One of the many wonderful day walks in Wellington, on a good day it’s hard to beat heading up The Trip Track through Te Kopahou Reserve, down to Owhiro Bay and back to complete a decent ~8km / 3 hour loop. The track is aptly named as it climbs up past the Wellington Southern Landfill, which can be smelly experience depending on which way the infamous Wellington wind is blowing… Sadly gorse is rampant but it does add colour to the landscape.
With a telephoto lens there are good views of Mt Victoria, the Remutaka Ranges, and Pencarrow Head.
Looking back across Te Kopahou Reserve the Southern Landfill almost looks attractive from a distance.
It’s a pretty epic landscape so close to the city, with the South Island’s snow capped Kaikōura Ranges visible across the Cook Strait.
There are epic views from the top over Owhiro Bay, and down to the Red Rocks Reserve below.
There was then a rather steep descent and ascent, it’s a dramatic landscape!
I found an overgrown track not marked on the topomap which brought me out close to Haape Stream.
From here it was a straightforward walk back along Owhiro Bay Parade road to come full circle.
