Wellington City

Viewpoints and peaks in Wellington City

Wellington’s steep topography provides diverse vantage points, from the accessible Mount Victoria Lookout to the rugged heights of Te Kopahou. This list features the historic Wellington Cable Car and the Interislander Terminal for harbor views, alongside high points like Hawkins Hill—the city's highest peak at 495 meters. Hikers can explore summits such as Rangituhi / Colonial Knob and the Makara Peak mountain bike park, while coastal sites like the WWII observation point and the Devil’s Gate rock formation offer perspectives on the region's military history and geological features.

Viewpoints and Peaks — Map

(WT-shared) Shoestring at wts wikivoyage / CC BY-SA 1.0

A

Wellington Cable Car

The Wellington Cable Car is a funicular railway in Wellington, New Zealand, between Lambton Quay, the main shopping street, and Kelburn, a…

John Markos O'Neill / CC BY-SA 2.0

B

Wellington Interislander Terminal

Interislander is a road and rail ferry service across New Zealand's Cook Strait, between Wellington in the North Island and Picton in the…

Mandy Simpson / CC-BY-SA-3.0

C

Mount Victoria Lookout

A 196-meter hill providing 360-degree views of Wellington City, the harbor, and the Miramar Peninsula.

D

Makara Peak Summit Viewing Deck

Located within a mountain bike park, this deck offers views across the Cook Strait to the South Island's Kaikoura Ranges.

E

WWII observation point

Concrete ruins of wartime coastal defenses overlooking the entrance to Wellington Harbour and the Cook Strait.

F

Fish Ladder

Viewing area for a concrete structure in Kaiwharawhara Stream designed to help native fish migrate upstream.

G

Devil's gate

A narrow rock cutting on the Red Rocks coastal walk, often used as a vantage point for spotting New Zealand fur seals.

H

Hawkins Hill

The highest point in Wellington City at 495 meters, featuring a distinctive white radar dome and expansive coastal views.

I

Te Kopahou

A rugged 485-meter peak within the Te Kopahou Reserve, offering views across the Cook Strait and the South Coast.

J

Rangituhi / Colonial Knob

A 468-meter summit featuring a lookout platform with vistas of the Kapiti Coast, Mana Island, and the Marlborough Sounds.

K

Mount Wai-ariki

High point in the Karori area with views over the western suburbs and the Makara wind farm.

L

Mount Wai-ariki

High point in the Karori area with views over the western suburbs and the Makara wind farm.

M

Middle Hill

A peak in the hills behind Ngaio and Khandallah, accessible via the Northern Walkway.

N

Quartz Hill

Located near the West Wind farm, offering views of the large turbines and the rugged Makara coastline.

O

Terawhiti Hill

One of the highest points on the Wellington coast, historically significant for early gold mining attempts in the 19th century.

P

Ōhau Hill

A coastal peak located within the Makara area, overlooking Ohau Bay and the Cook Strait.

Q

Outlook Hill

A high point on the southern coast near Terawhiti Station, offering clear vistas of the South Island.

R

White Rock Hill

A peak in the Makara area characterized by rugged terrain and views of the surrounding wind farm.

Other Lists

Wellington City Unmissables Notable Places of Worship Wellington Museums & Galleries Wellington Parks and Nature Wellington's Historic Sites