Walk Details

NZ Walking Routes > Wellington > Wellington City > Red Rocks Track - Owhiro Bay

Red Rocks Track - Owhiro Bay

Location

Start north of the top of Hawkins Hill and finish at Red Rocks (Pariwhero).

If you’re travelling by car, follow the signs to Island Bay, then follow the coast road to Owhiro Bay.

Description

This route starts north of the top of Hawkins Hill and finishes at Red Rocks (Pariwhero) and is step in parts with some small streams to cross. You can also watch seals basking on the rocks May to September and may also be lucky to spot a dolphin.

The Red Rocks are ancient volcanic pillow lava coloured red by iron oxide. The rocks were formed some 200 million years ago by underwater volcanic eruptions. One Maori legend attributes the striking red colour to bloodstains from a paua-shell cut on the hand of the great Maori explorer, Kupe another that the red rocks were coloured by Maui’s blood when he baited his grandmother’s jawbone to fish up the North Island, Te Ika-a-Maui.

Distance
9.0 km
Duration
6.0 hours
Level
Medium
Amenities
  • Birds
  • Carpark
  • Food and Drink
  • Historical
  • Plant Life
  • Tramping
Source
www.feelinggreat.co.nz
Discussion
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