Paekakariki Escarpment Track in Upper Hutt

Amazing views. Sadly they are fixing the track and have a very steep detour that force you to climb almost vertical steps. Helping yourself whit some ropes

This is a great 1/2 day walk. You can walk it either way. Going north means steps up from the start and strirrive at Paekakariki where there are good cafes art gallery and beach. Heading south is easy climbing at start but steep steps down at the end. Not advisable in strog northerly winds or for young children.

Sol wasn’t there. She got Covid. Nice views though

A great track to get the heart & blood pumping! On a clear day the views are second to none. I was lucky enough to strike a clear blue day without a breath of wind. As others have said, plenty of stairs, narrow tracks & steep drop offs so a no go for those who dont like heights or have a dislike of stairs. Is a small detour which has ropes to help you traverse but its not that difficult nor that long. I parked at the park & go on Tilley Street in Paekakariki & chose to walk back to my car via the Kapiti Coast cycle/walking route, which I didnt know you could do until I got to Pukerua Bay, added roughly 8km on to my journey. The escarpment track itself took me about 2.5hrs

Had the pleasure to walk this track right from the side closest to Paekakariki to Pukerua Bay. This is not a beginners walkway. The whole track is incredible steep and full of stairs as you climb all the way to the peak of the mountain. The views are incredible to say the least. The ocean was very blue and clear. I could see all the way past Kapiti Island and beyond. Unique and modern suspension bridge that is well worth the effort to see and feel as you walk across and look out towards the sea. This was a great walk and I highly recommend it to others. Due to very high elevations the walkway can be very windy and cool. During summer this walkway can be very warm. There is plenty of vegetation and a dry rocky walkway. So some good walking or running shoes is advised.

Must try, at least once when you are in Wellington.Tried this incredible route with 3 other amazing ladies and we did take extra hour as it’s quite challenging. Be mindful that it’s 10 km track with no toilets in between, lots of stairs with no handrails (some of them are very steep and endless 😅), loose gravels, narrow path by the cliff and swinging bridges.Make sure you bring your own food and drinks as well, wear proper clothes and shoes, and walking pole will be a great help.We took the train from Wellington to Pukerua Bay, then finishing in Paekakariki,before catching the train back to Wellington.It has killer stairs and tracks but the view is amazing in a great day!

Very steep but amazing walk with fantastic view! Love the swing bridge!

A heads-up for anyone with noodle-arms like me: there is currently (March 2022a detour in place roughly 4km in (heading north), which involves hauling oneself slightly farther up the hillside using a small rope. I abandoned my friends (to what I presumed would be their deathsand turned around at this point. The walk is nice on a still day if you are fine with walking along sheer cliff faces, I guess? Before attempting it I had read about the swing bridges, stairs and so on, but these are really the most chill parts of the whole thing. Much of it is literally a single-file, rubbly dirt track which I can only assume was built by a goat with a vendetta against humans. The views are probably nice if you feel able to look at them? I’m not here to kinkshame, but I feel like this shouldn’t exist tbh.

High winds and heavy rain but such a beautiful coastline! One of my favourite parts of the North Island, spectacular views out to Kapiti Island. Fishing, great for kontikis, surfing and beach walks. Why not head up the hills for that panoramic photo of the ocean!

Fun walk - great views. North to South is easier, but neither is difficult if youre moderately fit.

A challenging yet fun trail, we suggest parking your vehicle at Paekakariki shops then catching the train to Pukerua Bay station and start there. The trail will take about 3-3.5 hrs to finish, lots of steep steps and uncovered areas exposed to winds.

Excellent Day Walk, fantastic views

Stunning view from the top lookout. Absolutely gorgeous in evening 😍.Parking is full on evening.Worth for a view and a walk.

Gorgoues hike. We got a beautiful sunny day and was just bliss.100 percent a must do. Gorgeous views and such a one off hike.

This track has the most incredible views! TIP: Park at one end and get the train to the other to save you walking back on yourself! X

This is a great walk. It is not too difficult, so it is viable for families. There are quite a lot of stairs however, so make sure you bring lots of water. It takes about 3.5 hours. Try to do this walk on a day when the sun is not too hot, as it is quite exposed.

The track is challenging but definitely worth-it. Lot of stairs to climb and descend. Sometimes the descending part can get hard if your afraid of heights, even more so if there is wind. Sunset views are spectacular.

Perfect for a day trip, steep steps, but is kept well maintained. Can be scary if you have vertigo, lots of exposed bits and the swing bridges really swing :frequent train to take you back to the starting point if you drive. Highly recommend!

NOT suitable for children or for the faint hearted. Took us two adults 5 hours to complete with frequent stops. Wonderful views but lots of stairs and upward climbing ‐no hand rail when very close to the edge of high hill especially scary when walking the steps downhill. Bring water and snacks as you will need energy. No bathrooms. Wear shoes with good grip designed for tramping/hiking. Some parts I slipped as I wore regular sneakers. Thanking God I never went over the edge!

Awesome walk ,might be hard for beginners as there are stairs and wind also plays the role..

