Aro Valley / Tip Track loop

Wind your way up Transient Track from Aro Valley to Ashton Fitchett Drive, then pass some MTBs up Sawmill. Turn south along the Zealandia Fenceline track, before crossing the road and heading up Windmill. Wind your way along here until you pop out at the Turbine, for the sweeping Wellington views in the sweeping Wellington wind.

Head back down to the singletrack, continuing south along Carparts Extension, which becomes Barking Emu at a small side trail up to Hawkins Hill Road. Continue south, past a grassy knoll until the trail junction with the Tip Track and Red Rocks tracks.

For bonus vert, if you head right UP the Tip Track here, you can bag Hawkins Hill. Otherwise, turn left and bomb down the Tip Track – you’re basically halfway now…

At the bottom of the Tip Track, turn left up Happy Valley Road about 500m, to the sculptures at Tawatawa reserve. Through the gate, then zigzag up to the top (watch out for horses). Head across the grass to the yellow City to Sea Walkway signs – you’ll be following these now. Left down to the gate & road, then right down several sets of steps.

After skirting around Berhampore Golf Course, head down the road a little, past the nursery, then up past a playground & across Britomart Street. Around the sports fields, then up the steps and over a bit of a hill to the Cook Islands Society & Wellington Pipe Band halls, then up into the pine trees above Rugby League Park.

Cross Hutchison Road slightly to the north, then head up and over the hill (under a bridge) to Wellington Scottish Clubrooms. Cross the grass & turn left, through Prince of Wales Park. A few road / footpath detours around the water tank reconstruction will eventually bring you down to Brooklyn Road and Central Park.

Follow the wide, pine-needled paths down to the main entrance and water tap. After the tap, go up the steps to Ohiro Road. Just south, another City to Sea sign will lead you up to a large open grassy space near the community garden. The track around the bottom will lead you down some steps to Epuni Street. Head right down here, and back to Aro Valley for a well-earned snack.