The words on Twitter were that there is a new lookout built on the Northland end of what formerly referred to as Tinakori Hill, and will be officially opened tomorrow. The sources such as Wellington City Council and Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand inform us the area now should be known as Te Ahumairangi Hill.

I live on the north western flank of Te Ahumairangi Hill and, as a local waker, consider it as my home patch. In the last four months or so, I've written two posts about walks on Te Ahumairangi, one about Stellin Memorial Park the other about the old route up from Monmouth way. Yet I did not know a major construction was going on the very area. I felt a little bit embarrassed about my ignorance, and decided to go find out where exactly it was and what it was like. …

As on The day after the storm, I took the quickest way on foot to get to the southern end of Ridge Top, via Monmouth Way off Pembrook Street. Walking steadily up the familiar but now quite a bit drier route, soon I popped out at Ridge Top. After quickly checking out the view from behind the water tanks and transmission towers, I walked on to the major turn off where the access road off Orangi Kaupapa Road makes a sharp turn.

I was fairly certain the new lookout was down that way, probably near where the top gate was. However when I came this way about four months ago, there was no sign of any major work happening. I could be wrong.

I was right. Soon I saw a very nice flat grassed area sporting three picnic tables. A wonderful place for summer picnic. Especially the table at the far end seemed enjoy a particularly great view. The fabled lookout appeared behind that table, much larger than I'd imagined from the little picture at the Council website.

The lookout was indeed grand, and commanded such encompassing view that I felt I could possibly not take everything in when tea time was getting close. So I took only one "Yet Another Great Harbour View on Yet Another Nobody Can Beat Wellington On A Good Day Sort of Day" picture (see below) and headed home.

When I came down to Cecil Road roadend, a shiny new sign of "Te Ahumairangi Hill" greeted me. It looked a bit odd that the new sign was nailed above other weathered signs. But it would look alright after a year.

When I got home and had a good look at the pictures of the information board I took quickly, I found out that the hill has been known for many different names in the past. I would like to tell the story of those names in another post.

I have and will put a few more photos from this walk on my albums. 🙂