Plan Your Trip
Fantastic that you’re interested in walking or cycling some or all of the wonderful Great Harbour Way / Te Aranui o Pōneke. Below you’ll find information on the different route options, including distances, walking or cycling times, a short description and links to the relevant route guides. You’ll also find information about the services available along the route. Everything you need to help plan your trip and enjoy the Great Harbour Way.
Walking
Want to walk just an hour or so, or have a day or more available? Want to know which sections of the Great Harbour Way to do? Check out the walking options.
Cycling
The Great Harbour Way is great for cycling, whether just for a few hours, half a day, or a full day or more. Check out the cycling options to fit your needs.
Services
Check out bus, train and ferry options. See what guided tours of Wellington and parts of the Great Harbour Way are available. And check where to hire a bike.
Walking Options
Wellington Waterfront
Wonderful museums including Te Papa, glorious galleries, lovely lagoons, waterfront sculptures, cafes and restaurants, easy access to the Wellington city centre.
Tahitai (Oriental Bay to Evans Bay)
Beaches, harbour views, Oriental Bay cafes, boat sheds, spotting dolphins or orcas in the harbour; this route has lots to offer. Walk as far as you want and take the bus back.
Te Ara Tupua (Ngauranga to Petone)
Experience this amazing ‘path of the ancients’; a world-class path opened in 2026. Learn about these early Māori settlers who lived along this harbour shoreline.
Petone Foreshore
A wonderful beach, the iconic Petone wharf, cafes, the lovely Settlers Museum, a playground and disc golf course, and lots of people enjoying the shared path.
Tupua Horo Nuku (Days Bay to Point Howard)
Take the ferry to Days Bay, then walk along lovely bays and swimming beaches surrounded by lush green hills, on this wonderful shared path that opened in 2026.
Days Bay to Eastbourne
After checking out Days Bay park, take the short walk to the lovely village of Eastbourne. Wonderful cafes and ice-cream shops along the way.
Days Bay – Ngauranga
Take the ferry to Days Bay, then walk the wonderful Tupua Horo Nuku path, Petone foreshore, and Te Ara Tupua path.
Owhiro Bay – Red Rocks (return trip)
Experience the exciting wild south coast along the Cook Strait with great views of the South Island, and visit the seal colony in winter.
Follow various lovely bays along the south coast and the harbour entrance. Visit the Ataturk memorial and Fort Dorset.
Follow the road to beautiful Scorching Bay and around the Miramar Peninsula with its fantastic views over the Harbour.
Miramar to Petone
Start at the Miramar Wharf and walk to the Wellington Waterfront via the wonderful Cobham Drive and along the Tahitai path as it winds its way past several lovely bays. From Wellington continue to Ngauranga where the fantastic Te Aa Tupua path starts. Carry on along the Petone foreshore path. Treat yourself to a nice dinner and overnight stay in Petone.
Petone to Pencarrow Lighthouse
From Petone follow the foreshore along to Hikoikoi Reserve and across the Waione Bridge to pick up the path along the Hutt River mouth to the Seaview Marina. From there continue to Point Howard and on to Eastbourne and Burdan’s Gate, from where you will follow the coast road to the Pencarrow Lighthouse. Return to Eastbourne to stay the night or to catch the bus back to Wellington.
Day 1 – Owhiro Bay – Red Rocks – Lyall Bay
Start with a return walk to Sinclair Head from Owhiro Bay. Then continue along the south coast past Island Bay and Houghton Bay to Lyall Bay.
Day 2 – Lyall Bay to Wellington Waterfront
Continue along the south coast to Breaker Bay, cross over to Seatoun, around Miramar Peninsula, and via the wonderful Tahitai path to the Wellington Waterfront.
Day 3 – Wellington Waterfront to Eastbourne
From the waterfront walk to Ngauranga, continue along the wonderful Te Ara Tupua path, Petone foreshore, and Tupua Horo Nuku path to Days Bay and on to Eastbourne.
Day 4 – Eastbourne to Baring Head
From Eastbourne, walk to Burdan’s Gate and continue along the Pencarrow Coast Road all the way to the Baring Head Lighthouse, and back via the Pencarrow Lighthouse. You will need prior permission from the park ranger to walk from Pencarrow to Baring Head.
Cycling Options
Wellington Waterfront to Miramar Wharf
Wonderful museums including Te Papa, glorious galleries, lovely lagoons, waterfront sculptures, cafes and restaurants, easy access to the Wellington city centre.
