False advertising at its best – there are so many fantastic views I’m cheating by adding just a couple more. So here are the 7 Best Views, in my view – subjective of course.

 

MAIDA VALE STEPS

DEVON STREET STEPS

TANERA CRESCENT STEPS

AMRITSAR STREET STEPS

ORANGI KAUPAPA STREET STEPS

GRASS STREET STEPS

ORIENTAL TERRACE ZIGZAG

 

 

 

FIND THESE STEPS – Devon Street intersects Aro Street just across from Aro Video (worth a visit if you can). The first set of steps are at 34 Devon Street leading down to rather un-cared for but interesting old houses. The steps leading to Victoria University are at 48 Devon Street; from the top at the car park at Victoria University beyond Te Puni Village.

Houses in the valley on the way up Devon Street – the steps below lead to the far houses.

Farther up Devon Street, opposite the curve, are the steps to Victoria University (still that name in 2019 but it may change).

Some cryptic markings up the steps – words of encouragement or counting the steps?

Railings imported from Thailand?

A somber reminder of Christchurch, 15 October 2019.

 

 

FIND THESE STEPS – Epuni Street is off Aro Street, and just a short walk away is Levina Avenue, between 37 and 39 Epuni; it ends among a few cottages at the top.

Ms Irvine-Smith records that Epuni Street is properly ‘Te Puni’; named for the rangatira of Petone, and one of the signatories of the Waitangi Treaty.

The Avenue is named for Lavina Adams, the wife of one of the original land owners of this area. There’s only 50 steps, and just up to a tiny garden area surrounded by a few villas, but it is a lovely little excursion with a great view across to the Aro Valley hills.

Ms Irvine-Smith wrote of this street – ‘Leading to the Central Park Hospital is another of our “women” streets’; the Central Park Hospital fronted on Ohiro Road and had been The Ohiro Benevolent Home for retirees, established in 1893, then became a small hospital before closing in 1975. I can find no further details about the eventual destruction of the hospital, or the path or steps rising above Levina Street to reach there.

FIND THESE STEPS – At 181 Aro Street, and near 1 Durham Street at the top of the first flight of steps, and at 22 Durham Street at the next level, which comes out at the top across from 41 Durham Street.

The entry on Aro Street. Wellington City Council has compiled a collection of interesting information on the buildings in Aro Velley in the Wellington City District Plan 2000 (amended 2014).

Looking back at the first flight of steps.

At the beginning of the next flight.

At the top.

 

FIND THESE STEPS – At the end of the cul-de-sac of Randolph Road, and at the top at 37 Winston Street.

The Wellingtonian reported in 2012 that more than 20 streets in Crofton Downs are linked to Winston Churchill. With nearby Churchill Drive, there must be a Winston Street, and it is a little set of steps with a very nice view.

 

 

FIND THESE STEPS – At 140 Raroa Road on the lower level, and at 11 Zetland Street at the top.

Zetland Street is presumably named for the Earl of Zetland, Thomas Dundas – for whom a suburb of Sydney is named.;  Zetland is an archaic spelling of Shetland.

The steps are owned by this cat.

Cryptic markings for future Council improvements to the steps.

From the top on Zetland.

 

FIND THESE STEPS – At the end of Entrance Street, off the bend in Aro Street, and at the top at 139 Raroa Road.

Norway Street, writes Ms Irvine-Smith, has no connection to the country; it is instead a mistake by Wellington City Council. It was originally named ‘Norna Street’ by the former estate owner, Henry Tait, who also named these steps for the island of Thule in the Shetlands. Entrance Street was the entry to Taitville.

I can’t make out this unofficial inscription on a step along the way.

On my visit, someone had thoughtfully left a seat as, presumably, a just reward for the long climb.

FIND THESE STEPS – Between Tasman and Hanson Street at the top of Drummond Street, at 39 Tasman Street at the top and 2 Hanson Street on the lower level.

Ms Irvine-Smith wrote that Drummond Street is thought to be named for Edward Drummond, private secretary to the Duke of Wellington. In 1843 Drummond was mistaken for British Prime Minister Robert Peel and killed by an assassin. The assassin, Daniel M’Naghten, was found not guilty by a new measure for insanity. The M’Naghten Rule gives law students world wide difficulty for its spelling.

On the other side of Adelaide Road, Drummond Street forms the trade entrance to Government House.

The Drummond Street landmark, at the intersection with Adelaide Road,  was for years the Tramway Hotel, as noted by Wellington City Council, “The building is a rare surviving example of typical late Victorian Hotel” and was built in 1899. Although it still stands, it is closed now, and the trams, too, are history. In 1972 Prime Minister Norman Kirk lived for a short while in an upstairs room.

City Council renovated the former pathway in 2011 to produced these impressive, modern steps.

An example of the stunning art produced by workers at Wellington City Council.

FIND THESE STEPS – Just off Hutt Road opposite Placemakers, turn left at Rangiora Street and the steps are at the first curve in the road.

The steps look little used, but they lead to a rugby field and may be a good short cut to the houses above. But the entry way could be a bit tidier.