In case you haven’t noticed, I recently decided to start taking advantage of the “holiday” portion of my “working holiday” in New Zealand. I figured it was best I embraced by free time instead of bemoaning the fact that I have yet to find work. Besides, I had completely neglected one of the most recommended and free things to do in Wellington: climbing Mount Victoria.
Now, I set out unawares that it would actually be much of a “climb.” This may be because the official and unofficial things I read called it a walk and not a hike. (And I didn’t take the recommended “walkway” because I am an internet skimmer. So my fault on that one.)
Anyway, I prepared for my hike by wearing my reliable chucks, and a fancier sweater than was probably necessary. Because I don’t read full articles, I took the “Lookout Walkway” as opposed to the “Southern Walkway,” because the first one seemed a bit shorter. And while it was definitely shorter, it was also very steep. Furthermore, I probably missed out on some stellar views along the way.
The 30-minute walk, however, is entirely worth it, no matter what route you choose to take. That’s because upon making it to the top, you get beautiful 360-degree views from more than 643 feet above Wellington. From the green mountains to the sea, to the airport, every part of the view makes your heart beat and is worth every ounce of sweat that rolls down your back.
But in addition to the views, there is also something else at the peak that’s not to be missed and that is the Richard Byrd Memorial. If you don’t know who Richard Byrd is, he was an American arctic explorer who used New Zealand as the base for his trips to Antarctica. Unveiled in 1962, the sculpture is in the shape of a polar tent and is built from rocks from Antarctica. The outside of it is covered in artwork depicting the Aurora Australis or “Southern Lights,” which you can sometimes see from the city. And if those unique facts didn’t get your attention, get this: the axis of the memorial points due south. So if you were to follow that line for hundreds of miles you’d eventually reach Antarctica. Pretty cool.
Quick Overview:
Price: Free, unless you count sweat as a cost.
Hours of Operation: Open 24 hours, 7 days a week, although I would suggest taking the hike during the daytime. The outlook is accessible by cars for those who want to catch the sunrise and sunset or see the stars.
Good for: Solo travelers, hikers, photographers, couples looking for a romantic view of the city, families with kids, star-gazers
Thanks for the lovely article. I look forward to learning more about you adventures.
Thanks. I plan to keep sharing them so keep visiting!
Beautiful!
Thank you!
Beautiful, hope you took the Southern walkway back.
Sadly, I did not. I thought climbing down would be easier but quickly learned that’s not the case. Oh well, if I ever go hiking on a tougher trail, I’ll be prepared.