Miramar Wharf to Seatoun
Beaches, harbour views, Oriental Bay cafes, boat sheds, spotting dolphins or orcas in the harbour; this route has lots to offer. Walk as far as you want and take the bus back.
Ngauranga to Petone
Experience this amazing ‘path of the ancients’; a world-class path opened in 2026. Learn about these early Māori settlers who lived along this harbour shoreline.
Petone to Days Bay
A wonderful beach, the iconic Petone wharf, cafes, the lovely Settlers Museum, a playground and disc golf course, and lots of people enjoying the shared path.
Sinclair Head to Wellington Waterfront
Start with a return trip from Owhiro Bay to Sinclair Head. Continue along the coast to Seatoun and around the Miramar Peninsula. Then on to the Wellington Waterfront via the wonderful Cobham Drive and Tahitai cycleway.
Wellington Waterfront to Pencarrow
Head north to Ngauranga and carry on to Petone via the fantastic Te Ara Tupua shared path. Continue to Seaview, Days Bay and Eastbourne. Then on to the Pencarrow Lighthouse.
Full Extended Great Harbour Way Route
The big one to tick off: combine both the “Sinclair Head to Wellington Waterfront” and the “Wellington Waterfront to Pencarrow” rides into a fantastic one-day cycling adventure! Go you good thing!
Available Services
Train services
Wellington has a fantastic train service. There are regular services between Wellington and Petone. Check out the Metlink website or use the Metlink app to plan your train ride.
You can put your bike on the train, but not during morning rush hour (6:00 AM – 9:00 AM), or out of the capital during evening rush hour (4:00 PM – 6:30 PM). Each two-car set can take up to three bikes. Look for the sign on the carriage. Batteries do not need to be removed from e-bikes on trains. No extra cost involved for bikes on trains.
Bus services
Most of the Great Harbour Way is covered by regular bus services. Check out the Metlink website or use the Metlink app to plan your train ride. This map shows the main bus services for the Great Harbour Way route.
Most buses have a bike rack at the front that can carry up to three bikes. These can be used at any time of the day or night. Check out this Metlink information on bikes on buses; it includes a very useful video on how to use the bike rack. No extra cost involved for bikes on buses.
Ferry services
The East by West ferry services is very useful to get across the harbour from the Wellington Waterfront to Days Bay. It provides you with options to do shorter and one-way walks or rides. Bikes need to be booked ahead but no extra cost is involved. In addition to the regular service between Wellington and Days Bay, they also provide a 90-minute harbour explorer cruise and private charters.
Both the Interislander and Bluebridge ferry services provide regular sailings between Wellington and Picton in the South Island and take foot passengers, cars, and bikes.
Bluebridge does not charge extra for bikes.
These are some of the tour operators that you can use if you want a guided walk or bike ride along the Great Harbour Way
Te Wharewaka o Pōneke
Te Wharewaka o Pōneke is owned and operated by local iwi, Te Ati Awa. It offers a series of tours that delve into Wellington’s early history and cultural background. The city’s stories come to life on land with guided walking, e-bike, and e-scooter tours.
You can also try tours on the water in a waka or on the electric ferry, Ika Rere. You’ll learn of the city’s past, the harbour formation, and how the iwi connect to this landscape.
Walk Wellington
Walk Wellington is a volunteer not-for-profit group with 25 years’ experience in guiding guests around our city. They have once again received the TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award in 2025. Walks they provide are
- Daily Essential Wellington Walk; a 2 to 2½ hour tour around the waterfront, downtown, and parliamentary areas.
- On-demand tour from the Wellington Railway Station, ride up the Cable Car, and walk around the Botanical Gardens.
- On-demand group walks.
Wellington Free Walking Tours
Walk at your own pace, ask the questions you want, pause where you want to, and enjoy a tour that is just for you. A truly boutique experience that can be customised to you, with options for the walk to start and finish where you want, tours that can range from 2 hours to how ever long you want to spend discovering, learning, and enjoying yourself.
Wildfinder
Wildfinder is a locally owned, Qualmark Silver sustainable tourism business offering fantastic all-inclusive cycle day trips, cycle tours, eBike & mountain bike hire showing off the best of the wider Wellington area.
Switched on Bikes
Switched on Bikes provide half day and daily hire of both electric and non-electric bikes. And tour options, e.g.
- 3-4 hour guided electric bike tour of Wellington including some of the hills.
- 2-2½ hour guided intro bike tour in Wellington around the world-class waterfront.
- ~4 hour private guided ebike tour around Wellington’s stunning bays and dazzling coast.
