Take a walk to Mt Vic lookout

This is the worthiest way to get a view over Wellington, and your effort is rewarded with 360-degree views of the city, harbour, airport, and sea.

At just under 200 metres above sea level, the summit is not even that high, but the route up can be really demanding, or more gentle, depending on the paths you choose.

However you do it, everyone – even the lazy types who come up by car or bus – get those views, plus unexpected Antarctica input, which is not necessarily from a raging southerly.

Why go?

Because it’s there and it’s accessible. Plus, it’s an excellent excuse to indulge in some carbloading, before and after. If you do the climb on a Sunday, and start near Te Papa, you can first negotiate the produce market and its big cluster of food trucks offering tempting world cuisine.

Once you’re fuelled up, stroll along the pretty waterfront past boat sheds, sandy beach and the gorgeous Seven Sisters villas, and look for the Southern Walkway near the junction of Oriental Parade and Oriental Tce. Follow the path up and you’ll soon be in the trees, and getting glimpses of the views through the trunks.

You can follow the signs, or branch off on to one of the side tracks – many of which are bike trails, so beware of cyclists hurtling downwards. As long as you’re heading uphill, you’ll get there.

You might see people in a park walking dogs from the nearby SPCA, and you’ll certainly hear plenty of birds.

Then, you’re at the top, where a memorial points straight towards Antarctica, 4000 kilometres dead south, and you can read about Admiral Richard E Byrd, or about the pa¯ once located there, or Wellington’s winds. From up on the lookout, you’ll see the city, its green Town Belt, the hills and harbour, Miramar, the airport, and a cannon.

Now, head back down the other way, towards Majoribanks St, and its pretty villas, and stop for a feed at Ortega Fish Shack, or The Chippery. You’ve earned it.

Insider tip

Allow a couple of hours for the round trip and wear shoes that can cope with paths that may be stony and crumbly, or muddy and slippery. There are toilets near the car park at the top.

On the way/nearby

Take your time enjoying the sights on the way to the start of the track: the Solace in the Wind statue, the marina and colourful row of boat sheds, as well as the pretty wooden villas. Stop off for a coffee at the Boat Cafe behind the Freyberg Pool & Fitness Centre: it’s an actual, floating tug boat.

How much?

All it costs is sweat and effort, which are amply rewarded.

Best time to go

Ideally, a sunny day. Realistically, avoid rain, but enjoy the challenge of the wind. wellington.govt.nz.