Bronze plaques highlight Wellington walkway

A series of bronze plaques will be laid in Wellington footpaths. Photo / Mark Mitchell, NZ Herald

A series of bronze plaques will be laid in Wellington footpaths today to mark out a rare urban section of the national walkway.

The capital-city section of the 3000 kilometre Te Araroa walkway winds its way from the northern suburbs to Island Bay in the south.

It snakes along Bowen St, Lambton Quay, Willis St, Mercer St and then goes off-road at Mt Victoria and down the southern walkway.

The first plaque was to be installed at 11am today at Cable Car lane.

Chairman of Te Araroa Wellington Trust Bill Wakelins said more people were walking the entire route, from Cape Reinga to Bluff, every year. About 200 mostly international walkers have taken up the challenge this year.

Mr Wakelin hoped the plaques would encourage Wellingtonians to follow the local sections of the trail that take in Te Ahumairangi (Tinakori) Hill, Trelissick Park, Mt Kaukau, Ohariu Valley and Colonial Knob.

Further north, the trail passes beside Porirua Harbour and the Taupo Swamp north of Plimmerton.

Early next year a new section between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki, featuring two swing bridges across ravines on the cliffs above the Main Trunk rail line, will be completed.