The Great Harbour Way / Te Aranui o Pōneke is a 47 kilometer route for walkers and cyclists around the entire perimeter of the Wellington harbour; from Miramar / Wellington airport in the west to Eastbourne / Pencarrow Head in the east. What it offers is unique – the opportunity to safely walk or cycle the entire coastline of a major city harbour, continually touching the water’s edge. You will pass wild stretches of coast, rocky headlands and sandy beaches, as well as parks, marinas, museums, cafes, theatres, charming seaside suburbs, and the capital’s vibrant business and shopping centre.
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Wellington’s harbour – Te Whanganui-a-Tara, The Great Harbour of Tara – is one of the world’s most beautiful. Its clear waters are ringed by layers of grey-green hills. Its surroundings range from the soaring office towers of the city to the wild, shipwreck shores of Fitzroy Bay. The harbour teems with wildlife, from the seal colonies of Red Rocks, to the blue penguins which seek sanctuary at many places along the coastline, and the dolphins and orcas which regularly visit its waters. Most of the Great Harbour Way is rideable and walkable now, providing separated shared or dedicated cycling & walking paths all the way from the Miramar Cutting by the airport, to Pencarrow Head / Fitzroy Bay on the eastern side of the harbour.
Latest News: Celebrating the (near) completion of the Great Harbour Way
Latest News: Celebrating the (near) completion of the Great Harbour Way
Press release, 15 May 2026
As of today, the opening of Te Ara Tupua, the shared path linking Ngā Ūranga (Ngauranga) and Honiana Te Puni Reserve in Petone, nearly completes the Great Harbour Way around Wellington Harbour.
“Who would have thought we would reach this day?” said Graeme Hall, chair of the Great Harbour Way trustees. “Over 20 years, the vision of a shared walking and cycling path around the 70km perimeter of our beautiful harbour has become a reality. A key gap has been closed — Petone joined to Ngā Ūranga in a manner that is stylish, expansive and comprehensive. This is a day of celebration for everyone involved in Te Ara Tupua and Te Aranui o Pōneke, the Māori name for the Great Harbour Way gifted by Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika."
The opening of Te Ara Tupua follows last month’s opening of Tupua Horo Nuku, the 4.4km shared path around Wellington’s Eastern Bays. With the Ākau Tangi Evans Bay shared walking and cycling path now in its final stage, it is already possible to bike or walk on shared paths most of the way from the Miramar Cutting to Eastbourne without having to contend with traffic. Some small sections (at Seaview, Port Road and at Eastbourne, Days Bay) still require people to go back on the road. Hopefully this will be resolved before to long.
“This is a once-in-a-generation achievement. It is a world-class urban walking and cycling route,” Hall said. He called on regional leaders to follow the example of Otago, Hawke’s Bay and Taupō, which have successfully used walking and cycling trails to boost local economies. “A huge amount has been invested in creating the Great Harbour Way. Our leaders now need to grasp the economic, tourism and recreation opportunities it presents.”
For other Great Harbour Way related news items and activities, check out this page.
Want to walk or cycle the route?
Want to walk or cycle the route?
Choose between half day, one day and multi day walking and cycling excursions. Check out the Route Guides pages.
Check out the Study on the Great Harbour Way
Check out the Study on the Great Harbour Way
Back in 2009, the Trust commissioned Boffa Miskell Consultants to write up a report on the opportunities and issues related to the Great Harbour Way. Read the report here.
Read about the history of our harbour
Read about the history of our harbour
Find out about the Maori discovery and settlement and the pakeha settlement of Te Whanganui-a-Tara Aotearoa (Wellington) and theTe Whanganui-a-Tara (it's great harbour).
Find out who we are
Find out who we are
Check out who the Great Harbour Way Trust people are, who for years have been advocated for this wonderful route around the Wellington harbour.
Our vision for the great harbour way
Our vision for the great harbour way
A safe, and enjoyable harbourside perimeter shared pathway for all. That is our vision in a nutshell. But there is more to our aspirations for the great harbour way., which you can read about on our Vision page.
Pushing for the Great Harbour Way
Pushing for the Great Harbour Way
Read the various submissions, presentation etc that we publish to advocate for improvements that are needed to realise the vision and outcomes for the Great Harbour Way.
Contact us
Contact us
We welcome and invite comments, questions and suggestions. Please use the Contact Form to get in touch with us.
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