Experience one of the world’s most beautiful harbours
View over the Wellington harbour from Miramar Peninsula [photo by Ron Beernink]
75+ kilometres of amazing harbour scenery
Nau mai, haere mai. Welcome to the Great Harbour Way / Te Aranui o Pōneke; a fantastic route around Wellington’s harbour. With beaches, bays, parks, cafés, city sights and wild coastal landscapes, there is a walk or bike ride to suit almost everyone. Choose a short waterfront stroll, a half-day adventure, a full day or a multi-day journey around Wellington Harbour.
Plenty of options
Walk or cycle sections in an hour or so, or do most or all of the route in 1-3 days
Easy to do
Suitable for beginners with options for more intrepid walkers and cyclists
Safe & comfortable
Most of the route is along flat, separated walking & cycling paths*
- See the full Route Map below for sections still to be properly developed
“The Great Harbour Way is more than a journey around Te Whanganui-a-Tara. It is a connection between our people, communities and places, and an extraordinary way to experience one of the world’s great harbours.”
Andrew Little, Mayor of Wellington
HIGHLIGHTS ALONG THE HARBOUR
From brand-new shared paths to century-old lighthouses and a colony of wild fur seals, there are plenty of beautiful landmarks along the Great Harbour Way.
Perfect Paths
Te Ara Tupua path [photo by Ron Beernink]
Enjoy the wonderful walking and cycling paths along the Great Harbour Way, including the world-class Te Ara Tupua shared path that runs along the waterfront between Petone and Ngauranga.
Hidden History
View from Orauiti Reserve [photo sourced from Architecture Now]
Check out the historical information and sites such as Fort Dorset, which is a worthwhile side trip from the Great Harbour Way.
Wonderful Wilderness
Seals at Sinclair Head [photo sourced from Wikimedia Commons]
Be entertained by the fur seals at Sinclair Head and keep an eye out for dolphins or orcas frolicking in the water as you go around the harbour.
Sensational Scenery
Scorching Bay [photo by Ron Beernink]
Savour the constantly changing scenery around the harbour; from the wild coastlines to the serene bays of the inner harbour.
ROUTE MAP
The 45 km+ primary Great Harbour Way route consists of several sections, as shown in the Google Maps image below. This primary route includes the wonderful Tahitai (Oriental Bays), Te Ara Tupua (Ngauranga to Petone), and Tupua Horo Nuku (Seaview to Eastbourne) shared paths, built through partnerships involving the local councils, the New Zealand Transport Agency / Waka Kotahi, and the Taranaki Iwi.
Note that the red dotted lines indicate the extended sections of the Great Harbour Way that do not yet provide safe walking and cycling paths.
MORE INFORMATION
Cyclists at Miramar Peninsula during a Ciclovia event [photo by Ron Beernink]
Find out details of the whole route and specific sections. Distance, time to walk or bike. Transport options, cafes, public toilets along the way.
Walkers along the Te Ara Tupua path [photo by Ron Beernink]
Go from east to west or the other way around. Do only a few sections or the whole route. Where to start. What to bring. And what to be mindful of.
Early settlers at Wellington Harbour [photo sourced from Wellington City Council]
Learn about the Māori, the subsequent European arrival and settlements around Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington Harbour), and how people and nature have changed the land around the harbour.
Meal at Scorch O Rama cafe [photo sourced from Scorch O Rama]
No doubt you may have some questions. See which ones we’ve already answered. Or else you can use the Contact Us page to send us your question.