Location: Southwestern end of Karori.
Entrance and exit points: The car park entrance to Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park is 1 kilometre down South Karori Road. Other entrances are the end of St Albans Ave, the end of Alington Road and at the summit of Makara Road, where the park joins the Skyline Walkway.
Brief description: Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park is an award-winning 45km purpose built bike park set in 250 hectares of bird-filled native bush. Whether you're a walker, runner or mountain biker there's a track at Makara Peak for you.
Across Makara Hill Road, a short distance along the main ridge, is the top of Karori Park, where there is another local network of tracks.
Parking: Car parks at South Karori Road entrance and Makara Saddle
Accessibility: Steep in places for walkers. Mountain bikers do not have to give way to walkers in this area.
Dogs: Must be kept on a leash.
Mountain biking: This is mountain biking heaven in Wellington. Some of the most famous trails are Koru, Missing Link and Aratihi for climbing. Then from the peak down there is a range for everyone - Peak Flow (grade 3), North Face (grade 4), Ridgeline (grade 5) and Vertigo and Trickle Falls (grade 6). Check out the supporters page below for more information and recommended rides.
History: The bike tracks were built by the mountain biking community and the Council. The Makara Peak Supporters aim to restore Makara Peak to a healthy native forest and have planted extensively while building tracks.
Since it was set up in 1998, Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park has become recognised as a world-class area dedicated to mountain biking.
The Council and the Makara Peak Supporters have prepared the Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park Master Plan (2MB PDF) to guide the management and development of the park over the next 10 years.
Friends group: Makara Peak Supporters.
Visit map