Sinclair Head to Wellington Waterfront (extended route)
Experience the fantastic variety of scenery that this extended Great Harbour Way route provides, from the lovely inner harbour bays and beaches to the wonderful wild south coast.
Distance: 39km
🚶 Average walking time: 7-10 hours (1 – 2 days)
🚲 Average cycling time: 2-3 hours (½ day)
Surface: footpaths, sealed shared paths, some on-road walking & cycling, gravel track
Route map & sections
Wellington Waterfront→Oriental Bay to Miramar Wharf→Miramar Peninsula→Seatoun to Owhiro Bay→Owhiro Bay to Sinclair Head
This route (shown in red on the map above) starts with a return trip along the wonderful Red Rocks trail from Owhiro Bay to Sinclair Head. Back in Owhiro Bay, you continue along the wild south coast past Island Bay, Houghton Bay, Lyall Bay and Breaker Bay. From there you cross over the hill to the shoreline along the harbour entrance, on to Seatoun and around the Miramar Peninsula. Then you continue to follow the harbour shoreline along Cobham Drive and the fantastic Tahitai path to the Wellington Waterfront.
You can take the #39 bus to Owhiro, or bike there (as per the blue line on the map above). You can do the route in reverse order.
Sinclair Head-Seatoun
Distance: 23½km
🚶 Average walking time: 5 hours
🚲 Average cycling time: 1½ hour
Surface: footpaths, gravel track, on-road
Miramar Peninsula
Distance: 10km
🚶 Average walking time: 3-4 hours
🚲 Average cycling time: 1 hour
Surface: footpaths, on-road walking & cycling
Wellington Waterfront-Miramar Wharf
Distance: 10Km
🚶 Average walking time: 1½–2 hours
🚲 Average cycling time: 30 – 45 minutes
Surface: shared & separated paths
Wellington Waterfront to Owhiro Bay Bike Route
Wellington Waterfront→Kent Tce→Basin Reserve→Adelaide Rd→Rintoul St→Riddiford St→Luxford St→Adelaide Rd→The Parade→The Esplanade→Owhiro Bay
Most of this follows a popular commuter route with bike lanes between the Wellington CBD and Island Bay. There is a bit of a hill climb from the Wellington hospital up to Berhampore, but then a nice downhill into Island Bay. After Island Bay you will follow the south coast to Owhiro Bay where you will start the Red Rock trail.
The route can be done just as easily in the reverse order, starting at Owhiro Bay.
Distance: 9km
🚲 Average cycling time: ½ hour
Surface: bike lanes, on-road cycling
