Kaukau summit

A well worthwhile Wellington walk


Kaukau is the highest point close to Wellington and the 360 degree views from the summit are well worth the effort getting there. There are tracks starting from Johnsonville, Broadmeadows, Khandallah and Ngaio. Arguably the easiest is from the carpark at Johnsonville Park at the end of Truscott Avenue.

It follows a well graded track with 20 flights of steps to begin but then becomes easier as it follows the Te Araroa Trail to the observation deck. However, the true summit of Kaukau at 445 m is a further 350 m north past the mast.

Allow about 1 hour from the carpark to the summit.

The video shows what to expect if you chose to get to the top via the Johnsonville route. Please remember that there are now kiwis living around Kaukau so dogs definitely need to be on a lead – dogs and kiwi do not play well together.