Pariwhero Red Rocks

One of my favourite places to visit in the Wellington area (if not the favourite), is definitely Pariwhero Red Rocks just off Owhiro Bay on the southern coast of Wellington. I have lost count of how many times I have been there. Receiving its obvious name from the red rocks lying around (pariwhero is the māori name, meaning "red cliff"), it's a lovely walk along the stunning coastline.

Be wind prepared though, because it can become very windy, very fast. And, especially in winter but not only, very cold. In winter it's a good idea to go in the morning, before the sun disappears behind the hills that run just along the path. However, cold aside, winter is my favourite season to go, because if you just walk a little further, you'll encounter some interesting new friends that are very scarce during summer.

Kekeno, or new zealand furseals, are just lying lazily on the rocks. Make sure that you don't go too close though, as they can attack if feeling threatened. They are used to seeing humans, but they're still wild animals after all. The sign on the path, recommends to not get closer than 20 meters.

On a good day, you can also see across the straight onto the sounds and mountains of the South Island, which suddenly does not seem that far anymore.

The track to Red Rocks is flat and does not take too long, but if you want some more challenge, there are also some tracks that go up the hills behind it.

Enjoy and stay safe out there in the wild!