This article was published in Tararua Tramper September 2025
Kaiwharawhara Park Track - Bridle Track - Trelissick Park.
E - Sunday 27 July
Leaving the bus stop at the bottom of Rangiora Ave, we read the bronze plaque on the plinth at the start of the driveway up to Kaiwharawhara Park sports field. The Historic Places Trust plaque records the arrival of 197 Scots settlers from the barque Blenheim on 27 December 1840, after weeks at sea.
Soon we began the steady climb from the sports field up the track in regenerating native forest with a tiny creek and a few huge pine trees. On the upper part of the track WCC has installed over 200 excellent boxed steps. The risers are 20 cm – easy on the knees! After about an hour climbing from the sports field, we arrived at Nicholson Rd and the top of the Bridle Track. This now sealed and fenced track began as a narrow dirt bush track built by Māori. When Pākeha settlers arrived and began introducing horses, the route was widened and fenced … and decades later sealed. We walked down the track until it arrived at a road in suburbia. We then walked along two short paths, continuations of the Bridle Track near houses, before arriving at Winchester St. Up concrete steps we strode from the street to walk round the impressive Wellington Activity Centre with a colourful playground and a harbour view.
Finally we walked up Kaiwharawhara Rd to the entrance to Trelissick Park. There, happy to have a rest and a chat, we had lunch in the sun. We returned to the park entrance to descend the bottom bit of Ngaio Gorge Rd to await a No. 25 Highbury bus to return to the city and our homes. (C H)
Chris Horne (leader), Diana Barnes, Vivienne Healey, Jeanette Martin, Euan Macpherson, Fleur Patterson, Peter Tunnicliff, Marris Weight.