Tracks
The Ngaio Gorge Track and the Northern Walkway are shown on the current park maps, but only the Northern Walkway shows up consistently on sign posts at track junctions. There are other named tracks and routes in the park and a few more without names. Some overlap each other. The tracks give people numerous ways to walk or run, with family and friends, human and canine.
Important note: High water in the Kaiwharawhara Stream can make the track alongside the stream dangerous to use upstream of bridge 6. This area forms part of 3 tracks: the Ngaio Gorge Track, Te Araroa Trail and Sanctuary to Sea Walkway. When the water is high, instead of the mapped track segment going past the "Lookout", use the Northern Walkway from the "Crossroads" junction to the stream instead. The maps and signposts are being adjusted and the Northern Walkway is being improved. At some stage, the track going past the "Lookout" will not be the official route, but it will remain as a fair weather alternate track.
Main tracks
This is the backbone stream-side track of the whole park - shown on various maps. It is not often signposted but is the most intuitive of the tracks. Just follow the two major streams where you can. This track has changed considerably over the decades, especially in the Korimako Stream valley, as bridges were added or replaced.
Traveling downstream – Start at the Waikowhai Street entrance to the park, descend to stream level and follow the Korimako Stream, past bridge 1, past Wightwick's Field, and then past bridges 2, 3, 4 and 5. Eventually, near the actual Ngaio Gorge, the track starts to climb, initially through a rough section, and then connects to and follows a ridge track above the actual gorge, past the path to the Fish Ladder, until you are nearly at the "Crossroads" track junction. At this point you start down again to stream level going past the "Lookout" which looks upstream along the Kaiwharawhara Stream into the lower Ngaio Gorge.
When you reach the Kaiwharawhara Stream follow the track, keeping the stream on your right. There is one track section just before bridge 6 which is very rough and dangerous to navigate when the stream is high. The track continues through the whole lower park, passing bridge 6 and 7, the debris trap, and then the remains of the Magazine buildings and the two historic stone walls. The track then leads to the exit from the park on the lower Ngaio Gorge Road.
The Trelissick Park stage of this Wellington City walkway traverses the park from the Waikowhai Street entrance near Crofton Downs to the Hanover Street entrance in Wadestown. It is very well sign posted with prominent blue-topped sign posts before and after every track junction.
Traveling downstream – Start at the Waikowhai Street entrance, descend to the Korimako Stream and follow it past bridge 1 and Wightwick's Field to the first path junction. At this junction turn left and head up the track until you are nearly at Trelissick Crescent. Following the blue-topped sign posts you turn right and follow the track parallel to Trelissick Crescent. You pass the Frances Lee track and the next (un-named) track before turning right and starting downhill, passing a prominent power pylon, a memorial bench, and the Crossroads path junction before you reach bridge 6 across the Kaiwharawhara Stream. Cross the bridge and start the climb up to the Hanover Street entrance to the park. At that point the Northern Walkway continues to the right, upward on Hanover Street.
The Northern Walkway – Wellington City Council
This trail traverses Trelissick Park and is well sign posted with the small trail markers shown in the photo. You may have to look carefully at track junctions, but the marker will be there on one side of the junction post. This track follows the Ngaio Gorge Track through the Korimako Stream valley, all the way to bridge 6 in the Kaiwharawhara valley. At bridge 6, it joins the Northern Walkway crossing the bridge and climbing up to the Hanover Street entrance.
Travelling downstream – Start at the Waikowhai Street entrance to the park, descend to stream level and follow the Korimako Stream, past bridge 1, past Wightwick's Field, and then past bridges 2, 3, 4 and 5. Eventually, near the actual Ngaio Gorge, the track starts to climb, initially through a rough section, and then connects to and follows a ridge track above the actual gorge, past the path to the Fish Ladder, until you are nearly at the "Crossroads" track junction. At this point you start down again to stream level going past the "Lookout" which looks upstream along the Kaiwharawhara Stream into the lower Ngaio Gorge.
When you reach the Kaiwharawhara Stream follow the track to bridge 6. There is one track section just before bridge 6 which is very rough and not easy to navigate when the stream is high. From bridge 6 the Te Araroa Trail follows the Northern Walkway route, so cross the bridge and start to climb up to the Hanover Street entrance to the park. At that point Te Araroa Trail continues to the right, upward on Hanover Street.
