Wild Wellington
New Zealand’s capital has a reputation for its history and culture, but it’s also a wonderful place to experience the great outdoors. Overlooking a beautiful harbour, ringed with hills and close to the open sea, Wellington is brimming with spectacular views and natural experiences. If you want to get away from it all, you need only walk up the nearest hill to find a network of walking tracks.
The city’s rugged south coast provides panoramic coastal views for hikers, with its rocky shores, wild beaches and rugged cliffs, and views to the distant mountains of the South Island. A walking track leads from the quarry to Red Rocks and Sinclair Head, a coastal area frequented by native seals, or take a guided tour to learn more about the wildlife along this rocky stretch of coast.
Otari-Wilton’s peaceful bush is just 6km from the city centre, and home to native birds such as the tui and kereru. The reserve has stands of trees hundreds of years old, as well as an incredible variety of native New Zealand plants. Take a stroll along the treetop canopy walkway or enjoy a picnic.
Just minutes from the heart of downtown Wellington, the
Karori Wildlife Sanctuary is another great spot for nature lovers. It’s home to endangered native birds, including the stitchbird and little spotted kiwi, which have been released through special breeding programmes. The sanctuary makes an ideal excursion with bushwalks, historic buildings, wetlands, a shag roost and a special kaka (parrot) feeding station. Boats tour the lower lake providing a scenic view of the lower valley and forest, or you can return at night for a nocturnal guided tour and the chance to hear the kiwi and morepork calling.
At the top of the city’s historic
Cable Car,
Wellington Botanic Garden enjoys a stunning vista over the harbour and city. There are 26 hectares of exotic trees and flower displays to explore, including the award-winning rose gardens, a sculpture walk and trails that wind through pockets of bush and along the hillsides.
Out in the harbour, Somes-Matiu Island offers some lovely walking trails with views back to the city. The island has a fascinating history as a former quarantine station and temporary camp for prisoners of war, and is home to several rare native species.
Further afield, but less than an hour’s drive from Wellington, nature lovers can enjoy exploring
Staglands Wildlife Reserve in
Upper Hutt. Set in the beautiful Akatarawa Valley, this peaceful 10ha reserve has waterfalls, tame animals and beautiful bush. Follow the trails to the riverside picnic area and trout pool, take a ride on a Clydesdale horse or catch the bush railway. There are also many native birds including tuis, pigeons, bellbirds, kea (green parrots), whio (blue duck), kaka (parrot) and fantails.