The Centre of New Zealand walk starts in the Botanical Reserve on the eastern edge of town and climbs through pines and regenerating native bush to a viewpoint at 168 metres. The path is well-graded and takes about thirty minutes each way at an easy pace.
The view at the top is the main reward: Tasman Bay laid out one way, the Maitai Valley and the mountains beyond the other, with the town spread between. Sunset and the hour before are particularly good. The walk also makes a respectable runner's loop if combined with the Maitai River track on the way back.