City to Sea Walkway
A group of us did the City to Sea Walkway yesterday. It was (for me anyway) the hardest of the walks, and I thought it would be one of the easiest.
It goes from Bowen Street to Island Bay and is only 12 km long. Having done the 16 km Northern Walkway, with three large hills in it, I thought this one would be easier.
It wasn’t. Partly because the sun was scorching and the water supply limited. But mainly because the walkway goes up every slope it can find. 20 small slopes is harder than three big ones.
Having said all that, it was great to discover some hidden walkways, and again get some great views.
The start of the walkway by Bowen Street. You head through the historic Bolton Cemetery.
The marks the grave of Harry Holland, the first Leader of the Labour Party. I don’t know why they chose a naked man to go on it!
This is one of the lookout points in the Botanical Gardens. One can spend years going there, and not realise how many paths there are.
The well known view from the top of the Cable Car. You then walk down to Kelburn Parade from there.
This little hidden bushwalk is actually at the back of Kelburn Park, trailing down to Salamanca Road. No idea it was there.
You then leave Kelburn, head along the Terrace and cross into Aro Valley, entering next to the Community Hall, and then heading up Aro Street. This shot is from Epuni Street. If you don’t know what shoes thrown on a power line means, don’t ask 
From Aro Valley you go through a couple of parks and then hit Central Park, above. A bit of a climb through Central Park and you come out above the Renouf Tennis Centre. Found a good place to watch games on the cheap from.
I was too stuffed to take many photos in the latter stages. We go through a dozen parks or so including the Berhampore Golf Links, eventually ending at Shorland Park in Island Bay. This is Tapu-Te-Ranga Island, which the Bay is named for. I’ve slept on it!!
And the beach at Island Bay. Not often you get people in the water (it opens onto Cook Strait) but it was a bloody hot day.
I took a wee shortcut for the final stage as I was wilting under the heat, so am going to redo it at some stage, just so I can tick off every last hill!
February 9th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Great posts on the walks David, they’re making me miss Wellington (that’s never too hard).
February 9th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
A few years ago there was a ‘lipstick’ kiss planted on Harry’s bottom. It was there for several months as it gradually wore off. Not far from Harry’s place there is a memorial to a Henry Flyger, with the epitaph “Not Understood”. I’ve often wondered about that.
February 9th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
I don’t recall old Harry turning the other cheek too often, but he sure showed a lot of arse in ’51 Wharfies Strike.
JC
February 9th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
And what a nice bottom it is!
February 9th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
To avoid confusion for anyone attempting to follow this route – this little bushwalk trails down to Clifton Tce surely?
February 9th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
I’m not aware of the shoe thing? What am I missing? (Yes, I know you said not to ask, but surely you meant that we should).
February 9th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
The saddest grave in the Bolton St cemetery is the 5 or 6 (many years since I’ve lived in Welly) children from a single family that died over a period of 3 weeks from influenza. Aged about 1 to 14 years as I remember. When I lived on Tinakori Rd I would walk through the cemetery twice a day. Although I didn’t have children then it has stuck with me ever since and now that I do have children of my own I shudder to think of the parents pain as they dropped off one by one.
February 9th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Paul-L: I believe that a pair of shoes thrown over power-lines is a recognised symbol for “we sell pot in this house” … Someone else might want to confirm / deny this.
February 9th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
I’m not aware of the shoe thing? What am I missing?
Shoes on power lines means one of two things…
1) You may purchase recreational narcotics at a nearby residence, or
2) There are kids in the street who like to throw shoes onto power lines.
[DPF: Some people say it also means someone has just lost their virginity]
February 9th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
I have never heard that.
February 9th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
“1) You may purchase recreational narcotics at a nearby residence,”
I strongly suspect this no longer holds true … if DPF and gazzaj know this meaning, then you can be damned sure the police do so too, meaning anyone dumb enough to send this signal is issuing an invite to a visit from the boys and girls in blue.
February 9th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
e marks the grave of Harry Holland, the first Leader of the Labour Party. I don’t know why they chose a naked man to go on it!
………………………..Yet it somehow seems appropriately symbolic of today’s Liabour Caucus.
February 9th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Eek, Sid Holland.. not Harry!
Vast apologies Sid!
JC
February 9th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Well done DPF, keep it up, both the exercise and the travel blogs.
February 9th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
A few years ago there was a ‘lipstick’ kiss planted on Harry’s bottom.
There are hundreds of lipstick kisses on Oscar Wilde’s grave in Paris, maybe this is the antipodean equivilant?
February 9th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
I have just noticed that Island Bay beach looks suspiciously clear of seaweed… Looks great.
February 9th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
You should have called in at that tinny house for supplies. Would have eased the pain a bit. It was ridiculously hot this weekend.
Of course, all public parks and footpaths and green spaces are part of a despicable Greenie/Socialist plot to tax car owners and property developers and stop them from making a living, and Kiwiblog shouldn’t really be lauding such things
February 10th, 2009 at 9:03 am
Re Harry Holland’s resting place, 3 snippets (all IIRC):
– It used to be on the Gay Walking Tour of Wellington. Is the bum still shiny?
– When it was built, the path originally went on the other side of the grave, with the Adonis facing the viewer, and what was a very nice view over Wellington. The lettering and the path were moved to the ‘back’ of the grave after the trees grew.
– there is a little more modesty from the front.