Mount Victoria

Location: East of central Wellington.

Entrance and exit points: Mount Victoria is easily accessed from Alexandra Road by vehicle or on a network of walking and cycle tracks from the surrounding suburbs.

Brief description: Mount Victoria is a prominent feature of the Wellington landscape providing a natural backdrop and skyline to the east of the central city.

The summit offers spectacular panoramic 360-degree views of Wellington city, the harbour and the hills to the west of the city. It is an interesting place to visit as part of a scenic drive, walk or bike ride. The Southern Walkway passes near here.

The summit also has information and interpretation panels, a pou, the Byrd Memorial and a bronze cannon.

Visit map

Get a 360 degree look at Mount Victoria:

Public transport:  Number 20 bus goes up to the Lookout (and it's a nice walk down).

Toilets: Beside Alexandra Road, just south of the summit.

Parking: There is a large car park at the summit, and a parking area near the toilets.

Accessibility: Wheelchair access at the summit car park, but there are steps to the lookout. Mount Victoria tracks are well-formed but steep in places.

Dogs: Dogs must be kept on a leash.

Mountain biking: Mt Vic has a huge number of trails, starting from the summit is the famous Super D trail and branching off it are TTS, ‘V’ and Rock Drop. Park Bench also takes you past where a scene from Lord of the Rings was shot.

The only part you are not allowed to ride is the Southern Walkway between Palliser Road and Oriental Bay.

Features: There are information and interpretation panels at the Mount Victoria summit, a pou, the Byrd Memorial and a bronze cannon.

History: The bronze cannon on the summit was fired at noon each day between 1877 and 1900 as a time signal. The Byrd Memorial is in honour of polar explorer Admiral Richard E Byrd.

Friends groups: Rotary Club of Wellington, Innermost Gardens