WellingtonLocations directory
Ataturk Memorial Park

This park has a moving memorial with excellent views of the harbour and open sea.

The location of Ataturk Memorial Park resembles the Gallipoli peninsula. It sits on the headlands above Tarakena Bay on Wellington’s Miramar Peninsula.

The memorial is a result of an agreement between the Turkish, Australian, and New Zealand governments. It was New Zealand’s response to Turkey’s commemorative site at Anzac Cove. 

Unveiled in 1990, the memorial is a marble crescent, with inscriptions, soil from Anzac Cove, and a bust of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the first president of the Republic of Turkey. The paved forecourt, path, and gravel car parking areas were added in 1999.

There is parking available at Tarakena Bay car park and on Kekerenga Street in Strathmore.

From the car park, the memorial is accessible via steps or a sealed path.

With stunning views over Te Moana-o-Raukawa, the Cook Strait, the park marks the beginning of the popular Eastern Walkway.

Location details

Jurisdiction Wellington City Council
Permits required Yes, apply for a permit
Location descriptors Bays, beaches, cliffs, rock formations, sea, ocean, coastal walks, ocean views, parks, monuments, gardens, picnic areas, hiking trails, exercise areas.
Explore more

Looking for more?

At start of items
A site of significant conservation value, the estuary is easily accessible in Porirua. A 30-minute drive from the capital, the Pāuatahanui Inlet is a large estuary surrounded by a wildlife reserve.

Pāuatahanui Inlet

Pāuatahanui, Porirua | 85Pāuatahanui Inlet is a site of significant conservation value, the large estuary is surrounded by a wildlife reserve and is easily accessible in Porirua.

An expansive, coastal area of park and wilderness just north of the capital. With 180 hectares of open space and pockets of native bush, Whitireia Park is where people in Porirua come to roam on foot, bike, or hoof.

Whitireia Park

Whitireia Road, Tītahi Bay, Porirua | 83Whitireia Park is an expansive, coastal area of park and wilderness just north of Wellington. It is 180 hectares of open space and native bush.

The Taitā Rock swimming hole in Lower Hutt, with lush green bush surrounding a blue river and large pebbles on the shore.

Taitā Rock

High Street, Taitā, Lower Hutt | 90For decades, the Taitā rock area of Hutt River has been a popular swimming hole. It is only a short drive from Wellington city.

Ngauranga train station

Ngauranga Train Station

Hutt Road, Ngauranga, Wellington | 51A single island train platform for commuter rail, sitting north of Wellington city on the edge of the rugged coastline.

This clothing-optional beach is a good spot for scenic walks and wildlife spotting. At the western entrance of Wellington Harbour, picturesque Breaker Bay beach is part of the Oruaiti Reserve.

Breaker Bay

Seatoun, Wellington | 88Breaker Bay is a clothing-optional beach and a good spot for scenic walks and wildlife spotting for penguins, dolphins, and orcas.

The screen location of Oriental Bay, wth pastel-coloured, Art Deco apartments, brightly-painted boat sheds, and the golden beach.

Oriental Bay

Oriental Bay, Wellington | 86Oriental Bay is an inner-city beach and is one of Wellington’s best features, sitting along the Wellington waterfront.

Worser Bay is a scenic inner-harbour beach popular with swimmers, dog walkers, and bridal couples. The large, sandy beach on the eastern side of Miramar Peninsula offers views of the Ororongorongo Range across the harbour, Steeple Rock, and Seatoun Beach.

Worser Bay

Marine Parade, Seatoun, Wellington | 82Worser Bay in Seatoun is a scenic inner-harbour sandy beach, which is popular with swimmers, dog walkers, and bridal couples.

The Wrights Hill Fortress screen location, located in Karori overlooking Wellington from an old gun emplacement. The location includes historic monuments, underground landmarks, and tunnels.

Wrights Hill Fortress — gun emplacement

Wrights Hill Road, Karori, Wellington | 64Wrights Hill Fortress in Karori is a mostly underground fortress built in the 1940s, during the Second World War to protect Wellington.

Patuna Chasm, a cave system in a gorge of a river cutting through limestone cliff.

Patuna Chasm

236 Haurangi Road, Ruakōkoputuna | 45Patuna Chasm is an ancient limestone gorge on remote, private farmland. Walk through native bush to get to the chasm which follows the riverbed.

A well-equipped and popular outdoor space for families in Upper Hutt. On the edge of Te Awa Kairangi, Hutt River, Harcourt Park in Upper Hutt is a 40-minute drive north of Wellington.

Harcourt Park

Akatarawa Road, Birchville, Upper Hutt | 38Harcourt Park in Upper Hutt is a well-equipped and popular outdoor space for families. There are plenty of walking tracks and picnic areas.