Wellington Writers Walk

Distance: 1.2 km (can be extended to 5+ km) | Time: 30 minutes – 2 hours | Difficulty: Very Easy
Dogs: Not permitted | Mobile Coverage: Yes | Toilets: Yes (multiple locations)

A literary treasure hunt along Wellington’s stunning waterfront. The Writers Walk features 23 typographical sculptures showcasing quotes from famous New Zealand writers with Wellington connections. It’s art you can stumble upon, words cast in concrete and metal, hidden along the harbour’s edge.

Why Walk the Writers Walk?

This isn’t your typical art gallery visit. The sculptures are scattered along the waterfront, some obvious, others cleverly hidden underwater, under piers, or inlaid in wooden deck boards. You get to play detective while learning about New Zealand’s literary heritage.

The quotes capture Wellington perfectly. “Wellington bursts like a bomb,” one reads. Another calls it “the edge of the universe.” James K. Baxter’s sculpture actually floats above the water in the pool at Te Papa, reflecting in the harbour on those rare windless days.

It’s completely free, self-guided, and works at your own pace. You can hunt for all 23, or just enjoy the ones you stumble across while walking the waterfront.

The Writers

The 23 featured writers include:

The Icons:

• Katherine Mansfield – “The Wind Blows”
• James K. Baxter – “The Maori Jesus”
• Denis Glover – “Wellington Harbour is a Laundry”

Poets & Novelists:

• Robin Hyde – “Words”
• Bill Manhire – “The Milky Way Bay”
• Sam Hunt – “Letters to Jerusalem”
• Patricia Grace – “Cousins”
• Maurice Gee – “Going West”
• Vincent O’Sullivan – “Driving South with Lucy to the Big Blue Hills”
• Lauris Edmond – “The Active Voice”
• Alistair Te Ariki Campbell – “Blue Rain”
• Eileen Duggan – “The Acolyte”

And More:

• Pat Lawlor – “Old Wellington Days”
• Bruce Mason – Theatre writings
• Fiona Kidman
• Barbara Anderson
• Joy Cowley
• Jack Lasenby
• James McNeish
• Elizabeth Knox

Each writer had strong connections to Wellington, whether they lived, worked, or were inspired by the city.

Getting There & Starting Point

The walk stretches from Kumutoto Stream (near the northern end of the waterfront) to Oriental Bay. Most people start at Te Papa Museum on the waterfront.

Best starting point: Te Papa main car park at the southern end of the museum. The harbour will be on your right, Te Papa on your left as you walk along the waterfront path.

Getting there:

• Walk from downtown Wellington (5-10 minutes from Lambton Quay)
• Bus stops along Jervois Quay and Cable Street
• Parking available at Te Papa and other waterfront car parks
• Easy access from Queens Wharf and Frank Kitts Park

Finding the Sculptures

Here’s the thing, these sculptures are deliberately placed to surprise you. Some are easy to spot, others require looking carefully. Part of the fun is the hunt.

Tips for finding them:

• Look down at deck boards and paving
• Check under piers and wharf edges
• Some are in the water or just above the waterline
• Look near benches and seating areas
• Check around Te Papa’s outdoor pool area (Baxter’s is here)
• The lagoon near Frank Kitts Park has several

Getting a map: You can pick up a free trail booklet with a map from:

• Wellington libraries
• i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
• Some bookshops
• Or just wing it and see what you find

One reviewer mentioned the sculpture by Shed 5 may have been removed or damaged, so not all 23 may be currently in place.

The Route

Core Walk: Te Papa to Frank Kitts Park

Distance: 1.2 km | Time: 30-50 minutes

This short section includes many of the sculptures and can be done quickly or leisurely with cafe stops.

