FIND THESE STEPS – Between Northland Road, beside 9 Northland Road, and at the top at 21 Thorby Street on Raroa Crescent.

Thorby Street heads up one side of the hill, and then down the other, with about a dozen pathway switchbacks on the way up, and a lovely view at the top.

On the other side of the hill, a short set of steps and then pathway.

FIND THESE STEPS – At the top of Buller Street, on the Terrace across from 339, and at the top at Boyd-Wilson Field.

Following a series of attacks on women using this short-cut to Victoria University, the steps were recently given a new name – Kake Tonu, ‘ever upwards’ – as well as a mural, increased lighting, a CCTV camera to improve safety, and add a lovely bit of art. These are very unexceptional steps to the lower level of Victoria University through the athletic field, which is also used by nearby Te Aro school, but the artwork has given them an extraordinary lift.

Following on after the Boy-Wilson field, is the series of Waiteata Road Steps toward Salamanca Road.

Abandoned steps – where did they lead?

FIND THESE STEPS – From Bidwill Street, just off Bell Road on the lower level, and at the top, from Washington Avenue at Heaton Terrace.

A very lovely place to wander, but the steps are a bit dangerous (and many – 122), and the are is usually deserted and it is secluded, so better to visit with several people.

The upper level car park is littered with heaps of broken glass, evidence of the site being an informal party venue. The lower level is a soccer field.

In 2018 Wellington City Council approved the construction of a 35 million litre buried concrete reservoir, called Omāroro Reservoir, with construction to begin in 2019. The design is still underway, as noted by signs posted on the property.

 

FIND THESE STEPS – On the upper level, at the far end of Tanera Crescent, at number 18, and from the lower level across from  19 Tanera Crescent.

Ms Irvine-Smith has this to say about the area, known generally as Brooklyn:

‘The South-West suburbs, the hilliest of the hill suburbs, which is saying a good deal…’

With that in mind, there are many hills but actually few steps.

Tanera Crescent steps are short, but they give you one of the best views possible, and nearby you can find Tanera Park, with a sports field and community garden,  and Tanera Gully Restoration Project, undertaken by  Predator Free Wellington and Forest & Bird to restore a lively habitat for bushes and creatures, as it was before European settlement in 1840, between Epuni Street and Tanera Park.

Again, Ms Irvine-Smith gives a bit of information on the name. Apparently it is the name of a Maori who lived in this area, and was employed by John Fitchett, who arrived in Wellington from England in 1842 and his business partner, R B O Todman, who had inherited property from his uncle and who had died before moving to New Zealand. There appears to be no recorded information about Tanera – whether man or woman, where from, or where resided.

 

 

 

FIND THESE STEPS – Opposite 31 Plunket Road and at the top, opposite 11 Fairview Crescent.

View from Plunket Road. The road is named for Lord and Lady Plunket to recognise, among other beneficial activities in New Zealand, their support for Dr Truby King’s work to improve child health and welfare, which became the ‘Plunket Society.’

 

The absolute joy it is to find a series of steps one after another, and each one different. Here they are.

Hawker Street, Mt Victoria

Just down this street are St Gerard’s steps, Kennedy Street, McIntyre Avenue, Doctors Common, and Vogel Street – all step streets.

 

 

Lambton Quay/The Terrace, Downtown Wellington

In downtown Wellington, along Lambton Quay and Willis Street, these historic steps lead up to The Terrace: Masons Lane, Farmer’s Lane, Woodward Street, Plimmer’s Steps, Church Street, Allenby Terrace, Terrace Gardens, Dixon Street steps, Willis Street steps.

 

 

Waiteata Road, Kelburn

This line of steps starts from Salamanca Road along McKenzie Terrace to the end of Waiteata Road.

 (Map source: Openstreetmaps.com)

 

 

FIND THESE STEPS – At Hanson Street and Stoke Street, to the left of the Pipe Band Hall.

The City of Wellington Pipe Band was formed in 1932, and is the official pipe band to the Wellington City Council.

At the top the steps join the City to Sea Walk.

 

FIND THESE STEPS – At the far end of the Te Whaea carpark. Te Whaea is at 11 Hutchinson Road.

Te Whaea National Dance and Drama Centre is the New Zealand School of dance and drama.

From the top of the steps with a view of the Te Whaea building in the distance.

 

How to decide ‘Most Popular’ without benefit of an independently commissioned survey?

From personal experience, of course.

trekking the collection of steps here over man years, I’ve had a chance to catch these steps at odd times of the day, over many seasons. And I’ll take a risk that my observations could be off by a mile.

1.     Plimmer’s Steps

Not the best architecture or very charming, Plimmer’s Steps are favourites of visitors – there must be hundreds of thousands of photos tucked in photo collections world wide of Mr Plimmer and his dog, Fritz. People go out of their way to find theses steps. But the steps are useful for Wellington residents, too, and heavily used.

2.     Masons Lane and Woodward Street

3.     Allenby

4.     Oriental Terrace

St John/Abel Smith Streets

Moore Street

Dixon Street

Grass Street Steps

Durham Street

Church Street

 

Amritsar Street Steps – 472

Maida Vale – 365

Birdwood – 220

Orangi Kaupapa Road Steps – 192

Church Street – 188

Allenby Terrace – 176

Hankey Street Steps – 153 – 48 lower and 145 to the top.

Dixon Street – 143

Plimmer’s Steps –  126 – 53 in first section from Lambton Quay, then another 73

 

The out-of-town contestant –

Coloniaal Knob , Porirua 721