Best Mountain Bike Trails in Hawkins Hill
Hawkins Hill in Wellington offers some of the city's best mountain biking with hand-crafted trails through bush-clad slopes, featuring stunning views from the Brooklyn wind turbine. The terrain ranges from the notoriously steep Tip Track to flowing descents like Carparts, with excellent access via the Transient and Clinical trails. Managed by the Brooklyn Trail Builders since 2008, this destination combines technical challenge with panoramic city and south coast views.
Trails
Showing 1 - 7 of 7 trails
Intermediate
126.5m
-26m
1h 5m
A short downhill, starting from the northern end of the concrete platform on the top of Hawkins Hill. Ride up Hawkins Hill Road and turn a sharp left before you reach the golf ball (radome), past the chain gate and onto the summit. Possibly the best views in Wellington so worth going to the summit. The trail down is an old school goat trail; short, but better than going down the road.
Intermediate
1.4m
235m
-472m
13h 30m
Two-way track that runs from the southern end of Car Parts Extension to the intersection of the Tip Track and Red Rocks.
Intermediate
3.1 km
29m
-271m
6h 50m
Tight swoopy trail that flows down the hill just below Hawkins Hill Road. Narrow in places with tight tree canopy and steep climbing reversals makes it a touch harder than Ikigai. Increases difficulty with speed. Can be wet in winter or after southerly rain.Managed by the Brooklyn Trail Builders crew and volunteers. Parts of dumped and broken vehicles uncovered while building the trail are on display at various spots.
Intermediate
1.6m
41m
-62m
7h 55m
Two-way single track that links the Brooklyn wind turbine to Barking Emu and Hawkins Hill. Some open fast sections and some slower, narrow, techy sections. Can get busy on the weekends with walkers, runners and riders in both directions so keep an eye (and ear) out for on-coming traffic.
Intermediate
1.1m
69m
-9m
Another classic climbing trail built by volunteers lead by the expert Brooklyn Trail Builders. Climbs at a steady gradient with a nice wide bench. Also known as "T16 Uphill".
Advanced
1.1m
34m
-170m
Trail 16 is a grade 4 (advanced) singletrack crafted by the expert Brooklyn Trail Builders and volunteers and opened in September 2025. It took over 3,700 hours of volunteer labour to plan, design and build.The trail makes great use of the terrain available, with optional (well signposted) b-lines that are closer to grade 5. Look out for other riders when crossing Windmill climbing track about a third of the way down.
Intermediate
1.8m
101m
-31m
9h 51m
Uphill complement to Car Parts Bikes - uphill only. Foot - 2 way.