Red Rocks – Seatoun
This is an extended route of the Great Harbour Way that involves some on-road cycling and walking. But well worth doing, as you will experience some stunning scenery of the wild south coast and the entrance of the harbour. The first part involves a return trip to Red Rocks / Sinclair Head, after which you will follow several beautiful bays before arriving at Eastbourne.
Distance: 23½km
🚶 Average walking time: 5 hours
🚲 Average cycling time: 1½ hours
Surface: footpaths, gravel tracks, on-road cycling
Route Map
This route can be started from Owhiro Bay, or in reverse direction from Seatoun
Typical starting point is Owhiro Bay (directions)
⛰ No hills
🚌 Bus access
☕ Various cafes between Owhiro Bay and Seatoun
🚻 Toilet and water facilities along some of the route
Some swimming beaches
Route Sections
Located on the south coast, this trail is open to walkers and bikers, and recreational four-wheel drivers (except on Sundays). This wild shoreline with its fascinating rock formations makes for an interesting round trip. In the winter you can see fur seals basking on the rocks near Sinclair Head. Keep a distance, and dogs must be on a leash.
7½km (return trip)
🚶 3 hours to walk
🚲 1 hour to bike
Surface: footpath and on-road cycling to start with, then gravel track
⛰ No hills
🚌 Bus stop by start of the route
🚻 Toilet and water facilities at the visitor centre
Check out the displays of the south coast history and ecology. Toilets and water facilities here.
Baches built between 1900 and 1907 as part of the Owhiro sheep station, preserved as historic structures.
Ancient 200-million-year-old pillow lava outcrops featuring distinct red iron-oxide coloring
Devils Gate
[Sourced from WellingtonNZ / @RoadyNZ]
A narrow rock cutting close to the seal colony. Fun watching 4-wheel trucks trying to get through here.
Sinclair Head – Seal colony
Meet the seals in winter just beyond Sinclair Head but keep your distance.
| Bus | Take the #39 Island Bay bus from Wellington to stop 6153 at Owhiro Bay |
From Owhiro Bay you will travel along the beautiful Island Bay, Houghton Bay, Lyall Bay, Tarakena Bay, and Breaker Bay. Some with good spots to swim on warm sunny days, although the water along the south coast never gets warm! Enjoy the constantly changing scenery and treat yourself to something nice at one of the cafes that you will come across.
14 kilometers
🚶 Up to 3½ hours to walk. Mostly on footpaths. Also tracks.
🚲 Up to 1 hour. Mostly on-road biking. Also tracks.
☕ Various cafes along the way
🚻 Toilet and water facilities along the way
Island Bay Marine Education Centre
All the marine life from the Wellington region on display, and the “Touch Gently Pool” where you have a chance to gently hold some of the marine animals. Open on Sundays only.
A sheltered sandy beach that is a popular place to swim in summer. The large rocky point near the beach is a good place to explore rock pools.
This 3.2 tonne Hinueara stone moai was a gift from Chile to represent its friendship with New Zealand. It stands alone on the south Wellington Coast, looking out to sea.
Memorial to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the first president of the Republic of Türkiye. It is located on a ridge above Tarakena Bay on the south coast of Wellington.
The Point Dorset and Oruaiti Reserve features a waka sculpture and pouwhenua that mark the historic site of the former Ōruaiti Pā and commemorate the Polynesian explorer Kupe, alongside weathered World War military bunkers from the former Fort Dorset base.
Wahine Memorial
The Wahine Memorial in Seatoun overlooks the entrance to Wellington Harbour where the TEV Wahine tragedy unfolded in 1968 with the loss of 53 lives, making it New Zealand’s biggest maritime disaster.
Beach House & Kiosk Cafe
410 The Esplanade, Island Bay
A relaxed coastal spot sitting right on The Esplanade in Island Bay. Offers stunning sea views, excellent coffees, cabinet treats, and a full brunch menu.
Google reviews: 4.5 stars
Price per person: $20-30
Hours: 8:30am-3:30pm Tue-Sun
Maranui Cafe
L1, 7A Lyall Parade, Lyall Bay
This iconic Wellington cafe upstairs in the historic red-and-white surf lifesaving club building at Lyall Bay is famous for its food and views of the surf and nearby airport.
Google reviews: 4.5 stars
Price per person: $20-30
Hours: 7am-4pm Mon-Thu, 8am-4pm Sat-Sun
The Botanist Cafe
29 Onepu Road, Lyall Bay
Situated just off the main beach parade in Lyall Bay, this café specializes in plant-based, vegetarian, and vegan cuisine. Features a sunny sheltered courtyard.
Google reviews: 4.3 stars
Price per person: $20-30
Hours: 10am-10pm Mon-Fri, 9am-10pm Sat-Sun
Public toilets
- Te Kōpahou Visitor Centre – Ōwhiro Bay
- Island Bay Park – near the surf club and bus terminus
- Lyall Bay – just up from the Maranui cafe
- Churchill Park – Seatoun
- Seatoun Park – Seatoun
Water taps / fountains
- Te Kōpahou Visitor Centre – Ōwhiro Bay
- Island Bay Reserve & Playground (Shorland Park)
- Princess Bay
- Lyall Bay Beach Promenade & Playground
- Route 39 (Wellington – Brooklyn – Owhiro Bay – Island Bay): Runs along the coastal section between Owhiro Bay (Happy Valley Road) and Island Bay (Shorland Park / Reef Street).
- Route 29 (Wellington – Newtown – Southgate – Island Bay – Owhiro Bay – Brooklyn): Serves the coastal connector between Island Bay and Owhiro Bay.
- Route 1 (Island Bay – Wellington – Johnsonville): Terminates at Shorland Park / Reef Street in Island Bay, right at the coast.
- Route 23 (Houghton Bay – Newtown – Wellington): Serves Houghton Bay along Hungerford Road and the coastline down to the bay.
- Route 32x (Houghton Bay – Island Bay – Berhampore – Wellington Express): Peak express service servicing Houghton Bay and Island Bay.
- Route 3 (Lyall Bay / Rongotai – Kilbirnie – Newtown – Wellington): Terminates at Lyall Bay Beach (Lyall Parade) along the waterfront.
- Route 36 (Lyall Bay – Kilbirnie – Hataitai – Wellington): Serves Lyall Parade along the Lyall Bay beachfront.
- Route 30x (Wellington – Scorching Bay / Moa Point Express): Peak-hour express route servicing Moa Point, Breaker Bay, Pass of Branda, Seatoun, and Scorching Bay along the eastern coastal edge of the Miramar Peninsula.
“Our eBikes will take you off road to Red Rocks and the seal colony or around the bays into town. If you want to explore you can take any hill that Wellington puts in your path.”
By appointment only. Call them on 021 519920.
$80 per person per day
“Switched on Bikes is a small independent business operating from the Wellington Waterfront. Bikes and eBikes are our thing and we’re all about showing visitors a good time and providing locals with a new way to experience and travel around their city. We are a top-rated provider on Trip Advisor for our tours and rentals and possess over a decade of experience.”
Hours: 9am-5:30pm. Call them on 04 4731080.
$60 – $99 per person, four hours to full day. Also provide tours.