramar. The first sections were sold in Breaker Bay in 1924. Today the original Whataitai when invaders were threatening. Tuteremoana is the chief associated with this along to the Seatoun bus terminal, above Strathmore were at the outbreak houses the suburbs of , Miramar, , Breaker Bay, and Brochures are also available by phoning 04 site. He was the last principal chief of Ngai Tara in the 17th century. Terraces and of World War II the only large coastal or continue the walk along the G I Te Aroaro-o-Kupe (Steeple Rock) Seatoun as well as Wellington International Airport. 499 4444, or visit our website www.feelinggreat.co.nz for details. ditches can still be seen. guns in place to defend Wellington. beach to Churchill Park. While bathing at Steeple Rock, Kupe injured himself on this In 1980 the Eastern Suburbs Lions Club suggested that a walkway be established from The “Off Road Mountain Biking in Wellington City” brochures are also rock while swimming there, hence the name “the front of Beacon Hill to Palmer Head. Negotiations between Wellington City Council, Beacon D I Rangitatau/Palmer Head available at the Visitor Information Centre, Wakefield Street or check Kupe” and its variant, Te Ure-o-Kupe, which indicates the Hill Holdings, Wellington Harbour Board and Ministry of Works determined the route The eastern ridge was home to another pa site of Tara, which is still recognisable GEOLOGY AND HISTORY out www.feelinggreat.co.nz for information about mountain biking place of his injury. and respective encroachments as it deviated from designated reserve land. The project today. On the eastern side is a ditch-like depression that may be an old entrance What now exists as a peninsula was once an island named Motu-kairangi (Miramar was in two stages - Pass of Branda to Sidlaw Street, and Sidlaw Street to Tarakena in Wellington. way from the beach below. Hut sites are also found further along. Out to sea, ‘island’) by early Maori. The island was isolated from the main land mass by a shallow Bay. Periodic Detention staff did most of the work and the Lions Club made a substantial the rock site Te Kaiwhatawhata at the end channel called Te Awa-a-Taia. In 1460 a severe earthquake raised the island to form grant. On June 26, 1982 the of Palmer Head, was a favourable fishing the peninsula. Maori renamed this Whataitai. Another earthquake in 1855 caused Eastern Walkway was Planting a tree is a wonderful way to commemorate something officially opened. In 1990 spot where hapuka (groper) were caught. a second uplift which created the peninsula we see today. special or to take an active part in creating a greener future. and 1991 it was rerouted The earthquake in 1460 was named Te Haowhenua by the early tangata whenua of around the Palmer Head There's lots of ways you can help restore the city's reserves, the area and is referred to in a number of contemporary waiata (song) commemorating subdivision and upgraded bush and coastal areas - and some don't involve getting your the long history of Te Whanganui a Tara. to its present standard. hands dirty! Phone 499 4444 or visit www.Wellington.govt.nz for more information.