Eastern Walkway

Highlights: Views, historical site, dogs

Length: 30 min - 3 hours

Where: 25 min by car from Wellington CBD

What to take: Active wear, camera

A short jaunt or a slightly longer walk, the Eastern Walkway is a walk rich in both views and cute dogs.

Getting there: While there are many entrance points from residential streets along the walkway, the more scenic and inviting entry point can be located off Moa Point Rd. Head along SH1 through the Mt Vic tunnel as if you are heading to the airport. Once in Kilbirnie take Onepu Rd towards Lyall Bay and at the beach turn left onto Lyall Bay Rd, which will direct you onto Moa Point Rd. Continue along the coast until you see the Ataturk Memorial Park car park about 5 minutes from Lyall Bay.

The walkway spans the ridgeline along the southern end of the Miramar Peninsula. Starting from Tarakena Bay, there is a quick ascent up to Ataturk Memorial Park. There are beautiful views from the memorial across the bay to the South Island, and the sun sets right where you want it if you are walking for the gram. From the Ataturk memorial, follow the lightly winding track along the ridge. The ridge gives alternating views across the Rimutakas and the eastern suburbs. Once you reach the Beacon Hill Signal Station turn down and then left to the Pass of Branda (Breaker Bay). You can then either return the way you came or around the waterfront on Breaker Bay Road.

More info available here.