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Home , Hataitai, Houghton Bay, Oriental Bay, Wellington City Council, Wellington Town Belt

D R E R GO VIEWS ON THE WAY ON ARLT C A TE PAPA 1 START EXPLORE Te Papa is the national museum of and SOUTHERN was opened on 14 February 1998. The Southern Walkway is an 11km E D T P WALKWAY N After extensive consultation with iwi (Maori tribal L E A C walk along the Town Belt between T S groups), and canvassing of political support to secure N E E I R R C

O funding, a new Act of Parliament was passed in 1992

EXPLORE E Oriental Bay and Island Bay. H

BEACH T T (the Museum of New Zealand Act, Te Papa Tongarewa 1992), which combined the The total walk can be completed in A T FREYBERG POOL GRA National Museum and the National Art Gallery to form the Museum of New Zealand T SS 4–5 hours depending on fitness S TE PAPA T Te Papa Tongarewa. Te Papa was a rare and exciting challenge – the opportunity to and interest. ORIENTAL TCE ST HAY design from scratch a place unique to New Zealand. ORIENTAL PDE Discover Wellington’s Town Belt, reserves and walkways The greatest attraction of this walkway is the variety of WILKINSON ST B In the early 1800s there was little flat ground available scenery, from views of the harbour and central city at for cricket. An earthquake in 1855 lifted up the area

Oriental Bay, the shade and tranquillity of the Town Belt HAWKER ST YVIEW that had been set aside as a basin for turning around BA TC forest to the rugged and exposed Southern coastline E the supplies loaded from ships in the harbour and ROXBURGH ST transported up canals to the basin. The ground was RD between Houghton and Island Bays. R swampy but the region's cricketers offered to develop E CHARLES IS ALL it if it was designated for their use. Although the walk is steep in places, it is not difficult PLIMMER P MAJORIBANKS ST PARK The Reserve was developed and the first game was played at the ground on 11 January overall and is suitable for those of average fitness. Various 2 1868 between Wellington Volunteers and officers and crew of HMS Falcon. RA RD access points from suburban streets allow you to ND The Reserve was gifted to the city by means of a trust deed in 1884 and is considered XA 3 LE complete the walkway in stages if you choose. From the A a historic area and a protected ground.

city, take either the No.14 Kilbirnie (via Roseneath), or the D R C GIFFORD OBSERVATORY T MT VICTORIA LOOKOUT ROSENEATH U No.24 Evans Bay bus to Oriental Parade (the walkway O From here you can see the Gifford Observatory. Charles Gifford, who

K BYRD MEMORIAL O

O was a teacher at Wellington College, a talented mathematician,

L UPO SOUTHERN WALKWAY, THE TOWN BELT entrance is sign-posted and begins near the intersection KO ST photographer, naturalist and a dedicated astronomer built the VIA ORIENTAL PARADE, MOUNT VICTORIA of Oriental Parade and Carlton Gore Road); or take the T observatory in 1912. A small group of people have worked towards TRUBY KING PARK AND ISLAND BAY No.1 bus to Island Bay (the walkway begins in Shorland refurbishing and rebuilding the previously derelict observatory in order

MT VICTORIA TOWN BELT Park). For bus timetable check out www.metlink.co.nz to house the magnificent Zeiss refractor telescope. All along the route are numerous seats and picnic spots. D WELLINGTON HOSPITAL D The building commenced in 1878 using prison labour. The prisoners were marched each A R DR day from the Terrace gaol to Newtown where the bricks were made on site from N A X E excavated clay. The hospital opened in 1881 and patients were transferred from the L A Thorndon Hospital.

