East Harbour Regional Park
East Harbour Regional Park is a contrast of native forest and rocky coastline, providing a magnificent backdrop to Wellington Harbour. Greater Wellington manages the park which includes land owned by Hutt City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Taranaki Whanui and the Crown.
There are two distinct areas. To the north, the hills between Eastbourne and Wainuiomata are clothed in some of the best beech/rata forest in the Wellington area. In contrast, the damp valley floors contain lush semi-swamp forest including kahikatea, pukatea and nikau palms.
To the south, the Parangarahu Lakes Area provides sweeping views and diverse geological features. It cradles the nationally significant freshwater wetlands of Kohangatera and Kohangapiripiri and is home to a wealth of native plants and wildlife.
The pest plant Canadian pondweed (Elodea canadensis) has been found in Lake Kohangatera (part of the Parangarahu Lakes Area), and Brazilian Waterweed (Egeria densa) has been found in the uppermost reaches of Gollans Swamp upstream of the lakes. We have created an exclusion zones around the infestations. This will not affect walking and cycling access along the tracks of the Parangarahu Lakes Area. Click here for more information and a map of the exclusion zones.
- Getting there and staying safe
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East Harbour Regional Park is accessible by both private vehicle and public transport
- Look after your park
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Look after your park, for today and for future generations.
- Baring Head/Ōrua Pouanui
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The newest area of East Harbour Regional Park, Baring Head/Ōrua Pouanui is an iconic landscape, with wonderful views over Cook Strait. Enter from the Wainuiomata Coast Road.
- Butterfly Creek
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Butterfly Creek lies in a peaceful valley just over the hills behind Eastbourne. Four tracks lead to the picnic area, of which the Kowhai Track is the easiest and most direct
- Environment
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The East Harbour hills have a history of varied land use and localised wild fire, which is reflected in areas of regenerating native forest and gorse on the margins of the park
- Events
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East Harbour Regional Park is a very popular venue for events, especially group walks and running or multi-sport events
- Hunting
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Greater Wellington offers hunters the opportunity to enter an annual deer hunting ballot. Or you can apply for a permit to hunt pigs in the park
- History
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The land now part of East Harbour Regional Park has long been a place of Maori occupation. During the earlier years of European settlement it was an important part of the route to and from the Wairarapa, and the site of New Zealand's first lighthouse
- Mountain biking
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The Pencarrow Coast Road, south of Eastbourne and around to Fitzroy Bay, is a flat and relatively easy mountain bike ride
- Parangarahu Lakes Area
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Cradling two nationally significant freshwater lakes and the site of the historic Pencarrow Lighthouse, the Parangarahu Lakes Area is steeped in both Maori and European history
- Park interest groups
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There are many different community groups with an interest in East Harbour Regional Park. Some are based in the park itself, while for others the park is a popular setting for their activities
- Walking and tramping
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East Harbour boasts a number of excellent walking and tramping opportunities
- Contact the ranger
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Gareth Cooper