Wellington City Council, in partnership with Trails Wellington, is proposing to develop a new shared-use trail connecting Martin Luckie Park to Island Bay.

On 13 May 2026, Councillors voted in favour of the shared-used trail proposal at Te Rauawa | Social, Cultural, and Environment Committee.

Thank you to all who took the time to provide feedback on this proposal and the revised route.

The next step is to begin the tender process for a contractor to build the path. Construction must be completed by the end of November 2026 to utilise the funding from the Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure.

For more information, you can:

• Read the meeting minutes
• Read the revised route feedback summary
• Read the submissions and officer responses

Following community consultation and oral submissions in August 2025, a decision on the trail proposal was paused due to health and safety concerns with the preferred route.

Officers have since considered alternative options and developed a revised route for the trail. The new recommended option is a longer but safer path around the edges of the golf course, avoiding the fairway.

The updated proposal also recommends:

• Signage at all entrances to the golf course and at tee boxes
• A chicane (obstacle or bend) to slow users entering the golf course from Martin Luckie Park

The proposed shared-use trail will provide a safe walking and cycling connection between Berhampore and Island Bay, passing through Wellington Town Belt land on the eastern side of the Berhampore Golf Course. It will improve access to key community destinations including Wellington Zoo, Martin Luckie Park, Wakefield Park, South Wellington Intermediate School, and the Island Bay and Berhampore communities.

The trail will:

• Provide an attractive, off-road alternative to roads for local trips
• Create safer connections between Newtown, Berhampore, and Island Bay
• Support access to recreational destinations, schools, and public transport
• Contribute to a larger citywide network of walking and cycling trails

This project is supported by international funding through the Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure (BICI), which selected Wellington as one of 10 global cities to deliver safer and more connected cycling infrastructure.

The trail will allow people to walk, jog, or cycle between suburbs using a compact and low-maintenance surface.

• Trail type: 1.5 metre wide compacted gravel track
• Length: The revised route is approx. 900 m
• Use: Shared path for walking, jogging and cycling
• Route: From Lavaud Street entrance to Martin Luckie Park, around the edges of the eastern side of Berhampore Golf Course, connecting to the existing trail network near Dover Street
• Design consideration: The route has been carefully aligned to prevent interference with golf fairways and tees.

This project is part of Wellington’s commitment to creating connected, accessible, and low-carbon recreation and transport opportunities that make it easier for people of all ages to get around and to be active.

The Wellington Town Belt Management Plan identified the potential for a walking and cycling link to be created on the eastern side of Adelaide Road using parts of the Town Belt and connecting to Martin Luckie Park. The proposed trail aligns with the idea of creating this link and provides a specific route location and design.

The BICI grant covers the construction of a 1.5 metre wide compacted gravel shared-use track between Martin Luckie Park and Island Bay.

We consulted with the community on the proposed trail in July and August 2025. Officers also met with key stakeholders who would be directly impacted by the proposal.

Several options were considered but a more direct route crossing two fairways through the golf course was put out for consultation as the preferred option: View a map of the original proposal.

The majority of submitters (72%) supported the proposal for a shared-use trail, but enough safety concerns about the route through the golf course were raised to warrant a pause on the project. After further health and safety assessments, officers have designed a safer alternative route.