1. Start at Te Papa – Look for Katherine Mansfield near the main entrance area
2. Follow the waterfront path west – Keep the harbour on your right
3. Check near benches and seating – Robin Hyde and others are tucked in along here
4. Te Papa pool area – Don’t miss James K. Baxter’s floating sculpture
5. Past the small office building – Bill Manhire is nearby
6. Cross the drawbridge area – Sam Hunt is in the corner above the water
7. Past the old crane barge – Patricia Grace near the boating club
8. Boating club rock garden – Maurice Gee and Pat Lawlor
9. Frank Kitts Lagoon – Vincent O’Sullivan and Lauris Edmond are around the lagoon
10. Denis Glover – Near the water’s edge as you circle back

Extended Walk

You can extend the walk further along the waterfront to Oriental Bay, or north towards Kumutoto to find all 23 sculptures. This can add another 3-4 km to your walk.

What Else to See

Len Lye’s Water Whirler:
This kinetic sculpture performs water shows at:

• 10am, 11am, 12 noon, 1pm, 3pm
• 6pm, 8pm, 9pm, 10pm
• Wind permitting (there’s a light indicating if it’s too windy)

Other Waterfront Sculptures:

• Solace in the Wind (the naked man leaning into the wind)
• Albatross (three white abstract shapes)
• City to Sea Bridge (connects to Civic Square and the library)
• Te Waka Pou (commemorating migration)

Facilities

Toilets: Public toilets at Frank Kitts Park, Te Papa, and other locations along the waterfront

Cafes & Restaurants: Heaps along the waterfront. The cafe near Frank Kitts Lagoon gets good reviews for coffee.

Water: Drinking fountains at various points, plus cafes

Seating: Benches throughout, perfect for resting and reading the sculptures

Practical Information

Best Time:

• Any time of day works
• Early morning or late afternoon for good photos
• Clear days show off the harbour views better

What to Bring:

• Camera for photos
• Trail map (or just explore freely)
• Comfortable walking shoes (though it’s all paved)
• Sunscreen and hat (can be exposed)
• Money for cafes

Accessibility: Completely flat, paved pathway. Fully wheelchair and pushchair accessible. Some sculptures are placed at different levels (underwater, on piers) so not all may be easily viewed by everyone.

Dogs: Not permitted on this section of the waterfront

Weather: Wellington is windy (hence all the wind references in the sculptures). Bring a jacket even on sunny days. The waterfront is exposed.

History

The Wellington Writers Walk started as a project by the Wellington Branch of the New Zealand Society of Authors in 2002. The first 11 concrete plaques were designed by internationally renowned typographer Catherine Griffiths.

Stage Two launched in May 2004, and more sculptures were added in 2013. Later additions were designed by architect Fiona Christeller.

In 2012, the Writers Walk went international when large decals of the quotations appeared along the River Main in Frankfurt for the Frankfurt Book Fair (New Zealand was Guest of Honour that year).

The walk has won design awards and features in tourist guides, school trips, and photography blogs.

Why This Walk is Special

It combines three great things: beautiful waterfront scenery, a literary treasure hunt, and insight into New Zealand’s writing culture. The quotes themselves are beautiful tributes to Wellington, capturing the city’s character, its wind, its harbour, its edge-of-the-world feeling.

You don’t need to be a literature buff to enjoy it. The hunt for hidden sculptures is fun, the waterfront is stunning, and there are plenty of cafes for breaks.

And unlike most walks, this one works just as well in reverse, broken into sections, or completely random. There’s no wrong way to do it.

Local Tips

• Don’t stress about finding all 23. Even locals who walk the waterfront regularly discover new ones.
• The real hazard on this walk is cafes. There are too many good coffee spots, making it hard to keep walking.
• Combine it with a visit to Te Papa Museum, which is free entry.
• If you’re into books, detour up the City to Sea Bridge to the Wellington City Library.
• The waterfront gets packed on sunny weekends. Weekday mornings are quieter.

Other Wellington Walks

While you’re here, check out:

• Mount Victoria Summit – short steep walk with 360° views
• Wellington Botanic Garden – accessible via the Cable Car
• Red Rocks Coastal Walk – seal colony viewing
• Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park – also has walking tracks
• See all our walks in Wellington

The Writers Walk is one of Wellington’s best free attractions. It’s a short, easy, culturally rich walk that shows you why this city calls itself the “world headquarters of the verb.”