Frequently Asked Questions

View over Petone Beach [Photo by Ron Beernink]


We’ve compiled a list of questions we think a number of visitors to this website may be asking. We welcome any other questions that you have and will continue to update this list to make answers easily available.
Use the Contact Us form to get in touch with us.

View over Petone Beach [Photo by Ron Beernink]

Yes, the vast majority of the 45km+ primary Great Harbour Way route utilises dedicated shared pathways, separate cycleways, and pedestrian paths. This makes it an incredibly safe, low-stress experience as you do the route around the harbour.   There are still two sections where cyclists need to use the road along the Petone-to-Days Bay route.

  • Port Road by the Seaview Marina.  Cyclists need to cross the road by the marine businesses and then again by the entrance to the Marina. 
  • Days Bay.   The new Tupua Horo Nuku shared path currently finishes just before Days Bay and resumes after Days Bay.  The Hutt City Council is considering options to continue a shared path through Days Bay, but faces the challenge of limited road space.   

The extended routes of the Great Harbour Way include sections where cyclists, and at times walkers, have to share the road with cars. These are on roads with low traffic volumes, such as on the Miramar Peninsula. Our Great Harbour Way Trust will continue to advocate for those extended routes to be made safe for walkers and cyclists.

No. But you can easily view this website on your phone. Each section under the Route Guides includes a map. And also a so-called GPX route file that you can download and import into your favourite walking or navigation app to help you follow either the whole of the Great Harbour Way route or parts of it. Examples of such walking & cycling navigation apps are Komoot, Strava, and OsmAnd.

We did consider getting an app built but realised it would cost more money than we have funding for. We hope that, in time, the Great Harbour Way will be part of the Great New Zealand Urban Trails that may be established, which will have its own app that will allow navigation of the Great Harbour Way.

There is no official starting point for the route. Most people are likely to start at the Wellington Waterfront and cycle north or south along the route, or take the ferry to Days Bay on the east side of the harbour.

If you do want to have the honour of having done the whole Great Harbour Way route, we recommend the following directions

Absolutely! The Plan your Trip page describes all the possible options based on the time you have available or the distance you want to do.

We have decided not to include accommodation options on this website. But yes, there are plenty of accommodation services available if you want to stay 1 or more nights to do the Great Harbour Way. These are some of the booking sites you can check out: WellingtonNZ, Airbnb, Booking.com, Hotel Trivago.

No. The New Zealand Great Rides are routes that are predominantly in the wilderness and away from urban areas. There is a possibility that a new Great Urban Rides category may be introduced, which would very likely include the Great Harbour Way route.

There are a couple of options for people who can not ride or walk because of their age or a disability.

  • Riding with Olivia (Cycling without Age) is a Petone-based community group that provides rides to people who cannot ride or walk.  They have three electric ‘trio’ / ‘rickshaw’ bikes with a seat up front that can take two people.  There is a group of volunteers who do the riding for you. They can provide rides along the Te Ara Tupua path and the Petone foreshore.     There is no cost involved.   You can book a ride via the Riding with Olivia website. Note that this is a popular community service for locals and is unlikely to accommodate visitors.
  • Croc Bikes is located at Ferg’s Kayaks along the Wellington Waterfront.  You can hire a bike to go along the waterfront, all the way to Oriental Bay.  They have 3-, 4-, or 6-seater bikes, and the cost is $23 to $35 per hour, depending on the bike’s size.  The bikes are not electric.  You will need a capable person to do the riding for you.   You can find out more information and book a ride via the Croc Bikes website.
  • The Great Harbour Way focuses solely on the walking & cycling route around Wellington’s harbour, suitable for people of all ages and abilities.  
  • The Remutaka Cycle Trail is geared more towards fit cyclists and is typically a 2-day bike-packing ride if you want to do the whole trail.  It is a fantastic route that goes from the Petone foreshore along the Hutt River up to Upper Hutt, then via the Remutaka Incline over the hill to Lake Wairarapa, from where you head down to Ocean Beach and continue along the wonderful wild south coast, eventually returning to Petone via Pencarrow and Eastbourne.  That last bit of the route is also part of the Great Harbour Way.