Skyline Walkway, Wellington Region, NZ - 0 travel reviews for Skyline Walkway

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Marios Gavalas

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Nau mai, haere mai

I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.

I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!

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Wellington, Wellington Region

Camping near Wellington

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Information

Skyline Walkway

12 km one-way | 5 hours one-way

The aptly-named Skyline Walkway commands impressive views both east and west. The interesting views from the observation platform at Mount Kaukau show and angle of the city and harbour not often seen in photographs.

On days when the weather is changeable, you can watch the showers march across Cook Strait, or release their load over the Marlborough Sounds (before reaching Wellington).

The eroded peneplain remnants and pastoral scenes of the Oharui Valley, provide the green foreground to the steely blue Tasman Sea.

Walking Track

Timing

Be very wary of forceful wind gusts. This is an extremely exposed ridge and bears the brunt of the weather’s fury.

Access

The main starting point is from the end of Chartwell Drive in Crofton Downs (although a more minor access way is from Awarua Street in Ngaio). Other tracks that link with the main walkway leave from Simla Crescent in Broadmeadows or Woodmancote Road in Khandallah Park.

Track

Visit https://wellington.govt.nz/~/media/maps/files/skyline.pdf to download the map and brochure.

From the end of Chartwell Drive, the track passes through a farm gate to an information board (5 minutes), before passing the remnants of an old stockyard. It sidles the southern edge of a large scrub-filled bowl to the ridgeline (45 minutes).

The wind will likely be your welcome to the top, from where the vast panorama opens up. Marker poles begin before the junction with Bells Track (10 minutes to Awarua Street) and continue over the very exposed ridge to below Mount Kaukau (45 minutes).

Polynesian History

Maori knew the route as Te Wharangi and used the undulating ridgeline (300-350 metres) as a communications route.

Feature

Today the 120 metre-high TV transmitter of Mount Kaukau dominates the skyline.

Details

Feature

Value

Info

Organisation

Wellington City Council

Council organisation

Location

North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Wellington

Categories

Walking
Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-41.2588724356368

174.757833385468

Latitude
-41.2588724356368
Longitude
174.757833385468

Feature	Value	Info
Track Length	10km to 20km Track Length What is the physical length of this track? 10km to 20km	Track Length What is the physical length of this track? 10km to 20km
Track Duration	4 to 8 hours Track Duration How long does it take to walk this track on average? 4 to 8 hours	Track Duration How long does it take to walk this track on average? 4 to 8 hours
Track Difficulty	Moderate walk Track Difficulty Considering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Moderate walk	Track Difficulty Considering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Moderate walk
Payment Requirement	Free access/participation Payment Requirement Is there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in.	Payment Requirement Is there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in.
Large Vehicle Access	Large vehicle accessible Large Vehicle Access Can large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers.	Large Vehicle Access Can large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers.
Disabled Access	No disabled access Disabled Access Does this location provide disabled access? No disabled access This location does not provide access for wheelchairs.	Disabled Access Does this location provide disabled access? No disabled access This location does not provide access for wheelchairs.
Crowd Factor	Lesser Known Crowd Factor How crowded is this place usually? Lesser Known Usually has less people visiting	Crowd Factor How crowded is this place usually? Lesser Known Usually has less people visiting
Track Managing Organisation	Local Council Track Managing Organisation What type of organisation operates this walking track? Local Council This walking track is managed by a local council. Wellington City Council	Track Managing Organisation What type of organisation operates this walking track? Local Council This walking track is managed by a local council. Wellington City Council