1 | Start, Oriental Parade headed off down the other side of cities by improving the health and and Mt Mathews, Wellington’s the island of Motu Kairangi (Miramar well-being of citizens. The Town Belt highest point to the East. B From the Oriental Parade Peninsula), only to get caught by was shown on the first plan of entrance, the walkway the receding tide Ngake had let in. Wellington drawn in 1840, labelled as Bronze Cannon zigzags up the hill. Whataitai’s body thus forms the ‘land…reserved for the enjoyment of The bronze cannon, Several paths intersect the isthmus between the former island the public and not to be built upon’. NORTH below the steps that MT VICTORIA TUNNEL first section of the walkway however, of Motu Kairangi and the Western side lead to the lookout, the Southern Walkway route itself is of the harbour, where the airport is Its purpose was to separate town and was used to fire the clearly marked with posts bearing now situated. country sections to provide space for orange directional arrows. public recreation. noon signal in the MT ALFRED It is believed that Tangi-te-keo years between 1877 and 1900. Seats strategically placed on the In 1997, Friends of the (Mount Victoria) was named after the C hillside offers a place to rest and soul of Whataitai, which after leaving Byrd Memorial enjoy the scenery. Below is one of the the taniwha’s body, flew up to the top was established. Their most picturesque harbours in New principle objective is to The Byrd Memorial of this hill in the shape of a bird and honours the memory Zealand. You can also look out over proceeded to tangi (weep and mourn). promote preservation VELODROME Oriental Parade, which is lined with of the Town Belt for of Admiral Richard E restored turn of the century houses Crossing Palliser Road, the walkway future generations. Byrd, a polar aviation and modern apartments. continues up the hill to the left, in the explorer who mapped large areas of HATAITAI KEY They also aim to promote knowledge shade of the Town Belt trees to an Antarctica and identified closely with PARK TOWN BELT/RESERVES about the Town Belt’s unique history Mount Victoria and excellent picnic spot in Charles New Zealand’s polar explorers. SOUTHERN WALKWAY the Harbour Plimmer Park. and ecology, to encourage people to use and enjoy the Town Belt. From Alexandra Road the walkway LOOKOUT WALK meanders down through the pine HATAITAI TO CITY Legend has it that two 2 | Charles Plimmer Park taniwha (water monster) For more information check out trees of Mount Victoria. HATAITAI TO NEWTOWN lived in the harbour, Charles Plimmer died in www.townbelt.wellington.net.nz The town belt goes over the Mt which at that time was an enclosed 1930 and left money in T TOILETS Victoria tunnel. WELLINGTON TOWN BELT lake. One was a restless, energetic his will to the 3 | Mt Victoria Matairangi Summit HOSPITAL taniwha named Ngake, who longed Head up to Mt Alfred for fantastic 1 3 POINTS OF INTEREST to escape its confinements and swim to plant trees and shrubs to beautify D RUAHINE ST The walkway then leads views of Evans Bay, there is a great A D ALONG THE WALKWAY to open sea. It sped about in the North the bays, beaches, Town Belt and to Alexandra Road. spot under the Pohutakawa trees to Eastern part of the harbour, using its reserves around Wellington. Several A A short diversion back to enjoy your lunch. L E tail to build up the shallow area and major beautification projects have X the left along Alexandra Road leads A CHEST N

then hurled itself at the rocks been funded by the Plimmer Trust, D you to the Mount Victoria summit and HOSPITAL R

encircling the lake, and smashed including Oriental Bay Beach and Otari A

lookout. Here at a height of 196 R

through to escape to the freedom of Wilton’s Bush. metres, there are sweeping views of D Bay. Island to Parade Oriental from Raukawamoana (). Belt Town the along you guides Walkway Southern The The Town Belt, through which most of the city, harbour and Tinakori Hill, the

The second taniwha, Whataitai, this walkway passes, was a concept Hutt Valley and Eastern harbour bays, NEWTOWN

decided to make his escape through developed in England in the early 19th Matiu/Somes Island and the Miramar WELLINGTON RD area. the of history early some and

another exit. He pushed off with his century as a means of combating Peninsula. Beyond are Baring and fauna and flora stunning views, picturesque discover

Pencarrow Heads and further to the HENRY ST tail, and in doing so created the overcrowding and poor living and parks beautiful Wellington’s through Walk Gorge. Whataitai then conditions in England’s industrial right, Wellington’s Southern suburbs There are numerous other walks on Mount Victoria for people of all fitness levels and enthusiasm. These are clearly marked on the map shown here. The walk continues above Kilbirnie Walk down the driveway and cross WELLINGTON RD to Melrose, a comfortable place to Manchester Street, go 40m uphill then CONSTABLE ST

