Mt Crawford and Its Historical Significance
Mt Crawford is situated at the northern tip of Te Motu Kairangi / Miramar Peninsula in Wellington. The Mt Crawford peak is 120 metres above the harbour, with outstanding views. However, the area is best known for the Mt Crawford Prison, established in the 1920s and closed around 2012. The derelict prison sits at the end of the road with plenty of car parking.
The old prison and the site are currently embroiled in Māori land disputes, delaying its development for housing and adding a curious dimension to your visit. You can walk around the prison before further exploring the tip of the peninsula.
Discovering the WWII Gun Emplacements
After parking, you'll find a closed road nestled between pine trees north of the Miramar community gardens. Despite the signage, you can walk through the gate, and the path leads to the Point Hallswell WWII concrete anti-aircraft gun emplacements. These structures, adorned with colourful graffiti, provide superb views of the harbour and Wellington.
Visiting the Memorial to William Massey
As you continue northeast below the emplacements, you will encounter the Massey Memorial. This monument commemorates the long-serving New Zealand Prime Minister who led the country during World War I. The memorial is impressive by New Zealand standards.
How to get there
To reach Mt Crawford, drive from Miramar Avenue on the west side of the peninsula onto Maupuia Road. This road heads north and then becomes Akaroa Drive. Akaroa Drive becomes Main Road and continues to the top, with plentiful parking next to the prison.
After your visit, you can continue around the east side of the prison on Nevay Road, which eventually gets you to Marine Parade next to Worser Bay. You can head south to Breaker Bay and north to Scorching Bay, with all three bays having attractive beaches.
