Bike the extended Great Harbour Way Route


The ultimate Great Harbour Way / Te Aranui o Pōneke experience. A ~90 kilometres adventure from Sinclair Head on the south coast, around the harbour, to Baring Head on the east coast. Below you’ll find information on the different sections of the route, including distances, cycling times, a short description and links to the relevant route guides. Enjoy!

Route Map

Distance: ~97km
🚲 Average cycling time: 5-8 hours (1 day)
Surface: shared paths, footpaths, gravel paths, some on-road cycling
⛰ Some hills

View the Google Map Download the route GPX file
Cyclist battling the northerly wind along the Pencarrow Coast Road [Photo by Ron Beernink]

Route Description

You will start with the extended route from Sinclair Head to Miramar Wharf. Begin the route from Owhiro Bay. You can catch the bus here from downtown Wellington or cycle here if you are really keen! From Owhiro Bay it is a return trip to Sinclair Head along the wonderful Red Rocks track. Back in Owhiro Bay, continue to Seatoun via the wild south coast and the harbour entrance shoreline. From there, go on to Scorching Bay where you will follow the road around the Miramar Peninsula to the Miramar Wharf.

The next sections from Miramar Wharf to Pencarrow are all part of the primary Great Harbour Way route, with most of it off-road via comfortable shared or separate walking and cycling paths. From Miramar Wharf, you will continue along several beautiful bays to the Wellington Waterfront. Then on to Ngauranga, where you will start the world-class Te Ara Tupua shared path and continue to Petone. From there, it is on to Days Bay via the Petone foreshore, the Seaview shared path, and the beautiful Tupua Horo Nuku shared path, along bays and beaches, with the lush green hills on one side and the harbour on the other. From Days Bay it is the last section of the primary Great Harbour Way route to Pencarrow. This follows the gravel Pencarrow Coast Road along the wild shoreline of the harbour entrance.

From Pencarrow, it is another extended section of the Great Harbour Way along the gravel path to finish at Baring Head. Your trip will be rewarded with stunning views from the Pencarrow and Baring Head lighthouses. Pat yourself on the back, then start the return trip to Eastbourne to catch the bus back to Wellington, or to Days Bay to catch the ferry back to Wellington.

Route Sections

Owhiro Bay – Sinclair Head (return trip)

Red Rocks [Photo by Ron Beernink)

Experience the exciting wild South Coast along the Cook Strait, with great views of the South Island, and visit the seal colony in winter. Cyclists need to be on the road at the start of this route.

Owhiro Bay – Seatoun

Breaker Bay Road [Photo by Ron Beernink]

Follow various lovely bays along the south coast and the harbour entrance. Visit the Ataturk memorial and Fort Dorset. Cyclists need to be on the road for the entire route.

Seatoun – Miramar Wharf

Massey Memorial [Photo by Ron Beernink]

Great views across the harbour. Walk up to Fort Ballance and the Massey Memorial, but park up or walk your bike. Cyclists need to be on the road for most of this route.

Miramar Wharf – Wellington Waterfront

Hataitai Beach [Photo by Ron Beernink]

Wonderful inner harbour bays & beaches. Experience the world-class Tahitai path with its separated walking & cycling paths.

Wellington Waterfront-Ngauranga

Ride over the Stadium concourse [Photo by Ron Beernink]

Sadly, this section is not along the waterfront. After the fun ride up over the Stadium concourse, you will follow a popular cycling commuter route to Ngauranga.

Te Ara Tupua (Ngauranga-Petone)

Te Ara Tupau path [Photo by Ron Beernink]

Experience the stunning world-class Te Ara Tupua shared path and enjoy the serenity of the Petone foreshore.

Petone – Days Bay

Tupua Horo Nuku path [Photo by Ron Beernink]

Enjoy another wonderful world-class shared path: Tupua Horo Nuku with its green hills, lovely bays and beaches.

Days Bay – Pencarrow

Pencarrow lighthouse [Photo by Ron Beernink]

Check out lovely Eastbourne and then experience the wonderful wild coastline to Pencarrow and the amazing views from the lighthouse there.

Pencarrow – Baring Head

Baring Head lighthouse [Photo by Ron Beernink]

Get permission from the park ranger to do this last bit across private land to the Baring Head lighthouse with more fantastic views.