Te Araroa Trail – teararoa.org.nz
This track overlaps and follows the Ngaio Gorge Track (see above). Just follow the streams and keep an eye out for the Sanctuary to the Sea sign markers on posts along the way.
Sanctuary to Sea Walkway – Wellington City CouncilSecondary tracks
This track is not identified on the park map, but is obvious when walking along the ridge line part of the Ngaio Gorge Track above the actual Ngaio Gorge. The path down to the fish ladder viewing point is steep. The viewing point overlooks the middle portion of the Ngaio Gorge where the Korimako and Kaiwharawhara streams join. The fish ladder is visible where the Kaiwharawhara Stream exits a tunnel under the railway line.
This track connects from the Northern Walkway below Trelissick Crescent, down the slope to near bridge 4 on the Korimako Stream. There is a sign at each end. It is a well used track giving quick access to the Koromiko valley, through well-established and attractive bush. There is also historical interest, as the upper part appears to follow an old benched track.
The track was named for Frances Lee in 2014. Frances initiated the Trelissick Park Group for restoration of the park in 1991 and has been a strong motivating force over many subsequent years. Cr Andy Foster suggested that a track in the park should be named after her.
Heading uphill from bridge 6 towards the Hanover Street entrance there is a rough connection path to the left just before a number of steeper steps. (Or starting at the Hanover Street entrance, turn right just after the steps.) This path runs parallel to the stream and takes you to the memorial site.
The entry to this track is at one end from the Crossroads as shown in the photo. A small part of this track goes across private land, so please stay on the track. The track is generally in rough shape, so take care on your walk. The track does go through some original groves of trees so is botanically interesting. The track is shown with its name on some older maps of the park, but not current ones except as a 'route' (without a name).
Starting from the Crossroads the track traverses much of the slopes up from the Kaiwharawhara Stream, initially below Trelissick Crescent and then below the Ngaio Gorge Road. At the mid-point of the track, there is access to the minor entrance to the park on the Upper Ngaio Gorge Road. From there the track descends to the valley floor, connecting with the stream-side tracks. The track is narrow in places, as well as rough.
This is the newest track in Trelissick Park, connecting from the Oban Street entrance (Entrance 7) in Wadestown down a steep set of steps and then a pathway to bridge 7. It was a several decade effort to get this second entrance from the city side of the park, as it required a new bridge across the Kaiwharawhara Stream. Funds for the new bridge came from a number of sources. The plaque on the bridge lists Frances Lee, Wellington City Council, Transpower, Tararua Tramping Club (Michael Taylor Bequest) and public donations.
The track on the Oban slope existed as an informal path for years prior to that, mainly used to access various predator bait stations and traps on that side of the park. The track could appropriately be named Barry's Track after the person who developed and maintained the track for many years and protected the public access from Oban Street - Barry Durrant. The photo shows the sign which was initially there when the track opened - but was removed without permission.
This walk uses several of the tracks described above on this page. It is shown on the official map signs at park entrances and referenced as an option on several websites, so it is included here. It's described as a two-hour walk starting at entrance 6 in lower Ngaio Gorge Road, which is shown in the photo.
Trelissick Park Loop – Wellington City CouncilOther tracks and signs
There are a few other tracks, mostly small connecting tracks, and one major track without an agreed name. There are also some sign variations in the park.
- Hanover track - runs from bridge 6 to the Hanover Street entrance.
- Debris trap access - this is a vehicle access track from entrance 5 on the Ngaio Gorge Road down to the debris trap.
- Forest Remnant access track - runs from the minor park entrance near the top of Ngaio Gorge Road to the middle of the Forest Remnant Track.
- 'Honeysuckle' track - so named by a couple of intrepid volunteers who spent many days over several years clearing out large infestations of honeysuckle. This track runs from the Northern Walkway near entrance 4 on Trelissick Crescent to the ridge track above the actual Ngaio Gorge. This is the one major track without an agreed name.
The photos below show the minor entrance access on Ngaio Gorge Road to the middle of the Forest Remnant Track and a helpful sign at stream level in the Kaiwharawhara indicating the start of the Forest Remnant Track heading up to the Ngaio Gorge Road.
Trelissick Park Group
Page last updated: 20 February 2025