Mountain Bike Trails in Mākara Peak Mountain Bike Park

Aratihi

Moderate gradient climbing track from the end of Missing Link to the Summit and part of the Grand Loop network of tracks. The first 1/3 of the track is the steepest before becoming gentler over the last 2/3. The main intermediate grade climb to the summit, via Upswing and the Wild at Heart suspension bridge joins Aratihi about 2/3 of the way up the climb. Built by Makara Peak volunteers from 2003-2006, a short section of new single track was built in 2019 by TGL and funded by WCC that bypasses the final pinch climb up the 4WD track to the summit.

Bailout

New exit out to South Karori Road from the bottom Leaping Lizard for those who don't want to have to climb back up into the park via Possum Bait Line. Makes Leaping Lizard a much more appealing prospect. Built by the Makara Peak Supporters and several corporate work parties over 2014.

Big Toms Wheelie

A short piece of single track linking the hub at the end of Smokin, Starfish and Miro to the hub (picnic table and mapboard) at the end of Magic Carpet and Koru, and the start of Sally Alley, Lazy Fern and SWIGG. Relatively wide and a few basic rollers to keep things interesting.

G4T Indicative Line (Concept)

Planned trail line.

Koru #201

This is the main entrance track into Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park from the entrance and carpark on South Karori Road. It was built by Makara Peak volunteers and WCC contractors in 1999/2000, and opened by the then Minister of Sport and Recreation, Tevor Mallard. The section between the skills area exit and Sally Alley was built by the Salvation Army Rimutaka Prison Conservation Corps in one week in May 2000. There was a major overhaul completed by WCC and Contractors in 2023-24 to fix drainage and widen the bench to make it easier for beginners. It begins at a moderate gradient above Karori Stream, before getting a touch steeper as it enters regenerating native bush and climbs through a series of three switchbacks. Afterwards the track continues up the hill with some brief flat or downhill sections to provide some respite for your legs. About two-thirds of the way up the hill you can exit onto a short connector that takes you to the skills area. The last third of the track is quite undulating, with less elevation gain making for a much gentler ride. At the end of Koru, you can return to the carpark via Lazy Fern (grade 2), SWIGG (grade 3), do a loop of Magic Carpet (grade 2), or continue on up the hill on Sally Alley towards the swing bridge and the summit. Due to the steady nature of the climb, and the narrowness of the track in some sections, some riders who are very new to mountain biking may prefer to practice their skills and get more comfortable by entering the park via the Allington Road entrance and using Rimu and Miro.

Koru Shortcut

Extremely steep, physically demanding and technically challenging shortcut track that skips the lower switchbacks of Koru. Just when you think you're making progress you hit a series of rocks that make it even harder to keep moving forward. In the wet - don't bother. Probably closer to Expert grade given how steep it is.

Kārearea #322

Kārearea is a machine built grade 3 (intermediate/light blue) constructed by TGL and Slack Trails funded by Wellington City Council. Probably best described as flow-tech, with some flow and some awkward off-camber sections and tight corners. It starts at the top of Varley's, sharing the first 100m of track, before splitting off down the Karori side of the ridge. Easy to session in combination with T4.

Lazy Fern #203

Family friendly downhill trail back to the main entrance on South Karori Road. The trail is wider than the other tracks that return to the main entrance, with sweeping switchbacks, generally smooth surface and of a gentle downward gradient making this suitable for beginners, but can still be fun for those more advanced riders. This is the second half of the 'easy' loop that starts with the Koru uphill track. Lazy Fern starts across the 4WD track at the top of Koru and the track goes through some of the best bush that Makara Peak has to offer. Built by Makara Peak volunteers, WCC contractors and staff during 2006-2008. Had a major overhaul thanks to funding from WCC in 2022.

Leaping Lizard

One of the original Makara Peak trails and offers something different in the Wellington area. It's a fast rough and relatively wide plunge down the valley that suits big bikes and rewards staying off the brakes. It doesn't get a lot of maintenance, so the chutes near the bottom can change after heavy rain. It ends at the most remote part of the park at which point you can exit out via Bail Out to the end of South Karori Road, or climb back into the park via the steep and challenging Possum Bait Line. Track starts off with a fast roller coaster style downhill along an old farm 4WD track. You will pass a left hand branch that takes you down Nikau. From here the track switches back into single track, which is tight in places and increasingly steep and loose.

Live Wires

Fun fast track with a natural surface. The track splits half way down with the Advanced line running on the right and the Expert Black) line running off to the left. The tracks rejoin and run out together. Built by Makara Peak volunteers in 1998 and 1999. Most of it was originally called Pylon 19.

Live Wires - Expert Line

Expert (Black) alternative line on Live Wires. Take the left at the signposted split. It gets steep in places so be prepared.

Lizard Link

Short two way connector from Aratihi to Upper Leaping Lizard.

