City to Sea Walkway

About the trail

The City to Sea Walkway starts in the heart of central Wellington near parliament and ends at the south coast suburb of Island Bay. The trail takes you across Wellington’s ridges and offers spectacular views of the city and surrounding suburbs.

The trail is well-signposted and you can walk it in either direction. The full walk takes about six or seven hours but you can also do it in stages.

What you’ll see

Along the way, you’ll walk through Wellington Botanic Garden. You’ll see the famous Wellington Cable Car, and pass by historic cottages in Aro Valley. The trail also takes you through 14 parks and reserves, children’s play areas and a public golf course.

The leafy town belt sections of this trail have exposed ridgetops and plenty of native and exotic planting. From here, you can enjoy spectacular views of central Wellington and the southern suburbs. You can also see the Tararua and Remutaka Ranges, the Cook Strait, and on a clear day, even the South Island’s Kaikōura Range.

Getting there

• If you’re starting on the south coast, catch the Number 1 bus to Island Bay and get off at the last stop at Shorland Park. Timetables are available on  Metlink and tickets can be purchased onboard with cash or Snapper.
• There are many access points along the trail, so you can choose where to start and finish.

Know before you go

• Get ready using Plan My Walk by the NZ Mountain Safety Council for track alerts, weather forecasts, trip reviews, and a packing list.
• This trail involves a fair amount of stairs and uphill sections. We recommend wearing adequate walking shoes.
• Take warm waterproof clothing, durable footwear, sunscreen, food and water.
• Toilets are available in the city centre, the Botanic Garden, in Island Bay, and at the Wellington Cable Car.
• Mountain bikes are not allowed on this trail.
• Dogs must be on leads outside dog exercise areas.

For more tips and advice before heading out on Wellington’s trails check out our before you go section.