Explore Wellington: Northern Walkway

Walk through Wellington's beautiful parks and discover picturesque views, stunning flora and fauna and some early history of the area.

The Northern Walkway guides you along part of the Town Belt from Johnsonville to the Botanic Garden.

The Northern Walkway extends 16 kilometres from Johnsonville through several parks via the Town Belt to Kelburn. It takes at least four hours to complete. Various exits to suburban streets allow you to take this walk in stages if you wish. The walkway has many attractions including spectacular views, picnic sites, children's play areas, unused tunnels, and the Khandallah Summer Pool. It is steep in some places but not difficult overall.

The walk begins —from the north— at Johnsonville Park. Take a Johnsonville line train to Raroa Station. Then follow the map's directions to the park entrance in Truscott Avenue.

The southern start of the walk is at the top of the Cable Car on Upland Road in Kelburn. It proceeds through the Botanic Garden onto Tinakori Road and up St Mary Street in Thorndon. For full map and details about the Botanic Garden, pick up an Explore Wellington Walk 5 brochure from selected Explore Wellington stands at the Visitor Information Centre on Wakefield Street, Wellington International Airport and the Wellington Railway Station.

Between these entry points the walkway passes through five areas: Johnsonville Park, Khandallah Park, Trelissick Park, Tinakori Hill and the Botanic Garden. If you prefer to complete selected areas of the walk only, take a No 14 Wilton bus to Weld Street in Wadestown. This leads to the northern end of the Tinakori Hill section and the southern end of the Trelissick Park section. Alternatively, take a Johnsonville train to or from Simla Crescent Station.

Along the route are numerous seats and picnic spots. Dogs are permitted but must be on a leash. Most of the Northern Walkway is closed to mountain bikers. See separate brochure for more details or check out www.feelinggreat.co.nz for mountain bike tracks in Wellington.

There are also other walkways and tracks that connect with and cross the Northern Walkway. See the supplementary information for a more detail.

View a printable map (part one, part two) marking points of interest along the way.

You can pick up copies of all the Explore Wellington brochures from the Department of Conservation on Manners Street.