Last updated October 2026
Captain Scott’s expedition sailed from Port Chalmers for Antarctica on 19 November 1910, and the town’s memorial to him is one of the stops on the tracks of the Port Chalmers Town Belt.
Dunedin City Council describes the town belt tracks as a loop of about 1.5 km around Port Chalmers that joins the memorial with the Old Cemetery, Centenary Lookout, Port Chalmers Cemetery and Lady Thorn Dell, and calls the route “visually gorgeous and interesting from start to finish”.
The council allows about an hour for the return walk. Paths and steps climb the forested slopes to lookouts over Careys Bay, the lower harbour and the container port, and dogs are allowed.
Practical Information
- Location
- The forested slopes above Port Chalmers; the council’s suggested start is on Church Street next to the Port Chalmers Substation, and the Rangi Loop Track also starts from the Scott’s Memorial car park
- Walking times
- About 1 hour return for the 1.5 km loop
- Track surface
- Asphalt, gravel and clay, with steps, some steep sections and uneven ground; no wheelchair or pram access
- Dogs
- Allowed
- Public transport
- Bus Route 14 runs from central Dunedin to Port Chalmers
- Facilities
- Parking next to the substation on Church Street and a small car park at the Lady Thorn Dell gates; no toilets on the track
- Opening hours
- Lady Thorn Dell is open to the public all year
- Managed by
- Dunedin City Council; Lady Thorn Dell Garden is managed by the Port Chalmers & District Lions Association
- Status
- Dunedin City Council: Port Chalmers Town Belt Tracks page
About Port Chalmers Town Belt
The town belt is reserve land on the forested slopes behind the port. The council’s loop uses two tracks, the Rangi Loop Track and Brailleys Track, so a single walk takes in two cemeteries, a memorial on a rock above the harbour, a lookout platform and a rhododendron garden.
Expect some steep sections and uneven terrain, according to the council’s track page. The council’s older “Wandering the West Harbour” brochure describes the surfaces as asphalt, gravel and clay and recommends strong walking shoes and warm clothing, because the weather can change suddenly.
You can park next to the substation on Church Street or walk up from the town centre, and the council points out that regular buses on Route 14 run from central Dunedin. A mural along the way shows the sights of the route.
The views are the reward. From different points on the circuit you look over Careys Bay, the lower Otago Harbour and out to Taiaroa Head, and down onto the container port.
Landmarks on the Circuit
Scott’s Memorial
According to NZHistory, the memorial is a tall, gently tapering column of Port Chalmers stone topped with an anchor, set on Height Rock above the harbour.
Architect Robert Burnside designed it, and public subscriptions paid for most of it. The Port Chalmers Borough Council decided to build it in March 1913, the foundation stone was laid that December, and Prime Minister W.F.
Massey unveiled it on 30 May 1914. A marble tablet on the landward side carries the names of Scott, Wilson, Oates, Bowers and Evans. The council brochure adds that a large iron anchor known as the “Nine Fathom Foul”, which snagged fishermen’s nets until it was hauled ashore in 1978, sits at the same spot.
Rangi Loop Track
Called the Rangi Park Track in the 2010 brochure, this circuit through a section of the town belt starts from the car park at Scott’s Memorial and climbs a series of steps.
A side branch leads to a dead-end lookout over Careys Bay, the lower harbour and Taiaroa Head. Further on, the brochure warns of a “rather awkward” stretch around a rock outcrop before the track follows the ridge and loops back down to Blueskin Road.
Centenary Lookout and the cemetery
Centenary Lookout is a viewing platform above the container port. From there, Brailleys Track continues to Port Chalmers Cemetery, where several short tracks loop around the graves and drop down into Careys Bay. The council describes the cemetery as a beautifully kept space in the forest.
Lady Thorn Dell
Lady Thorn Dell is a rhododendron garden laid out in an old quarry, with seats looking out over the harbour and the container port.
The council’s facility page says the garden honours Lady Thorn, a former Mayoress of Port Chalmers, and its track page says the Port Chalmers & District Lions Association manages it, with a large plant collection and rhododendrons in flower from spring through summer.
You can walk or drive up Church Street to the entrance, where there is a small car park at the gates.
Where to Learn More
Dunedin City Council: Port Chalmers Town Belt Tracks: the council’s page for the loop linking the cemeteries, Scott’s Memorial, Centenary Lookout and Lady Thorn Dell, with distance, time, dog rule and bus details.
Dunedin City Council: Lady Thorn Dell Garden: access and parking for the rhododendron garden off Church Street.
NZHistory (Manatū Taonga): Robert Scott Memorial, Port Chalmers: the story of the memorial cairn on Height Rock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Port Chalmers Town Belt?
On the slopes above Port Chalmers, on Otago Harbour. Its tracks link the Old Cemetery, Scott’s Memorial, Centenary Lookout, Port Chalmers Cemetery and Lady Thorn Dell.
How long is the walk?
The council’s loop is about 1.5 km and takes about an hour return.
Where does the walk start?
The council suggests starting on Church Street next to the Port Chalmers Substation, where there is parking, or walking up from the town centre.
How hard are the tracks?
Expect steps, some steep sections and uneven ground, including an awkward section around a rock outcrop on the Rangi Loop Track. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a warm layer.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes. The council’s track page says dogs are allowed.
Can I get there by bus?
Yes. Bus Route 14 runs from central Dunedin to Port Chalmers.
What is Scott’s Memorial?
A stone column topped with an anchor on Height Rock, unveiled in 1914 in memory of Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his companions, whose expedition sailed from Port Chalmers in 1910.
Who looks after the town belt?
Dunedin City Council lists the tracks, and the Port Chalmers & District Lions Association manages Lady Thorn Dell Garden.
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