Makara

Highlights: Wind turbines, views, wetlands, gun emplacements

Length: 0 - 4 hours

Where: 30 min from Wellington CBD by car

What to take: Active wear, camera, water, snacks

Just a short 30 minute drive from the CBD, this is one of my favourite local wanders. The official walkway follows a 6km loop, but there is more than one way to skin this cat; and, if you're feeling particularly lazy, you can just park at top of the wind farm and admire the views.

Getting there: Follow Karori Road to the end of the road, and then hang a right onto Makara Road, which will take you all the way to the car park at Makara Beach. Alternatively, you can take a left onto Opau Road just before you get to the beach, which will take you up to the top of the wind farm.

The Makara Walkway begins at Makara Beach, beginning with an early incline up along the edge of steep cliffs towering over the Cook Straight, with views across to the South Island on a good day. At the top of the cliff you will find gun emplacements looking out across the wind farms and coast and plenty of friendly local sheep.

The track continues through a small pine forest to open up just below the wind farm, winding along the side of the cliff before entering a cool, low canopy of manuka that takes you down into the lower wetlands. The lush green path at the bottom leads you to the pebbly beach, covered in driftwood and paua; where, on a warm day, the swimming is glorious (if not a little hard on the feet). You can then return back either along the beach or via a pretty brutal hill climb back over the cliff.

More info available here.