Wellington Bays, Miramar Peninsula and South Coast return via Brooklyn
Distance: 36.7km (22.8 miles)
This is an extension of our most popular Bays-Miramar Peninsula-South Coast ride which continues your trip around the South Coast a little more and then returns you to our shop via the hilltop suburb of Brooklyn, through Pukeahu National War Memorial Park and the city cycle ways. Check out this ride page first for details to get to Lyall Bay from our shop.
Houghton Bay and Island Bay
After making your way around the Miramar Peninsula to Lyall Bay, jump back on your bike and continue your ride around the coast on Queens Drive. Soon the mountains of the South Island will come into view from across the Cook Strait (on a clear clear day!) as you leave Lyall behind. Ride past the rugged surf beach in Houghton Bay and around the next couple of bays beneath the tall cliffs and you’ll reach Island Bay. This suburb on the coast is home to a great selection of cafes including Betsy, Empire Cinema and Eatery and Coucou which are all easy to reach by using the Island Bay Parade Cycle way. The beach here is great for a swim and the huge playground across from the beach is worth a stop. The cycling here is on flat and on the road and although the speed of traffic is generally low, it’s good practice to ride single file around this area.
Ōwhiro Bay and Pariwhero/ Red Rocks Reserve
Home to the Beach House and Kiosk where the food and the views are top tier and Red Rocks reserve if you continue left at the roundabout. This is a stunning coastal reserve mainly named after the unique colouring of the rocks that is mainly used by walkers. Cycling is possible but the terrain of sand, loose gravel and rocks in combination with the weather makes it a real adventure. An eBike with knobbly tyres or a hardtail mountain bike is the best option to ride the coast here but it may be easier for some to lock their bikes at the car park and take a walk. If you make it far enough around, you could run into the Fur Seal Colony that makes their home here.
Happy Valley Road to Brooklyn
This is a 4.5km stretch of riding on a wide road with a steady climb from sea level to 140 meters. It’s good to exercise a bit of caution on this strip as the Wellington Southern landfill and other industrial zones are located here, bringing large trucks along this road frequently. Carlucci Land Mini Golf is nestled amongst pine trees here and with it’s huge collection of handmade metal sculptures around the course, it’s the coolest round of mini golf you’ll ever play.
Brooklyn Hill and Back to the City
After the climb, you’re rewarded with a big downhill stretch from Brooklyn down to Aro Valley and back into city. Ohiro road is a less busy downhill route, taking you past Central Park and into Aro Valley. When you reach the bottom of the hill, it might be a better option to dismount your bike and walk it across Willis Street using the pedestrian crossing, if you’re not as keen on riding with traffic. Continue walking on the footpath towards the city and then take a right onto Karo Drive/State Highway 1. On either side of the street here are generous shared paths which you can ride on without having to worry about traffic. Cross over Taranaki Street using the pedestrian lights and you’ve reached Pukeahu National War Memorial Park. Various sculptures and monuments recoginse the sacrifices and efforts kiwis who’ve served in wars and the giant Carillion Tower is worth a stop. Riding through the park and down the other side places you near the Basin Reserve Cricket ground. Using pedestrian lights again, cross the road onto the Kent Terrace Cycle lane, a wide cycle path with dedicated bike lights at intersections. Follow this all the way along and it’ll bring to the edge of Courtenay Place and eventually back to waterfront. You’ve made it back to Switched on Bikes!