Explore Wellington: Te Kopahou Reserve - Other points of interest

Wrights Hill

Wrights Hill is seen from the eastern suburbs, central city and western suburbs. There is little open ground except for on top of the hill itself where a well-developed lookout is located, offering dramatic views. Wrights Hill has significant heritage features including the World War Two gun emplacements and tunnels. These are looked after by the Wrights Hill Fortress Restoration Society. They have a number of public open days throughout the year.

The vegetation is dominated by native and exotic bush and secondary native forest on most of the ridge top and flanks, all in various stages of regeneration. Wrights Hill Reserve is managed by Wellington City Council and is one of Wellington's significant ecological sites. It borders the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary and forms part of the ecological corridor running west and north from the sanctuary.

Wrights Hill has an extensive track network for walking, and there is a shared walking /mountain biking connection to the Polhil/Hawkins Hill ridge and Makara Peak.

Wrights Hill Fortress

Wrights Hill Fortress was built in the 1940s as a long range coastal battery to protect Wellington City and surroundings from possible enemy attack and invasion from the Pacific in World War Two. The extensive underground work started in November 1942 and included a massive 620 metres of interconnecting tunnels. The fortress was used for training purposes up to the mid 1950s but a Government decision in early 1960 resulted in the guns being cut up for scrap. The gun emplacements were filled with rubble and other equipment removed from the fortress.

After years of neglect the fortress complex was "rescued" in 1988 by the Karori Lions Club who opened them up to the public for the first time on ANZAC Day 1989. The Wrights Hill Fortress Restoration Society was formed a few years later and it has been actively restoring the coastal battery to its former state. Thousands of voluntary hours and tens of thousands of dollars have been spent on restoration work. This includes digging out gun pit number one, restoring the radio room, waterproofing inside the tunnels, rebuilding wooden walls, repainting and completely rewiring the fortress. A replica gun barrel, 10 metres long, was built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the installation of the guns at the top of Wrights Hill. The incorporated society's aims are "to restore and preserve the Wrights Hill Fortress as an historical monument for the benefit of the community". Membership is available to anyone for a small charge and money raised from membership and open days goes towards restoration costs.

Karori Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary is a unique conservation attraction where visitors can step back in time, experience a slice of New Zealand's natural heritage and enjoy the peaceful scenic surroundings.

Over 35 kilometres of bush tracks and paths criss-cross 252 hectares of regenerating forest. A predator-proof fence surrounds the sanctuary and mammalian pests have been removed providing a safe haven for the numerous rare and endangered flora and fauna that have been released inside, such as the little spotted kiwi, weka, brown teal, saddleback and kaka. Visitors have the opportunity to explore New Zealand bush and wetlands and discover the wildlife in their natural environment.

The sanctuary is located at the end of Waiapu Road, Karori and is open daily from 10am. For further information call 04 920 9200 or visit their website at www.sanctuary.org.nz.