Explore the rugged south coast of Wellington by walking from Owhiro Bay to the Red Rocks (Pari-whero)
An area of national significance with fascinating geology and Māori history. Check out the red-coloured rocks that were formed 200 million years ago. Māori folklore tells two stories relating to the colour of the rocks. In one, Kupe, the famous Polynesian explorer, was gathering paua here, when one paua clamped his hand. He bled and stained the rocks red. In the other story, the red is the blood of Kupe’s daughters. Fearing for their father’s safety on a long voyage, they gashed themselves in grief over his absence. A 7.4km walk, taking 2-3 hrs (return) along Wellington’s rugged south coast.
