The Thorndon Quay Cycleway opened in July 2025, completing a critical gap in Wellington’s northern cycling corridor. Running along Thorndon Quay between the Hutt Road Cycleway and Wellington’s central waterfront, it provides a separated two-way cycling path through one of the city’s busiest traffic corridors — giving commuters from Lower Hutt, Johnsonville, and the northern suburbs a safe, connected route into the CBD.
Practical Information
| Route | Hutt Road / Aotea Quay junction to Bunny Street / Wellington waterfront |
| Surface | Sealed, two-way separated cycleway |
| Difficulty | Easy — flat urban route |
| Cost | Free |
| Opened | 15 July 2025 |
| Connections | Hutt Road Cycleway (north), Wellington Waterfront Shared Path (south) |
About the Cycleway
Thorndon Quay is a busy four-lane road running along the northern harbour edge between the rail corridor and the inner suburbs of Thorndon. For years it was a missing link in Wellington’s cycling network — cyclists connecting from Hutt Road to the central waterfront had no safe separated path through this section.
The 2025 cycleway upgrade introduced a two-way cycling path along Thorndon Quay, connecting the existing Hutt Road Cycleway to Bunny Street and the central Wellington waterfront path. The project also introduced peak-hour bus lanes to improve public transport travel times along the same corridor — part of a broader effort to shift Wellington commuters away from single-occupancy vehicles.
The completion of this link means that cyclists can now travel from Lower Hutt (via the Te Ara Tupua sections) or from Wellington’s northern suburbs (via Hutt Road) all the way to the waterfront on a continuous connected safe path. It significantly increases the practicality of cycling as a daily commute option for the hundreds of riders using the northern corridor.
The Northern Cycling Corridor
Thorndon Quay connects three key cycling infrastructure projects into a single corridor:
Te Ara Tupua (Waka Kotahi) brings riders from Lower Hutt along the harbour edge to Ngauranga. The Hutt Road Cycleway (upgraded 2019) carries them from Ngauranga into the city. The Thorndon Quay Cycleway (opened 2025) bridges the final gap into the central waterfront. Together, they represent a decade’s worth of investment in Wellington’s most important commuter cycling route.
Where to Learn More
Wellington City Council — Thorndon Quay Project — project background, design details, and connection to the wider active travel network.
Let’s Get Wellington Moving — Thorndon Quay and Hutt Road — the broader transport planning context for cycling, buses, and traffic management on this corridor.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Thorndon Quay Cycleway open?
The Thorndon Quay Cycleway officially opened on 15 July 2025.
What does the Thorndon Quay Cycleway connect to?
At the northern end it connects to the Hutt Road Cycleway (and via that to Te Ara Tupua toward Lower Hutt). At the southern end it connects to the Wellington Waterfront Shared Path at Bunny Street.
Is the Thorndon Quay Cycleway separated from traffic?
Yes — it is a dedicated two-way cycling path separated from motor traffic lanes along Thorndon Quay.
See all cycling routes: Cycling Tracks in Wellington
Continuing north: Hutt Road Cycleway — toward Lower Hutt via the Te Ara Tupua corridor.