Wellington Hikes With a Camping Base: Hills, Remutaka, Kāpiti and the Tararua Foothills

Where the hikes are

The region's walks fall into four groups. The city hills and south coast tracks are minutes from the centre, the Hutt Valley and Remutaka Forest Park have river and forest tracks, the Kāpiti Coast has the Paekākāriki Escarpment Track and the beaches, and the Tararua Forest Park starts at the edge of the Wairarapa. A base in the Hutt Valley is within an hour of the first two, while Kāpiti and the Tararua need a night closer to them.

The table pairs each hike with a base and an approximate time. Times are for a reasonably fit walker in fair weather, and the guide to camping in Wellington covers the parks in more detail.

The city hills and the south coast

Mount Victoria, Te Ahumairangi Hill and Mount Kaukau give the classic views over the harbour, and the Southern Walkway links the town belt hills to the south coast. Red Rocks is a coastal walk where fur seals haul out in the cooler months, so keep your distance. None of this needs a camp in the city: sleep at a holiday park in Lower Hutt or Upper Hutt and use the train or the bus.

Wellington City Council maintains the city tracks, and the guide to Wellington in three days covers what to see between them. The harbour-side parking is limited and not for sleeping, as the Wellington freedom camping guide explains.

The Hutt Valley and Remutaka

Catchpool Valley, in the Remutaka Forest Park, is the best base for the Ōrongorongo Valley walks, a river valley track that is mostly flat but crosses water, and the campsite has a kitchen and showers. It is closed from May until Labour weekend, so it suits summer and autumn. Check DOC's page for the current fee and opening dates.

Kaitoke Regional Park near Upper Hutt, run by Greater Wellington, has a campground and tracks along the Pakuratahi River, and the area was a filming location for Rivendell in The Lord of the Rings. Kiwi Holiday Park in Upper Hutt is an alternative with campervan sites. River levels matter, so read the guide to river crossing safety before a valley walk after rain.

The Kāpiti Coast and the Escarpment Track

The Paekākāriki Escarpment Track climbs along the cliffs above the coast between Paekākāriki and Pukerua Bay, with steps, a swing bridge over a stream and views to Kāpiti Island. It takes about three hours one way, and the train from Paekākāriki to Pukerua Bay makes a one-way walk easy to finish. Paekākāriki Holiday Park is the base, close to the village and the train station.

Kāpiti Island is a DOC nature reserve reached by boat from Paraparaumu, and visits need a permit, so plan it ahead and check DOC's page. The beaches along the coast are good for a sunset walk, though the wind can be strong.

The Tararua foothills

The Tararua Forest Park runs along the eastern edge of the region, and its easier tracks start from Wairarapa roads near Masterton. DOC has a campsite and huts at the Mount Holdsworth road end, which is the usual base for a day walk into the beech forest and for longer alpine trips. The Wellington and Wairarapa camping loop covers the Wairarapa towns on the way.

The Tararua Range is famous for wild weather, so for anything above the bush line, check the forecast, tell someone your plan and be ready to turn around. For a day walk, stay in the lower valley.

Wind, weather and ferry days

Wellington is known for its wind, and it matters on exposed ridges, on the coast and for a high-sided van. Check MetService the day before, carry layers and a rain jacket, and leave a buffer if you have a Cook Strait ferry sailing, since a southerly can delay a crossing. The guide to the Cook Strait ferry covers booking and check-in.

On long weekends and in the summer holidays the parks fill, so book ahead. The Wellington anniversary weekend in late January is one of the busiest.

Using KiwiCamping around Wellington

KiwiCamping shows the Hutt Valley and Kāpiti holiday parks, the DOC campsites in the Remutaka and Tararua areas and the dump stations, with a filter for campervan access. Save a base for each hike, set them out as a trip with dates, and use the forecast to choose the day for the exposed walks.

In the Remutaka and Tararua areas your saved places, details and guides stay on the phone, but the map tiles, routing, weather and photos need a signal, so look at the forecast before you leave the Hutt Valley. Download is free, with in-app purchases.

Places along the way