Colonial Knob

Highlights: Expansive views, sheep, native bush

Length: 2.5 - 5 hours

How to get there: 30 min from Wellington CBD by car, or 5 min from Porirua

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

A great, slightly longer walk in the wider Wellington region, this bad boy can be found bordering the metropolis of Porirua.

Getting there: From Wellington, take the motorway north and get off at Porirua. Find your way to Broken Hill road and before you hit the dump you will see a carpark to your left. The track is well signposted from there.

The track begins with a climb through tawa forests before opening up onto rolling farmland. Walking up to the top of the ridge, you are treated to views across to Kapiti and Mana islands and, once you reach the 468m high peak, wider Wellington. Apparently, on a great day, you can even see all the way to Mt Taranaki. Walking on, the track winds through more farmland, and then descends down back to the carpark through native bush.

More info available here.