rest before the climb to Mount Albert. take Sutherland Crescent C HENRY ST PAEROA R A SAFETY AND REGULATIONS From the reservoir, follow the Southern to Melrose Park. ST WF ROSENEATH ORD Walkway arrows, which takes you COROMANDEL ST R D ORIENTAL BAY under the pines to Truby King Park bringing you out onto Manchester Wellington Zoo was Dogs must be kept on a leash Street and then to Sutherland Crescent. founded in April 1906 Truby King Park has great grounds to when the Bostok and KILBIRNIE stop and enjoy the surroundings, check Wombwell Circus presented a young No Fires WATER Mountain Bikers to give out the rhododendrons in spring. lion to Wellington City. The lion, RESERVOIR named 'King Dick', after Prime Minister way to pedestrians. KELBURN 4 | Truby King Richard Seddon, who had died that Unless signposted, tracks are House and Gardens HATAITAI year, was initially housed at Wellington KEY TRUBY open to mountian bikers Botanic Garden along with a small TOWN BELT/RESERVES KING No Camping Sir Truby King planned, PARK designed and personally collection of animals. In 1907 the City SOUTHERN WALKWAY supervised the Council developed a part of Newtown No Litter development of the Park into New Zealand's first zoo. The T TOILETS garden, which cost thousands of Zoo grew rapidly, and by 1912 around pounds. It included roading, paths, 500 animals were housed in cages, 4 13 POINTS OF INTEREST aviaries and a huge sea lion pool. ALONG THE WALKWAY M 4 wind breaks, a tennis court and A KILBIRNIE N NEWTOWN C extensive brick garden walls. Sir Truby 6 | Wellington Zoo, H 5 PARK E

King is best known as the founder in S

Hamadryas Baboon T E BROOKLYN 1907 of the Plunket Society, which WELLINGTON R As you walk past you S TOPOGRAPHICAL PROFILE promoted his beliefs surrounding ZOO T infant welfare. When Sir Truby King can see the Hamadryas Baboon enclosure. The RUSSELL TCE S died in 1938 he was given a state E Hamadryas was the 6 R D funeral and buried in the grounds of C R D sacred baboon of the ancient SUTH N D his Melrose property. ERLA N Egyptians, and was often pictured on MELROSE A L

R 5 | Karitane Products temples and monoliths as the PARK E Oriental Bay Palliser RoadMt VictoriaAlexandra (196m) RoadCrawford Road Melrose ParkMt. Albert (165m) Island Bay H Society Building MARTIN T attendant or representative of Thoth, U 200 LUCKIE PARK S In 1922 Sir Truby King the God of Letters. Baboons were MT ALBERT 150 MELROSE mummified, entombed and associated PARK purchased a 10 acre block 100 with sun worship. The rewarding THE TOWN BELT of land on an exposed MELROSE 50 ridge in Melrose. Here he built his views from the slope of Mt Albert offer

