Seton Nossiter Park is a 30-hectare gully reserve in the Grenada Village suburb of Wellington, on the northern edge of the city. The reserve contains a significant native forest restoration project — more than 25,000 native trees have been planted in the gully since the restoration began — alongside existing native forest along the Belmont Stream corridor. It is a peaceful bush reserve with 1.6 kilometres of walking tracks ranging from easy to more challenging terrain, and is a quiet escape from the surrounding residential suburbs.
Practical Information
| Location | Grenada Village, Wellington (northern suburbs) |
|---|---|
| Getting There | Drive to Grenada Village; Mark Avenue car park |
| Parking | Free parking at the Mark Avenue car park |
| Entry | Free |
| Hours | Open at all times |
| Facilities | Minimal — conservation reserve; nearest facilities in Grenada Village |
| Track length | Approximately 1.6km of tracks, easy to moderate |
| Stream | Belmont Stream runs through the gully |
About Seton Nossiter Park
Seton Nossiter Park was named in 1979 to honour a local heritage figure from the Grenada Village area. The reserve protects a bush gully running along the Belmont Stream — a tributary of the Porirua Stream — and contains a mix of existing native forest and replanted areas that are part of an ongoing restoration programme. The planting of more than 25,000 native trees has transformed what was once cleared gully land into regenerating native forest, with species including titoki, tawa and māhoe becoming established over the decades since restoration began.
The park is representative of the type of gully reserves found throughout Wellington’s northern suburbs, where stream corridors have been protected from development and progressively restored. These gullies provide wildlife corridors through the suburban landscape and are increasingly important as Wellington’s wider native bird and reptile populations recover.
Walking the Reserve
The reserve has approximately 1.6 kilometres of tracks ranging from easy flat sections along the stream floor to more challenging slopes on the gully sides. The walk through the full reserve takes approximately 30–45 minutes at a relaxed pace. The track surfaces vary — some sections are formed paths while others follow rougher terrain through the forest. The stream and forest setting makes the walk notably quieter and more sheltered than the exposed ridge walks found elsewhere in Wellington’s parks network.
Wellington City Council parks and reserves covers Seton Nossiter Park and other Grenada Village area reserves, including current track access information.
FAQ
Is Seton Nossiter Park free?
Yes — entry is free and the park is open at all times.
How long is the walk at Seton Nossiter Park?
The reserve has approximately 1.6km of tracks. At a relaxed pace the full walk takes about 30–45 minutes.
Where is Seton Nossiter Park?
The park is in the Grenada Village suburb on the northern edge of Wellington city. The Mark Avenue car park provides the main access point.
Is there parking at Seton Nossiter Park?
Yes — there is a free car park on Mark Avenue at the reserve entrance.
What native plants are in Seton Nossiter Park?
The restoration planting includes titoki, tawa and māhoe, with the native forest becoming increasingly established. Existing native forest lines the Belmont Stream corridor.
Is Seton Nossiter Park suitable for children?
Yes — the shorter tracks through the gully are suitable for families. Some sections are rougher terrain, so closed-toe shoes are recommended.
Seton Nossiter Park is one of Wellington’s northern suburbs reserves — see Wellington Parks and Reserves for more across the city. For larger native bush reserves with more track options, Otari-Wilton’s Bush in Wilton is a good choice.