Waterfront permanent course

Welcome to our permanent orienteering course on the Wellington waterfront! Download the map, read the tips below and navigate your way around the course.

What is orienteering?

It’s like going for a walk (or a run) while having a little adventure along the way. Navigate your way around a series of control points by following a clear, detailed map of the area. You can stroll around the course at your own pace, or get some serious mental and physical exercise - up to you! Find out more about orienteering.

How to go orienteering

Read the map

Download the map to your device, or print it out on A4 paper. A paper map is usually easier to handle, but you can zoom in on your device screen to better see the detail.

The map is an accurate and detailed representation of the terrain. Check the legend on the map to understand what the different colours and symbols mean.

This map is at 1:5000 scale when printed on A4 paper, which means 1 centimetre on the map represents 50 metres in real life.

Follow the course

You need to find your way from one control to the next using the information on the map. Turn the map as you go, so it lines up with the world around you. This means what’s in front of you on the map will be in front of you in the world, making finding your way straightforward. We call this “orienting” the map, and it’s easy to do if you pick a big feature, like the edge of a building or the sea. Find the same feature on the map and rotate it to match them up.

The purple lines on your map show you the direction to the next control, but you won’t be able to follow them exactly - buildings, walls and water get in the way!

Give yourself about 30 minutes to complete the course - if you’re short on time you can always skip a few controls.

Find the controls

You visit each numbered control point in sequence. The purple circles show where they are, and the control feature (marked with a plaque) is at the exact centre of each circle.

On the waterfront, the plaques are black and white, with a number in the lower left and two letters in the upper right. When you get to a control, write down the letters. If you visit all the controls in the correct order, you’ll find a hidden message!

Next steps

If you enjoy the experience, come along to one of our local events for more! We have courses suitable for everyone from absolute beginners (including children and families) to experts. You can also find out more about getting started, or try another permanent course.