What an amazing track along the Kapiti Coast. Lots and lots of stairs, both uphill and down and two swing bridges to cross!The track is quite exposed, so be prepared with the right clothing and plenty of water! No toilets along the track.

Sturdy walk, quite steep in places. Reasonable level of fitness required.

1. Amazing Views2. For beginners - start from the Paekakariki station end3. For experts - you will love the steep climb from Pukera Bay stationHence not a loop track unless you are up for the challenge 😜4. Avoid going with young children5. Best during sunset and sunrise for the views6. If you finish the walk early and yet in for some fun - would suggest going to the closest beach and refreshing yourself7. Has some rough edges hence need to be strong hearted and not afraid of heightsAll in all a satisfying walk which can be done again and again if you are around.

2021: A year later.. Walked Sth to Nth. Still amazing. Go early, beat the sun and the people...2020: The views are worth it. There are challenges.. Stairs; no handrails in places; stairs; swing bridges; yes stairs;Take snacks and water. Sunscreen and light jacket. Its quite exposed so can be windy. We drove to one end and took the train back, then enjoyed a coffee in Paekakariki.

Great walk on a calm day. Steep and exposed in many places. Medium fitness required due to climb up and down. Great views over Kapiti on a clear day.

This is a lovely walk of about 10km. I did it from Paekakariki Station end and finished at Pukerua Bay. This walk is part of the Te Araroa Trail: The Walkway covering the length of New Zealand! It took me about 4.5 hours with plenty of stops to rest, eat and take pictures [ I walk very very slowly ]. Choose a sunny day and less winds to have a more enjoyable experience.Long term parking is available at both Train Stations. The track is well marked and signposted. From the Paekakariki station, walk south along the trail by the Highway. It then goes below the bridge and the actual walk starts from there. There are no toilets on the track. So make use of the Public Toilets within little distance of the stations before and after the walk.After a bit of Native forests the track climbs along the side of the hill overlooking the sea and offers some spectacular views. You can see the busy SH 1 most of the time. The Kapiti Island looks magnificent from a distance. This also means you are quite exposed to the elements. Sturdy footwear, good wind-stopper is strongly recommended. There are plenty of stairs to climb and get down. And has therefore got the name "Stairway to Heaven". And there are no handrails to hold on these stairs. I felt, if you are walking from North to South, like I did, you climb up fewer stairs and climb down more of them. The track rises to a maximum of 220m at its highest point. People with vertigo should know their limits before embarking on the trail.There are also two swing benches closer to the Pukerua Bay end. They make some eerie squeaking noises and are fun to cross.Plenty of seating benches scattered along the way to catch your breath, rest or have food.There are plenty of flowers and birds to be seen as well.Trains arent very frequent on this Kapiti line. So, if youre planning to catch a train back to the originating station, check the timetable at the station. There are no ticket counters at the station. It cost me $4 to buy a ticket from Pukerua Bay Station to Paekakariki Station, which can be purchased in the train itself. Keep cash handy.

One of our favorite hikes in New Zealand! Fantastic views, demanding but not impossible! No Toilets, no shelter!Best to do the whole track (3hours, 10kmand take back the train for $4 pp👍Take care, some parts are quit dangerous

Such a nice walk! Took us 3 hours. Would recommend going north to south so you go down steps rather than climb it. Go on a non windy day!

We started from the Paekakariki train station. Park your car there and walk towards the station. Cross the station and you will come to a small market street which has a Escarpment track board with all details. The track is not a loop. You either track back from half the way or take a train back to your car park. Very beautiful but a steep climb for young kids. Do wear proper tracking shoes and gear.

Physically demanding, but beautiful views. Sections of lovely shady native bush scattered along the track. The track has a high point in the middle at 208m ASL. (Paek station is at 6m ASL, and Pukerua bay station is at 80m). Either side of the summit are hard physical climbs. The climb on the Pukerua bay side of the summit is a long series of flights of steps up a ridge , where as the Paek side is a longer inclined gradient with less steps. The Pukerua Bay side of the walk has two high swing bridges and a very narrow section of track. Total walk time for me was 3 hrs 10 mins and about 15,000 steps. This included frequent short stops. Going south has the advantage in summer that the sun is more behind you , and on colder days the typical NW wind is behind you. Much of the track is somewhat sheltered from a southerly wind. The walk is well sign posted from both railway stations. At Paek there are two cafes just a few meters from the end of the track near the station.

This is really an amazing trail. Be ready to feel some burn in your bum and calves. Lots and lots of verticle climbs and stairs. But the hanging bridges are a treat. Took us three and a half hours. Go to Paekakariki town and park up by the cafes. The trail is marked, just follow it. Towards the end just follow the trail to the station. And take the train back. If you want a challenge. Just run the whole thing. Absolutely worth the views from the summit.

It is a very beautiful tramping / walking track. We started from the Paekakariki end. You definitely need good supportive footwear, light clothing if the weather is good. Hydration is key for handling the numerous steep staircases, and there are numerous sets.Views are spectacular there are lots of places to pause on the track to take photos.Be mindful that the track is designed to be walked in single file, yes its narrow and in lots of places it gets narrower.Overall I would recommend this as a good track walk to get your heart rate going. If you dont like heights, this is not a track for you. The track gets high and you are close too the cliff edge, you definitely need to be very comfortable with heights and be very sure footed.Enjoy it!