VIA ORIENTAL PARADE, a different perspective. From an Height (Metres) 0 home, the Karitane Hospital and a HORNSEY RD altitude of 178 metres you can see Lyall 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 MOUNT VICTORIA, MT ALBERT factory for the Plunket Society to Distance (Kilometres) TRUBY KING PARK manufacture a range of infant milk and Bay, Wellington International Airport 7 AND ISLAND BAY food products. and Palmer Head. On a fine day, the ISLAND BAY seaward and inland Kaikoura ranges of The factory provided products to the can be seen TOWN BELT supplement the diets of growing with the snow-clad summit of Mt RADIO WATER children. Tapuaeouenuku about 120km away. STATION RESERVOIR MT ALBERT FLORA AND FAUNA H OUG Between 1924 and 1944 over one million HT ON B A exotic trees were planted on the Town Y SINCLAIR RD belt; Bishop’s Pine (Pinus muricata), 7 | Mt Albert Hockey Stadium 9 | Wind Gardens and rocks. The inside has large beams cenotaphs, was built as a tribute PARK Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata), Haewai Festive Mead and joists of macrocarpa. The keep is from the residents to the 106 soldiers This park has been developed as BUCKLEY RD macrocarpa (Cupressus macrocarpa) and engineered to withstand an who enlisted from the district during PONY the home base for Wellington Establishment of the earthquake. the first World War. various gums (Eucalyptus spp). hockey with two artificial hockey gardens and meadery CLUB fields, a pavilion and car parking. began on Valentine’s 11 | Tapu te Ranga Island 13 | Shorland Park Much of the walkway is shaded, richly scented and covered with pine The first artificial surface was Day 1999. Festive Mead Island Bay 8 needles. opened in the early 1980s. The is made with organic The “Isle of Hallowed Ways”, close to Wellington Chinese Sports and honey and Haewai the shore of Island Bay, is the subject Shorland Park has electric BBQ Secondary native vegetation is thriving in some areas and native birds Cultural Centre was built in 1977 Meadery’s own natural spring water. of many Maori legends, traditions facilities, bring your swimming togs piwakawaka (fantails), riroriro (grey warblers) and tauhou (waxeyes) The garden is in continuous flowering and stories. One important role it on a summer day. This park is also populate the walkway. for nine months of the year. Because played was as a refuge for the Ngati the Start/Finish points for the City to NORTH of the extreme harshness of the Ira tribe from the invading Ati-Awa of Sea Walkway which if you have the The long term vegetation plan for the Town Belt involves the removal climate, plants are blasted frequently Taranaki. Later, European inhabitants energy it will return you to the CBD of some pine trees, especially if they are a hazard and replanting with by North and salt-laden South winds, (5 hour walk). native plants. so grow differently here than in In the late 19th century Island Bay sheltered areas. was outside the city of Wellington. and is used for volleyball, basketball Houghton Bay The walk from here takes you along the Although the bay was a popular D Playground R and other indoor sport and cultural Y rugged, exposed coastline from picnic and recreation spot, few A HUNGERFORD RD activities. B Other Explore Wellington Brochures featuring Wellington Town Belt, N Houghton Bay to Island Bay. Although people lived there. The number of O T Houghton Bay is not safe for swimming, BANN ST H parks and reserves, and art and heritage walks in the city are available From Melrose Park climb to the ridge cleared the island of its native households was small – only 13 G ISLAND BAY 9 U Island Bay is a safe and popular beach. in 1891-2. With the completion of the O at stands at the Visitor Information Centre on Wakefield Street, line and follow South to Mt Albert vegetation and it became known by H before it descends to Sinclair Park. Or for some more great views, follow the less illustrious title of “Goat Wellington railway in 1886, the city CAVE RD Wellington International Airport and the Wellington Railway Station. Great views! a new trail (steep in places) from the Island” and then “Rat Island”. Brochures are also available by phoning Wellington City Council BRIGHTON ST Houghton Valley Playground, which After 1927, the then Parks and 8 | Houghton Valley Reserves department of Wellington 499 4444 or visit our website Wellington.govt.nz School – comes out on Buckley Road, continue TRENT ST south. Turn right into Bann St and turn City Council planted taupata, TH Restoration Project START/ E karaka and ngaio trees in an effort THE PARADE E S The Mountain Bike brochure is available at the Visitor Information first left into the first cul de sac and FINISH REEF ST P to redress the L In partnership with the 10 HOUGHTON BAY AN Centre, Wakefield Street follow the concrete path. Turn right to A . damage. T 12 D Houghton Valley the end of Orchy Cres and then follow E was able to expand. During the (NO SWIMMING) Primary School, the Council has the path leading you to Island Bay via SHORLAND THE ESPLANADE 12 | Band Rotunda, 1890s and 1900s Wellington spread You can contact a Wellington City Council Park Ranger on 499 4444. begun an ecological restoration Melbourne Road, Liffey PARK Shorland Park out across the hills and along the PRINCESS BAY project in the upper part of Street and Brighton Street. ISLAND BAY railway line. It was the electric 13 (SWIMMING) Houghton Valley. The aim is to Opened in February 10 | The Keep, tramway that opened the area up for (SWIMMING) restore as far as possible the natural 1930, the eight-sided memorial 116 The Esplanade subdivision and development. ecological characteristics of the area rotunda at Island Bay was built at the and to provide opportunities for Planting a tree is a wonderful way to commemorate something The keep was built end of the tram and bus line from the Shorland Park is the Start/Finish of the local school children to learn special or to take an active part in creating a greener future. with a precast concrete city. The memorial, unlike other the Southern Walkway. TAPU TE RANGA about and participate in an 11 shell on which a ISLAND There are lots of ways you can help restore the city's reserves, ecological restoration project. Cornish stonemason bush and coastal areas – and some don't involve getting your built Plimmerton hands dirty! Phone 499 4444 for more information.