City to Sea Bridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids City to Sea Bridge
The bridge from Civic Square
Coordinates	41°17′20″S 174°46′43″E / 41.288775°S 174.778589°E / -41.288775; 174.778589
Carries	Pedestrians
Crosses	Jervois Quay
Locale	Wellington City, New Zealand
Characteristics
Material	reinforced concrete and timber
History
Opened	1994

The City to Sea Bridge is a unique pedestrian bridge and a large public artwork in Wellington City, New Zealand. It opened in 1994 and has a cool wedge shape. This bridge crosses a busy road called Jervois Quay. It connects Civic Square to the beautiful Wellington waterfront area at Whairepo Lagoon.

Around Civic Square, you can find important buildings like the Michael Fowler Centre, the Wellington Town Hall, the Wellington City Art Gallery, and the Wellington Central Library.

Detail of the City to Sea Bridge, showing one of the bridge sides, made from large rough-cut slabs of timber cut away in patterns. A grill-work porthole looks through the side into the high-rise building beyond.

A Bridge with Amazing Art

The City to Sea Bridge is not just a way to get from one place to another. It's also a giant piece of art! The bridge is decorated with special wooden sculptures. These were carved by a famous Māori artist named Paratene Matchitt. Some of these carvings actually form the sides of the bridge itself.

Why the Bridge is Special

The artwork on the bridge makes it very unique. It shows off Māori culture and art in a modern way. Because of its cool design and beautiful carvings, the City to Sea Bridge has become a popular spot for tourists. People love to visit it and take photos. It's a great example of how art can be part of everyday city life.

Images for kids

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  Looking from the bridge down into Civic Square, with Matt Pine's sculptures at the base of the stairs.