Skyline Walkway

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Visual: The text ‘Skyline Walkway’ appears on screen in blue font, followed by drone shots high above Wellington, looking over the harbour. The narrator then walks along the trail, talking to the camera.

Audio: Travel along Wellington city’s highest ridgelines and peaks. Soak up the stunning vistas and sweeping panoramas. The Skyline Walkway is one of Wellington’s premier trails. On bike or foot, the Skyline Walkway makes for the perfect adventure and yes, dogs can come too.

Visual: A white outline map of the Skyline Walkway overlays on top of more drone shots, showing the suburb of Karori and more mountains. The map shows the gradient of the track.

Audio: It takes around five hours to walk the 13-kilometre trail which runs between Johnsonville and Karori. The walk involves some steep and challenging terrain but you’ll be pleasantly rewarded with epic views and a free workout. The trail can be tackled in any direction. Today we’re starting in Johnsonville. Along the way, there are a number of access points to shorten your route if you wish. And remember, this walk is exposed to the full force of Wellington’s natural elements, so, be prepared.

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Visual: The camera follows our narrator through bush, and flies over Mount Kaukau, showing an elevation of 445m on screen.

Audio: A highlight of the walk is Mount Kaukau, the highest peak on our journey. On a clear day, you’ll be able to see the Kaikōura Ranges in the south island, to the north-west, the Porirua Basin and out to the Tasman Sea, in the east, the Remutaka and Ōrongorongo ranges.

Visual: Close-ups of birds, specifically kākā, flash across the screen, as our narrator talks about the wildlife seen on the trail toward the camera, followed by more drone shots of the harbour.

Audio: Mount Kaukau was originally called Tarikākā named for the abundance of kākā that once called this area home. Today, efforts to re-establish the kākā in Wellington mean you can spot them once again, so look out for their loud call and distinctive brown and scarlet feathers.

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Visual: The Drone follows our narrator walking along a ridgeline, then switches to a birds-eye view.

Audio: Back on the trail we climb over the Crow’s Nest and onto the Kilmister Tops.

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Visual: The drone shows the view over to the Mākara windmills in the distance.

Audio: This area was known to local Māori as Te Wharangi, or broad open space, and was part of the rail travel between Ohariu and Te Whanganui a Tara.

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Visual: The drone shows the views in each direction, with large mountain ranges and the ocean. The narrator is then sitting in a café drinking a coffee.

Audio: At its southern end, the Skyline gently sets you back down on the Mākara saddle in south Karori. The perfect spot to find replenishments post-trail. So get out there, climb some hills, and tick off this Wellington classic. Find your wild on the Skyline Walkway.