You can’t go wrong with a run on the trails of Mount Victoria. With easy access and a great trail network, this is one of the best road-to-trail options within 5 minutes from the busy Wellington CBD. Mount Victoria — or Mt Vic, as it is known to many local runners — is simply not to be missed.
Route Details
- Distance: About 10 kilometres, with options to add extra distance
- Elevation: About 350m up and the same down; the summit with Lookout is at 197m
- Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate with a rooty section. There are some additional advanced sections of trail depending on how steep you want to go up and how steep you like your downhills.
- Estimated time: Anywhere from 50 minutes at high speed; to a two hour meander
Start Point
There are so many start and end points on this one. We’ve outlined the ideal point for a 60 minute plus loop starting and ending in the city within a few minutes from coffee and cake — and/or beer.
Directions
Start from near Freyberg Pool and head towards Oriental Parade beach and past Beach Babylon cafe. You will have to cross the road on to the right before Grafton Street bus stop and look for a sign outlining the trail network.
From here head up the concrete path that zig-zags its way to a series of apartments. Turn right at the top, and continue on the gravel path until you drop slightly into a trail junction. Just continue straight, climbing toward where you see some steps heading up. The next bit becomes a trail that is a bit steep but eventually it will flatten out so give it your all.
Continue on up and you’ll come to the Telford Street climb where the path goes sharply up to end at Palliser Road. Take a breather and cross the road. You’ll see the sign post “Southern Walkway” and immediately some wooden steps — this is where the trail continues.
As you climb the steps and continue you’ll notice a steep trail that goes up. Just ignore that and watch your step as this part is full of roots. Enjoy the softer ground while you run along the side of the hill. You will soon pop out to a small clearing with another steep trail immediately to your left. Ignore that too, and just go right across (or straight) and you’ll find a single trail that goes somewhat parallel through the trees but slightly uphill, eventually coming out to the top at a grassy clearing with another sign.
From here you can choose to go straight up to the Lookout or continue your meander on the lower trail towards Alexandra Road by passing the summit trail and heading towards the Zoo. You’ll have a great view of the city as you run towards the south, and get a glimpse of the South Coast and the Airport.
You’ll pop out to a grass field. Turn left and cross the field along the edge to find the trail on the other side. If you head to the right, this trail will drop you down to the road, which you will cross to continue on the path. Follow this trail alongside the road until you come to a cross roads — turn left as you drop into a dip, then drop down into the Hataitai Velodrome.
At the northern end of the Velodrome take the single track that’s next to the power sub station as it zig-zags through the trees back up to Alexandra Road. Now you are ready to take the main trail all the way to the top of Mt Vic. You would have done about 7km by now.
Go along the ridge all the way to the top of Mt Vic and enjoy the panoramic view of Wellington and the coastline.
Tip: If you happen to be up there on a Tuesday evening around 6:45pm or 7pm, chances are you’ll have the company of runners from the Wellington Running Meetup, as the Lookout is the (intermediate) destination of the “Tuesday Spectacular Regular” run.
Getting back into town is pretty easy — just take any trail/road combination that heads down to Oriental Parade and you are back in the city!
Facilities
Many options, with toilets just below the summit of Mt Vic and a water tap also readily accessible.
Coffee and cake stops are at the Freyberg Pool area. Check out:
- Tug Boat Cafe near Freyberg Pool
- Vista Cafe
- Cafe Eis for ice cream
Transport: This is easily accessible from the city. It’s a 10 minute walk from Civic Square and Te Papa. Parking along Oriental Parade is free from after Freyberg Beach area.
Did You Know?
- Mt Victoria was a filming location for The Lord of the Rings — the hobbits hid from the Black Riders right here on these trails
- The summit lookout gives you a 360-degree panorama of Wellington, the harbour, and on a clear day, the South Island
- The trails are shared with mountain bikers — keep left and stay alert on blind corners