Paekakariki Escarpment Track

The Escarpment Track runs about ten kilometres along the cliffs between Paekakariki and Pukerua Bay, cut into a slope that drops straight to the railway and State Highway 1 below and out to Kapiti Island across the water. It was built by volunteers as part of Te Araroa, the national trail, and its character comes from the terrain: there is no gentle way along this face, so the route climbs and drops constantly on more than a thousand steps and crosses two swing bridges over gullies. The reason it is one of the best day walks near Wellington is the transport - both ends are at a railway station on the Kapiti Line, so you walk one way and take the train back with no car shuffle at all. It is fully exposed with no shade and no water, the wind off Cook Strait can be strong enough to be unpleasant, and the drop beside the track is real in places.

What you actually see

• The cliff traverse - the track cut into the face above road and rail.
• The swing bridges - two crossings over the gullies.
• Kapiti Island - across the water for the whole walk.
• The station-to-station logistics - trains at both ends.

When to go

October to April. Check the wind - a strong northerly makes the exposed sections genuinely unpleasant. Carry water; there is none on the route.

Honest expectations

Over a thousand steps and constant climbing - harder than ten flat kilometres suggests. No shade, no water, no shelter. The drop beside the track is exposed in places and it is not suitable for young children or anyone uneasy with heights.

Nearby

Kapiti Island is offshore; Paekakariki village and Queen Elizabeth Park are at the northern end.