Wellington Regional Trails
Two smiling people hold a black plastic box with a yellow lid while standing on a nature trail.

Every day is a good day to go for a walk, but the incentive is even higher on the last weekend in January. From 25 to 26 January treasures and treats will be hidden on six Wellington regional trails. 

From 9am each day there will be delicious treats to be found in specially marked boxes on each trail. All you have to do is get out and about and find your wild. Grab the whānau, go for a walk, and score prizes from local businesses. Remember, only one each, so everyone has the chance to enjoy a well-earned treat. 

Two children crouch to look at a bumblebee perched on a pink flower bed at Wellington Botanic Gardens.

Wellington Botanic Garden ki Paekākā, Wellington

Keep your eyes peeled for the Welly Walks box at Wellington Botanic Garden. Filled with local goodies, the specially marked box can be found in the Australian Garden. Start your walk near Parliament and follow the City to Sea Walkway across the bridge. This route winds uphill through the gardens. If you prefer an easier approach, begin at the Cable Car terminal and take a short stroll downhill.  

Wellington Botanic Garden trails | City to Sea Walkway

 

A wooden stairway path in the forest in Barry Hadfield Nikau Reserve.

Barry Hadfield Nikau Reserve, Kāpiti Coast

The lower loop at Barry Hadfield Nikau Reserve will have you walking through healthy clusters of nīkau palms, kohekohe trees and ewekuri. Wandering through the nikau grove should reveal a Welly Walks box. The treat waiting for you is from local coffee roaster The Roastery. The lower loop is short and smooth — suitable for wheelchair users and walkers. For the hardy, head up the short steep staircase for spectacular views of Kāpiti Coast and Kapiti Island.  

Barry Hadfield Nikau Reserve

Te Onepoto Loop Track, Porirua

Walk or ride through Whitireia Park for great views over Onehunga Bay. Along the trail, look out for the Welly Walks box. It’s filled with Zelati’s Vandough cookies. The easy walking loop takes about ninety minutes and is a great option for families. There are also plenty of opportunities to fish off the rocks, explore rock pools and swim at Onehunga Bay.  

Te Onepoto Loop Track

Te Whiti Riser, Lower Hutt

This popular all-weather track follows a gentle gradient from Te Whiti Park in Lower Hutt to the top of the Eastern Hutt Hills. Walkers, runners, mountain bikers, and leashed dogs can enjoy the nearly four-kilometre trail. The Welly Walks box has gingerbread cookies from Cupcake Sweeties waiting for you. This trail connects to other popular spots, including the extensive Waiu Park trail network and East Harbour Regional Park.  

Te Whiti Riser

People walking along one of the two swing bridges over the river amongst trees in Kaitoke Regional Park.

Swingbridge Track, Upper Hutt

Located in Kaitoke Regional Park, the Swingbridge Track is a family-friendly two-kilometre loop walk. Taking about one hour to complete, it takes you across a swing bridge suspended high above the Hutt River. It then weaves downstream towards the river gorge. To make this adventure even sweeter, find the Welly Walks box with goodies from Upper Hutt business, Fudge ‘n Hell.  

Swingbridge Track 

A family runs along the path of Fensham Reserve in Wairarapa.

Fensham Reserve, Wairarapa

This Wairarapa trail boasts 700-year-old podocarp trees. Fensham Reserve comprises 48 hectares of native bush only a few minutes’ drive north-west from Carterton. As you wander through wetlands and lush bush, you might be lucky enough to strike gold. Golden jars of Greytown Honey are hiding inside the Welly Walks box here.  

Fensham Reserve