Makara Walkway – a big hill, an old fort and a windfarm

After I moved to Wellington 11 years ago I took myself out exploring to get acquainted with the place. One such outing was to Makara Beach, on the south-western coast, for I walk I’d read about – over farmland up to coastal gun emplacements.

It was great – though very belatedly I read a sign which said there was to be no access during lambing season. Guess which season it was? Doh.

I returned to Makara a couple of times in the ensuing years but never ventured beyond the beach. Finally last year it seemed like a good idea to haul Mike and boys out there to repeat the walk.

Makara is a rugged beach with stones instead of sand

After a short walk hugging the beach we went inland and fairly quickly headed ‘up’. The up on this walk is a decent one which on this crisp clear autumn day this meant stunning views out to the Tasman.

Makara Beach in Ohariu Bay

I don’t normally get too close to spider webs – must’ve been feeling especially bold

A boy and a wind turbine

Getting started on the up bit

The gun emplacements are remnants of Fort Opau, a twin 6” battery established as part of our World War II coastal defence system. It became operational in 1942, though as with many such sites in NZ (thankfully), there transpired to be no invading forces to ever fire a shot at.

The guns were removed in 1944 (more than one year before WWII ended)

Inside the command post

Inside the observation post

Site of the old barracks

A rather prime position for a coastal battery

And yonder, a windfarm

The walkway can be tackled as a loop though I don’t think I realised that at the time. I’d like to go back and do that but this day we just retraced our earlier steps.

Down we go

Coming down is so much easier

No lambs were harmed in the making of this post.