Seaton Nossitor Park

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Seaton Nossitor Park is the name for the area that used to be called Belmont Gully and it occupies 30 hectares of land which is now a protected natural reserve. The park's new name was recommended by the Council's Reserves Committee. It's development is part of the Northern Reserves Management Plan.

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The Wellington City Council is trying to encourage the development of the park by creating walkways and footpaths so the public have more activities to do there. They are making reserves so that existing plants can grow more.
Part of the park is scrub but they are trying to encourage the growth of such native trees as titoki, tawa, pukatea, hinau, kaiko-mako, mahoe and rewarewa.

This picture shows the Flood Detention Area near the main entrance.

Brandon's Rock

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Brandon’s Rock, the highest point on the Paparangi ridge, and is a two-minute walk from Edgecombe Street, up a small hill, Brandon's rock has a stunning 360-degree view of the Tararua Range, the Hutt Valley, the harbour, Wellington City, Cook Strait and the skyline of the western hills. Next door is a Playground

Paparangi is the Māori name for the long ridge running from the entrance to Ngauranga Gorge to Horokiwi.

The rock is named after Alfred de Bathe Brandon, who owned land in the Newlands area. Brandon arrived in 1840 and was a prominent lawyer, provincial councillor, parliamentarian and crown prosecutor. There were two unsuccessful attempts to mine gold on Brandon’s land and the property next door.

Brandon’s Rock, known by sailors as the Nun’s Cap, was used as a navigation point before the introduction of harbour beacons. Ships entering the harbour could keep clear of Barrett Reef by staying east of a line from Brandon’s Rock to Point Gordon.


Article on Brandon's Rock

Gilberd Bush Reserve

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The track through the reserve has good views of the harbour, Matiu/Somes Island and the Orongorongo Range.
Gilberd Bush Reserve is in Newlands with entrance and exit points of Ladbrooke Drive, Bayswater Place and Fernhaven Grove.

This bush-clad Newlands gully has a wide, well-formed track which gently zig-zags down from the highest point at Ladbrooke Grove, then crosses the gully to the entrances at Bayswater Place and Fernhaven Grove. It is a Well-graded track with a couple of steeper sections. Suitable for buggies.


Wellington Walks Information