A great walk with beautiful views. A little steep and exposed but worth experiencing in a good weather. Can become little dangerous in wet weather.

Its a nice hike. The views were stunning. However its still a young track, and I got the feeling that it would be better in 10 years time once the native bush has been more native regeneration.You need a good level of fitness and surefootedness. Its very up and down, and there are some large climbs of stairs, and loose gravel slips you need to walk over. Its also a long drop off the side of the track.We saw some families with smaller children, which I would not recommend.

Very nice great views of the Kapiti island.A degree of fitness is a must for this walk and would not recommend it if you are afraid of heights . Also known as the skyway to heaven.

Mesmerising experience. Did this walk on last day of 2019. Google maps is a bit confusing about the start point of this walk. While driving to the starting point of this walk google maps showed us a point on highway where you cannot stop or park. So instead we had to go to Paekakariki Station and park our car at the free "park and ride" and start walking through the station. The end part towards Pukerua Bay Station is also incorrectly shown on maps and as the end part is through the town, the road signs show the distance as 600 meters and Google maps show a different walking route with a distance of 1.7 kms so dont blindly follow the maps and look or road signs and be careful as some road signs are very small (about 10 cms wideso easy to miss after a long exhausting walk.My advice is to start from Paekakariki as reaching the top is comparatively easy walk with less stairs and towards the other end you have to come down the steep stairs. Just note that this walk is more than 10 kms but kids too complete this walk.

This is an amazingly beautiful trail on a sunny day - well worth the trip up from Welly!If you are taking the train, the trail begins/ends at the Paekakariki and Pukerua Bay stations - you can walk either way but unless you are a glutton for punishment or really fit, I suggest starting at the Paekakariki end. It took this cubicle dweller by day and couch potato by night ~4 hours to finish the trail with a few stops to enjoy the views.

Super hot, but great views. Excellent walk.

Incredible hiking track with very rugged terrain. From Pukerua Bay to Paekakariki took my wife and I almost 2.5 hours, relatively fit people going a moderate pace. The hillsides are extremely steep and there are no handrails so if you get vertigo or are not sure-footed this track is not safe for you. There are a couple of bouncy pedestrian suspension bridges as well. Lots of steps. The day I did it my watch told me I did 118 floors of stairs. I normally do 10-20. The scenery is amazing. Be advised the weather can change quickly in this part of New Zealand and the exposed portion of the track at the very top of the hill can be extremely windy though you wont feel it at the lower elevations at either end. Several nice benches to sit at picturesque spots which I will come back and enjoy on a nice day. New informational and historical signage is a nice touch. There is also a cute "lizard garden", ideal habitat for native lizards with educational signage.

Such a great walk with awesome views. You need a reasonable level of fitness to do this as there are many stairs to climb up but also many to go down. Youre on the edge of a cliff at times so you cant be afraid of heights. Absolutely recommend!!

I do recommend it. Especially if you are into hights and some adventures. A beautiful walk!

Amazing track if hard work. Memorable views

Walking along the steep hill. 10 km, steady walk about 2 and a half hours. Got a water at a dairy in Paikakariki. Started from there. Sign boards are clear where it starts and finishes. Finishes Pukerua Bay train Station and shops. There are plenty of benches. When finish the course, get an ice cream at the Pukerua Bay shop. Recommend!

Great day hike thats close by.Features great sweeping vistas of the coast and an exposed cliff side scrambling.A section of Te Araroa, New Zealands 3000km long distance trail from Cape Reinga to the Bluff.Something to do if you have a few spare months.

Great track and definately a great workout, especially if you do both directions in one walk. Amazing views on clear days will let you see Ruepahu to the north and the snow capped peaks to the south.Only downside I come across everytime Im on this track is the inconsiderate rude groups and individuals. They simply will refuse to share the track forcing everybody else to make room for them. Sometimes forcing people into dangerous situations with little thought. They also dont care about blocking the track to let people through that maybe running, or simply trying to pass because they have stopped for a rest.

Amazing best one day walk I have ever done

10km to walk and there are 3 swing bridges. One of the most exciting places in Wellington.

Awesome track, takes about 3 hours but its definitely worth doing it. The view and the nature were at the rendez-vous.

Very nice walk with great scenery. Youll have to be fit and not afraid of heights to do this walk. There is a lookout point halfway the track. Great place for pictures. Do not attempt this walk if you fear heights!!

This is an awesome walk that is part of the Te Araroa Trail that runs the length of New Zealand. Its possible to park at either end of this section at a station, catch the train to the next station and follow the trail back to the car. Tickets are currently $2 for kids and $3.50 for adults. It takes about 3 to 4 hours for a family to do the walk including a stop at the high point where there are seats for lunch. Take plenty of water as there is none on the way. The track is exposed so its best whèn not too windy. The steps are steep and if you dont like heights, dont do this walk. The views are spectacular.