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Commonwealth Walkway

The Commonwealth Walkway forms part of a group of walkways in the main cities of Commonwealth nations and territories.

Commonwealth Walkway October 2016
Final plaque laid in October 2016

About the walkway

Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown agreed Wellington should be home to the first Commonwealth Walkway in New Zealand to mark 150 years since the city became the capital city. The Commonwealth Walkway is a network of walkways across the Commonwealth with the aim of inspiring young people to walk for their physical and mental wellbeing.

Commonwealth Walkways has four goals:

  • to heighten interest and awareness in the cities, their history and their architecture
  • to get people walking and active
  • to link the Commonwealth together
  • to celebrate the Queen as Head of the Commonwealth for over 63 years.

The Commonwealth Walkway project was launched on 4 June 2013 at an event attended by His Royal Highness Prince Harry, The Duke of Gloucester, The Dean of Westminster Abbey and The President of The Supreme Court.

What the markers look like

The Commonwealth Walkway will be identified by bronze markers that will be installed in the ground to identify each point of significance. They feature Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth's EIIR cypher.

You will be able to explore the walkway and learn more about the locations by:

Chair of the Commonwealth Foundation Sir Anand Satyanand places the first Commonwealth Walkway marker at Wai-Titi landing with Jim Walker and Mayor Celia Wade-Brown
Chair of the Commonwealth Foundation Sir Anand Satyanand places the first Commonwealth Walkway marker at Wai-Titi landing with Jim Walker and Mayor Celia Wade-Brown

Wai-titi Landing

On 25 July 2015, the first Commonwealth Walkway plaque was placed at the Wai-titi landing by former Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand, Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, and Director of the Outdoor Trust, Jim Walker.

Pukeahu National War Memorial Park

His Royal Highness Prince Charles unveiled a plaque bearing the Royal Cypher for the Commonwealth Walkway during his official visit to the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in November 2015.

Locations

The Commonwealth Walkway connects 32 significant monuments, parks, buildings and historic places along a 9km loop in the capital, and takes approximately two hours to complete. The route was developed by a Commonwealth Walkway representative and suggestions from Wellingtonians.

Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth has given us permission to use her EIIR cypher as markers to identify locations paths. The markers identify the most important points of interest.

The walkway starts at Government House and includes all of the following significant locations and points of interest: