Wellington's rowing community has another reason to celebrate this month, with the opening of Te Ara Tupua - the long-awaited shared walking and cycling path running along the harbour's edge between Ngāuranga and Petone.

The 4.5km path was officially opened on 15 May by Transport Minister Chris Bishop, completing a project that has been years in the making. 

The path runs directly alongside the Korokoro course — meaning spectators can now cycle or walk from Wellington city all the way to the water's edge to watch races, without setting foot on State Highway 2. Coaches following crews during training sessions also have a safe and dedicated route to do so on bike for the full length of the course.

The opening of Te Ara Tupua completes a transformation of the Petone foreshore that the Wellington Rowing Association has been closely involved in from the beginning. As reported on RNZ's RowingHub in March 2024, the new(ish) Waimarino boatshed was itself born out of the Te Ara Tupua project. When Waka Kotahi needed the land occupied by the old Green Shed, they offered to build the rowing community a new facility in its place. The result was Waimarino, a 504-square-metre building blessed in a dawn ceremony in February 2024 and now home to Wellington Rowing Club, Star Boating Club, Petone Rowing Club, and Wellington Water Ski Club.

Wellington Rowing Association Director George Tuffin noted at the time that the path would give "rowers and their coaches a bike path to follow the 2,000m rowing course that runs along that stretch of the harbour." That vision has now become reality.

By 2030, Waka Kotahi estimates the path will see more than 2,100 cycling trips and 360 walking or running trips every weekday. On regatta days, you can expect a good number of those to be WRC supporters and rowing families making the trip to cheer on the crews.

If you haven't ridden or walked Te Ara Tupua yet, put it on the list - and plan your next regatta trip accordingly.

Article added: Tuesday 02 June 2026