Magic Carpet #202

In late 2025 Magic Carpet was changed to ride in the opposite direction. It now begins at the picnic table at the top of Koru. The second half is being rebuilt and improved with a new downhill section that will open in 2026. Riders can return along Koru back to the picnic table. Magic Carpet is a flowy, wide trail that's pretty flat compared with the rest of the park, with a few gentle up and downs along the way. When combined with Miro, Rimu and Lazy Fern It's a great option for beginners and riders new to mountain biking to help develop skills, confidence and fitness. Originally built by WCC contractors and Mākara Peak Supporters in late 1999, Magic Carpet was extended to create a loop back to Lazy Fern in 2017.

Miro #207

Miro has been designed and built as a wide, fun, flowing trail with good sight lines that is perfect for beginners and people new to mountain biking. Note that the trail is downhill priority from Snakecharmer back towards Rimu, and then one way from the intersection with Rimu up to Smokin. For beginners who have been dropped off at the Rimu entrance to the park on Allington Road, Miro can be combined with Big Tom's Wheelie and Lazy Fern to provide an enjoyable one-way ride down to the main carpark on South Karori Road. Alternatively riders can link to Magic Carpet and then back along Miro or down Lazy Fern. Miro was built in winter 2017 by TGL Contracting with help from Makara Peak Supporters and volunteers, and paid for by Wellington City Council. For riders looking for a something different than entering the park via the main carpark and Koru, riding in via the St Albans entrance into Rimu and Miro offers a nice bit of variety and some underused singletrack. For riders coming off Vertigo, Yeah Gnar or Trickle Falls, head further along Rimu to the steep Rimu to Miro Connector and turn right onto Miro, and then along the end of Smokin.

Missing Link

Old school singletrack that was one of the first built in the park by Makara Peak volunteers in 1998/1999. It used to be the main singletrack route to the summit before Upswing was built. Is now largely left alone to age gracefully. Expect it to be narrow, rocky, pinch climbs, off camber and plenty of Makara rock. Missing Link links the lower tracks to Aratihi, Leaping Lizard, Possum Track and Nikau Valley. It is narrow and has some nasty drop offs to be wary of. Most importantly Missing Link is a TWO WAY track so be careful on blind corners and ride like there is a walker / rider / elephant just around the corner.

New SW G4 Trail

Name to be confirmed. This is a new Grade 4 descending trail being built by Makara Peak Supporters in late 2025. It will link the high point of Upper Leaping Lizard, with the start of Leaping Lizard.

Nikau Valley

Nikau Valley is one of the hidden gems in Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park. It's slightly out of the way, but with a narrow and rough track surface, that winds through some of the best regenerating bush in the park, you'll be rewarded with a true old-style Advanced (almost Expert in the wet) track that feels comparatively isolated, with an almost back country feel to it. The first half of the track drops fairly steeply to the stream on the valley floor before some technical uphill brings you back to near the low point on Missing Link. Built by Makara Peak Supporters in 2000/2001.

North Face

The second easiest downhill route from the summit back towards the main park entrance. In mid-2021 the Supporters and Trails Wellington refurbished the trail to bring back some flow, fix the drainage, and bring it back to it's original grade 3 standard. It's sheltered from the southerly (hence the name) and built on top of typically rocky Makara Peak terrain. It's still a step up in technical difficulty and challenge from Peak Flow. It starts off with a fast section with nice flow through a couple of bermed switchbacks, rollers and shaped corners weaving between native trees. There are a couple of short pinch climbs through the middle section, the track surface gets a bit rougher in places, and there are a couple of off-camber corners and rocky outcrops to negotiate. The last part of the track winds its way down the hill via a series of flat and bermed switchbacks, some of which are quite exposed on the outside edge. If you're comfortable with Peak Flow and want a new challenge, give it a go. The track doesn't get really steep, but there are a couple of sections intermediate grade riders may prefer to walk while they build their confidence and skills.

Peak Flow

Peak Flow is a fairly wide digger-built flow track designed to be the easiest descent from the summit of Makara Peak in the direction of the main car park on South Karori Road. The first section of the track heads down from the summit over a couple of gentle rollers and berms before a short climb takes you to the high point on the track. From there it drops at a steady rate down the southern side of Makara Peak. The trail features well sculptured berms, rollers and small table tops to provide a fast and enjoyable style of track not found elsewhere on Makara Peak. While Peak Flow is a grade 3 intermediate track, there's plenty of features to keep more highly skilled riders entertained or help riders continue to develop and progress their skills. From the bottom of Peak Flow riders can continue on intermediate grade trails including Three Brothers, JFK, Smokin and Lazy Fern to the main car park or head back up to the summit for another run via Sally Alley and Upswing.

Possum Bait Line

This is the challenging climb up from the southern extremity of the Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park. After diverging from Leaping Lizard, this track starts out innocently enough with a gentle meander along a grassy valley floor. Then things get tough, as the track climbs up a series of very steep and tight switchbacks. After the switchbacks it continues to climb steeply towards Nikau Valley. Parts of the upper section are narrow, with the gap between trees barely wider than bike handlebars. With the construction of Supa Kanuka, you can now either exit the trail at the intersection with Nikau Valley - losing most of your hard earned elevation over a rocky descent into the valley, or traverse around the top of the valley to Aratihi. Built by Grant Preston-Thomas & Friends, Don Macleod and Makara Peak volunteers 2006-2008.