Wild Things - New Zealand's trail running community
New Zealand's trail running community

Login



don't have an account?

Linking the Reserves, Wellington

Trail Directory proudly supported by Further Faster

Update Your Header Picture

Linking the ReservesBeginner - Intermediate

Submitted by Richele McKenzie

Info Info
Map Loading

Trail Information

14.30km

610m

610m

 

Wellington

Wellington

Urban

Loop

Undulating, small hills only

Native bush
Plantation/exotic forest
Riverside
Open farmlands
Open ridges/tops

Beginner - Intermediate

2:15 (Slow)
1:40 (Moderate)
1:10 (Fast)

-9.9%

+11.7%

Download PDF Guide

Fastest Known Times (FKTs)

Please set your gender to see your position on the FKT leaderboards.

Men

Show more

Women

Show more

Filter FKTs

The more , the harder the FKT will be to beat. Learn about Fastest Known Times.

Missing your time?

Register or login as a VIP and get yourself on the FKT leaderboard!

Register Now

Description

From the sign head up the path for c.400m then join the Northern Walkway Track (main trail along this side of the hill). Follow this around the hill for approx 1.6k until you get to a post pointing to "Te Ahumairangi Hill Lookout Ridgeline Track". Follow this track onto Paehuia Track, then turn onto Stellin Track, heading towards Stellin Memorial Park (and lookout).

When you get to the sign for the lookout, instead of heading up the short set of stairs, head left onto a small patch of grass (nice views from here!) and down to Puketiro Ave. Turn left onto Orangi Kaupapa Road, right onto Pembroke then left onto Albemarle. Right next to the kindy there is a sign for Project Kaiwharawhara. Head down the wooden stairs and follow a small bush track down the creek and you will pop out next to Cardinal McKeefry School.

Cross the road and head down onto Ian Galloway Park running towards and then along the fenceline. Head right, towards the Club Rooms, then right again onto a small track "to Otari Wilton's Bush". Ignore the first track off to the left, and continue on down, following the stream until you get to the Picnic area / noticeboard / toilet. Take a right turn onto the Circular Walk track up the steep zigzag path, head around the gardens, past the grassy rectangle, across the bridge to the Information Centre.

Take a breather to read more info about Otari (there's a drink fountain plus another toilet here), then head down past the Alpine Garden and keep following the signs for Circular Walk. Enjoy the sweeping downhill then turn left, cross the bridge and look for the sign for Red Trail. Follow the Red Trail up to John Witton Drive (watch for the small sign that will say " Red Trail exit Chartwell").

Turn left out of John Witton onto Chartwell Drive to Chartwell Reserve. Run down here, past the horses, and just past the stables you will see a small track entrance on the right. This is narrow to begin with then it becomes a wide open (rabbit filled) grassy hill.

At the top, cross the 4wd track and head down Silversky towards Silverstream Road and Huntleigh Park. Follow Silverstream Road to the roundabout, cross the road and head left towards the entrance for Trellisick Park.

Follow the Northern Walkway again, looking out for the small signs that will lead you around the hilly section of the park. When you reach an intersection of many tracks head left along Forest Remnant Track (the one marked "please proceed with caution"), winding around the hill and down to the main Ngaio Gorge Track, then cross the new bridge and wind your way up to Oban Street. From the road it's 1km back to the start of the trail, via Sefton Street.


Trail Community

Find people who are interested in this run.

You must register or login to view this content.

Features of interest

An interesting loop linking Te Ahumairangi Hill, Otari-Wilton's Bush and Trelissick Park with plenty of views of Wellington along the way.

Otari is the only public botanic garden in New Zealand dedicated solely to native plants. Trelissick Park is also ecologically important and contains remnants of original forest. The park was once a route for Maori and early Europeans travelling from the harbour to Porirua. 


Make Up of Run

Untracked / Route only: 6%

Moderate Single Track: 38%

Easy Single Track: 38%

Sealed Road: 18%


Route Data

Reviews:

You must register or login to view this content.

Photos:

You must register or login to view this content.

Your Trail Wishlist

All the runs that are on your To Do list (no limit).

Add to wishlist view wishlist

Your Trail Dreamlist

The runs you most want to do (limited to 10).

Add to dreamlist view dreamlist

Wild Explorers

I did it!
  • Access

    Start at entrance to Te Ahumairangi at 1 Wadestown Road, near the intersection with Orchard Road. Alternatively this trail can be accessed at almost any point along the loop.

    Parking is available along the road. Busses - number 14 to Wadestown Road Train - stop at Crofton Downs and join the trail at that point.

    2 km

    4 minutes

    Yes

    No

  • Staying Safe

    Moderate.

    Generally good.

    Windproof jacket, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map.

    Drinking fountains are located at the Otari Information Centre and the Huntleigh Park Community Water Station.

    The steeper bush tracks can get very slippery after rain.

    The horses are friendly but keep dogs on lead. There are occasionally cattle in the area between the horses and Silversky.

  • Post run indulgence

    The Mini Coffee Bar
    Cnr of Whitehead Road and Curtis Street, Northland
    https://www.facebook.com/theminicoffeebar/
    Tomer makes great coffee and his quirky coffee cart has plenty of relaxed outdoor seating for sweaty runners.

  • Blog Posts and Articles
  • Sponsor this trail

    If you are interested in learning about sponsorship opportunities, please get in touch below:

    Submit

Got a favourite trail? Tell us about it.

Share the love and add your favourite trail(s) to our growing trail directory.

Submit A Trail

Become a member today

Start enjoying the many benefits to becoming a member of our thriving community.

Become a member

Great brands at great prices with our VIP member's discount

Stay up to date

Sign up to our newsletter for latest offers and trail guides

Share this trail with a friend:

VIP Membership

Please register as a VIP or login to your VIP account to view this content.

Cancel Login Register

Membership Required

You can see up to three trail guides without being logged in but after that we require you to be logged in to your Free or VIP account. If you don’t yet have an account you can register here.

Login Register