Nelson City Council

A walk over the Port Hills that captures a wide range of expansive views and takes you through the significant Matangi Awhea pa site.

Time: 1 1/2 hours

Area: Port Hills

Start Location: Anzac Park, corner Halifax Street and Haven Road.

Download the Matangi Awhea map (168KB PDF)

Route directions

Walk through the avenue of Phoenix palms in Anzac Park and to the western end and cross over Haven Road - turn right and continue up to Matangi Awhea, opposite the Moller Fountain.

At the bottom of the walkway is an information panel detailing the significance of Matangi Awhea - follow the walkway to the top. Near the top is a lookout platform which gives a close-up panoramic view of Nelson city, the Brook and Maitai Valleys, over to distant hills, including The Doubles behind the Centre of New Zealand, and out to the Boulder Bank and The Glen.

Turn right at the top of the path and walk up Stanley Crescent over to Russell Street. Cross to Britannia Heights and up to Victoria Heights and turn right. Follow Victoria Heights to the end and turn right into Queens Road, past the Queens Road Reserve and the landmark eucalyptus trees with their interesting windswept trunks. Queens Road Reserve boasts lovely views of the bay and a rest area. Continue around Queens Road with its views of the port and turn left into Will Watch Way (named after an early settler ship) which takes a zigzag route down to Russell Street. Turn left into Russell Street and at the end, past the row of cherry trees, turn right into Haven Road.

Follow Haven Road past Fountain Place and cross at the pedestrian crossing opposite Auckland Point School. Cross the bridge over Saltwater Creek, turn right and take the path back to Anzac Park past the tennis courts and croquet greens.