A return track from the city to the clifftop for a view along Caroline Bay.

Start at the top of the Piazza steps and descend. The Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden is opposite the bottom of the steps and is well worth a visit. 

Follow the Willow walk and the Memorial walkways towards the Caroline Bay Community Lounge. The Memorial Wall was built in the 1920s to commemorate the land and sea battles in which New Zealanders fought in the Great Wars. When this wall was built it marked the line where land and sea met.

The Palliser Fountain is on the corner of the lawn on the left side towards the end of the wall. In summer this area is busy with the carnival rides. From in front of the Community Lounge, continue across the car park or grassed area alongside the CPlay playground to follow the road up to the railway bridge.

Take the cliff path up to the Benvenue Cliffs and enjoy the view of Caroline Bay, Beckett's Lighthouse is to the north of the bridge. Cross the footbridge over the rail-way line to Benvenue Avenue. On your left you pass the ASB Tennis Centre and the CBAY Trust Aoraki Centre. Walk back down Virtue Avenue and follow the track to the right behind the tennis courts to the aviary. Take the right diagonal path and turn left at the Bay Tea Rooms. Continue walking on this path through the Sound Shell until you reach the Piazza.
Or explore the lighthouse lookout and Caroline Bay boardwalk.

For a shorter walk (30 minutes) exclude the Benvenue Cliffs. For extensions to this walk, exit from the beach to Marine Parade and continue along Port Loop Road, Hayes Street and Stuart Street to the Coastal Track.  Please look both ways at all rail crossings and cross with care.

Features

• Views of Caroline Bay, Dashing Rocks and mountains from Piazza
• Swimming pool and playground for children. Picnic area close by.
• Wheelpark for skateboarders, roller-bladers and scooter users
• Annual Caroline Bay carnival starts Boxing Day each year (December 26) and continues into the early New Year
• Bird aviary
• Sound shell for concerts
• Wheelchair access on Bay only, not on Benvenue Cliffs
• Dogs allowed on the beach in winter only (1 April - 30 September)