Wellington

Few capital cities offer walks with such spectacular views as the section of Te Araroa from Porirua to Wellington's suburbs of Johnsonville or Khandallah. On a clear day, the views stretch up to Mt Taranaki in the north, across to the South Island’s Kaikoura Ranges and Marlborough Sounds, and embrace the city’s attractive harbour and hillside suburbs. There is easy accessibility to the start and end points for the 21km walk.

• From Station Road (adjacent to Porirua Railway Station), cross Lyttelton Avenue at pedestrian crossing and turn right.
• On Northern edge of New World Supermarket car park turn left onto pathway. Follow path to under-cover city centre & Information Centre.
• From Information Centre cross the carpark.
• Cross pedestrian crossing on Hagley Street and turn left.
• Cross Titahi Bay Road at crossing.
• Immediately cross Hagley Street again towards south.
• Follow the Raiha Walkway on right hand side of pine trees along grass verge.
• Follow signed route along grass beside Te Wananga driveway.
• Continue along walkway through to Raiha Street.
• Exit to right. Walk 200-300m to Colonial Knob Walkway car park on left (past Elsdon Camp). 

• Follow marked track up Colonial Knob.

• Follow markers down other side (blue) to edge of Spicer Forest.
• Cross stile turn right and follow fenceline on edge of forest.
• Turn left into forest following yellow circles through forest and down to the valley floor.
• Exit through gate and turn left into Ohariu Valley  Road.
• Walk along road (approx 5kms) to crossroads. Straight through crossroads to Rifle Range Road to end. Enter Old Coach Road.
• (Optional exit into Johnsonville at Truscott Ave.) Continue along marked track towards television mast on Mt Kaukau. 

Optional exit down to Woodmancoate Road, Khandallah.

• Vehicles on road or track take plenty of care along Ohariu Valley Rd - it is narrow and twisting
• Farming operations Go around cattle and take extra care at calving/lambing
• Forestry operations in Spicer Forest (occasional)
• Track exposed to sun, wind or cold along the tops
• Weather extremes along the tops
• Few water sources along the tops

Few capital cities offer walks with such spectacular views as the section of Te Araroa from Porirua to Wellington's suburbs of Johnsonville or Khandallah. On a clear day, the views stretch up to Mt Taranaki in the north, across to the South Island’s Kaikoura Ranges and Marlborough Sounds, and embrace the city’s attractive harbour and hillside suburbs. There is easy accessibility to the start and end points for the 21km walk.

• From Station Road (adjacent to Porirua Railway Station), cross Lyttelton Avenue at pedestrian crossing and turn right.
• On Northern edge of New World Supermarket car park turn left onto pathway. Follow path to under-cover city centre & Information Centre.
• From Information Centre cross the carpark.
• Cross pedestrian crossing on Hagley Street and turn left.
• Cross Titahi Bay Road at crossing.
• Immediately cross Hagley Street again towards south.
• Follow the Raiha Walkway on right hand side of pine trees along grass verge.
• Follow signed route along grass beside Te Wananga driveway.
• Continue along walkway through to Raiha Street.
• Exit to right. Walk 200-300m to Colonial Knob Walkway car park on left (past Elsdon Camp). 

• Follow marked track up Colonial Knob.

• Follow markers down other side (blue) to edge of Spicer Forest.
• Cross stile turn right and follow fenceline on edge of forest.
• Turn left into forest following yellow circles through forest and down to the valley floor.
• Exit through gate and turn left into Ohariu Valley  Road.
• Walk along road (approx 5kms) to crossroads. Straight through crossroads to Rifle Range Road to end. Enter Old Coach Road.
• (Optional exit into Johnsonville at Truscott Ave.) Continue along marked track towards television mast on Mt Kaukau. 

Optional exit down to Woodmancoate Road, Khandallah.

  Download Map 1 (map074)

  Download Map 2 (map075)

  Download Trail Notes (Colonial Knob)