A brand new 4.4km sealed path along Wellington Harbour’s eastern shore, open from April 2026. Flat, smooth, and right on the water.
| Distance | 4.4km one way (8.8km return) |
| Time walking | 1 to 1.5 hours one way |
| Time cycling | 30 to 45 minutes one way |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Track Surface | Sealed, flat |
| Dogs | Yes, on lead |
| Bikes | Yes, shared path |
| Toilets | Days Bay, Eastbourne |
| Parking | Point Howard, Days Bay, Eastbourne |
| Opened | April 18, 2026 |
The Eastern Bays Shared Path runs 4.4km along Marine Drive between Point Howard and Eastbourne, on Wellington Harbour’s eastern shore. It’s a shared path for walkers, cyclists, runners, and families, built on top of a new seawall that also protects Marine Drive from storms and sea level rise.
It’s a point-to-point path, so most people walk one way and either double back or arrange transport at one end. Because the route is flat and relatively short, it’s accessible to a wide range of people including families and those after a gentle coastal stroll.
The path threads through several bays, each a bit different:
Four bird protection areas were established along the path to safeguard nesting little blue penguins and oystercatchers, with more than 300 penguin nesting boxes installed. Worth knowing if you’re out early morning.
The seawall features textured concrete surfaces and purpose-built tidal pools designed to support intertidal life. The engineering is more interesting than it sounds.
Arriving in Eastbourne, the path leads straight into the village. Cafes, beaches, and grassy reserves make it easy to turn the outing into a longer half-day, grab a coffee, wander the waterfront, or sit and watch the harbour.
As of May 2026, there’s still a short gap in the path at the Days Bay corner between Sunshine Bay and Eastbourne. Days Bay was not included in the original path plans, and next steps are still being discussed. It’s a brief section along the road and doesn’t spoil the walk, but the path isn’t fully continuous through Days Bay.
The path is point-to-point so you need a plan:
The path is fully exposed to the harbour. Wind is the main factor, a southerly makes it hard work. Calm mornings in summer and autumn are ideal. It’s walkable year-round but check the forecast before you go.
Weekends are already busy since opening. Weekdays are quieter.
The Eastern Bays had been defended by aging concrete seawalls since the early 1900s, and by the 2010s many were well beyond serviceable life. Marine Drive, the only road in and out of Eastbourne, was increasingly vulnerable to flooding and closure from storm surges. The community had sought a continuous shared path along the shoreline for over 30 years.
The total cost came to $81.87 million, funded by the Government ($30 million), NZTA ($25.47 million), and Hutt City Council ($26.4 million). Construction progressed bay by bay from August 2022, with the full path opening April 18, 2026.
The Eastern Bays Shared Path is also part of a wider regional push to improve walking and cycling connections around Wellington Harbour. The Ngauranga to Petone shared path is due to open later in 2026, and together the two routes will make it possible to walk or cycle from Wellington city to Eastbourne around the harbour edge.
