![City to Sea Bridge, Wellington](/img/gd_attr/28576.jpg)
City to Sea Bridge, Wellington
The City to Sea Bridge is essentially a walkway that doubles as a piece of public art. It officially opened on October 31, 1993, and stretches over the main road called Jervois Quay, creating a link between the city's Civic Square and the waterfront area by Whairepo Lagoon. Nearby, you'll find key city landmarks like the Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington Town Hall, the City Art Gallery, and the Central Library. This bridge has turned into a notable spot for visitors.
The design task was given to architects Rewi Thompson and John Gray by the Wellington City Council, with artist Paratene Matchitt adding his creative touch. The city wanted the bridge to highlight the importance of the waterfront and the public spaces around it. Matchitt’s unique wooden sculptures, some forming the bridge's sides, are a standout feature. On one side, there are large bird sculptures symbolizing greeting and celebration, while the other side features whale sculptures that also represent Ngake and Whātaitai, two mythical creatures from Māori stories believed to have formed Wellington Harbour.
The bridge also features poles with metal designs, including moon and stars for celestial navigation, and other symbols drawn from Te Kooti's flag, Te Wepu. These elements reflect Te Kooti's ideas, which Matchitt incorporated into this project and his other works. The overall design of the bridge symbolizes Wellington's natural landscape and marks a place of arrival and transformation. At the Civic Square end, there are two stone sculptures by Matt Pine, called Prow and Capital, which blend European and Māori cultural themes.
The design task was given to architects Rewi Thompson and John Gray by the Wellington City Council, with artist Paratene Matchitt adding his creative touch. The city wanted the bridge to highlight the importance of the waterfront and the public spaces around it. Matchitt’s unique wooden sculptures, some forming the bridge's sides, are a standout feature. On one side, there are large bird sculptures symbolizing greeting and celebration, while the other side features whale sculptures that also represent Ngake and Whātaitai, two mythical creatures from Māori stories believed to have formed Wellington Harbour.
The bridge also features poles with metal designs, including moon and stars for celestial navigation, and other symbols drawn from Te Kooti's flag, Te Wepu. These elements reflect Te Kooti's ideas, which Matchitt incorporated into this project and his other works. The overall design of the bridge symbolizes Wellington's natural landscape and marks a place of arrival and transformation. At the Civic Square end, there are two stone sculptures by Matt Pine, called Prow and Capital, which blend European and Māori cultural themes.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Wellington. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
City to Sea Bridge on Map
Sight Name: City to Sea Bridge
Sight Location: Wellington, New Zealand (See walking tours in Wellington)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: Wellington, New Zealand (See walking tours in Wellington)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in Wellington, New Zealand
Create Your Own Walk in Wellington
Creating your own self-guided walk in Wellington is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Historical Buildings Walking Tour
The first immigrants to New Zealand brought along their sense of style. Most of the country's first settlers, if not all of them, were Britishers; the capital city was no exception. The latter fact is duly reflected in Wellington's historical architecture. These buildings offer a glimpse into the city's past and add a great deal of charm to the cityscape. Let's take a quick... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Wellington Introduction Walking Tour
Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and the country's second-largest city after Auckland. It also has the distinction of being the world's windiest city by average wind speed.
The city was designed by Captain William Mein Smith in 1840. He was the first Surveyor General for Edward Wakefield's New Zealand Company. The name comes from Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
The city was designed by Captain William Mein Smith in 1840. He was the first Surveyor General for Edward Wakefield's New Zealand Company. The name comes from Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles