Recreation

The Council is working to enhance and extend the track network through Wellington's Town Belts and reserves.

Walkways

The Town Belt and Outer Green Belt are strewn with walking tracks. The Council maintains just under 100 km of tracks, which are open to walkers, runners and mountain bikers / cyclists unless declared closed for a specific purpose.

Some of these make up Wellington's main walkways and are signposted. Others such as on Mount Victoria are not part of structured routes.

The most popular destinations within the Town Belts are the Botanic Garden, Otari-Wilton's Bush, Karori Sanctuary and Makara Peak.

Also popular are sections of the Outer Green Belt's main ridge, like Johnston's Hill and Mt Kaukau.

Walkways

Mount Victoria Orienteering Course

An orienteering course has been established in the Mount Victoria Town Belt. Described as a cross between chess and trail running, orienteering participants use a map and compass to find their way through a cross-country style course.

Maps of the Mount Victoria course can be downloaded on the Wellington Orienteering Club website.

Wellington Orienteering Club website

Mountain Biking

Popular areas for mountain biking include:

• Mount Victoria
• most of the Southern Walkway
• Te Kopahou Reserve
• firebreaks around Karori Wildlife Sanctuary
• Skyline Walkway from Karori to Johnsonville
• Wrights Hill
• George Denton Park
• Polhill Reserve
• Miramar Peninsula.

Mountain Biking in Wellington (5.03Mb PDF)

Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park

A community initiative supported by the Council, the park has more than 30 km of tracks and is recognised as one of the country's best mountain biking areas.

Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park website

Because Wellington's tracks are used by many people, the Council supports the Mountain Bike NZ Code of Conduct.

Code of Conduct - Mountain Bike NZ website

Tours

Free guided tours are held on the first Sunday of every month at 10.00am from November to April. Meet at the Makara Peak car park (South Karori Road) next to the information / map booth. These informal rides are open to anyone - especially beginners, families and those new to the city. Allow 90 minutes for the tour.

Award

Wellington City Council and the Makara Peak Supporters group recently won the New Zealand Recreation Association's (NZRA) 2010 Outstanding Park Award for their collaboration on Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park.

News Release - 20.12.10

New Mountain Bike Tracks

With Council support, volunteers have built three new tracks. Two of these tracks link Ashton Fitchett Drive in Brooklyn and one is on Miramar Peninsula:

• Polhill Reserve (Transient track)
• George Denton Park (Highbury Fling track)
• Miramar Peninsula (Jail Brake track)

The new Polhill Gully track is designed for bike use, while walkers can use the current track (although walkers can also use the new bike track if they want to). The new Highbury Fling track to George Denton Park is for mountain bikers and walkers.

The Council has created three skills areas to help kids develop basic techniques to cycle off-road.

The locations are:

• Alexandra Road, Mount Victoria - Newtown-end of the road in the Town Belt
• Karori Park - on the hill behind the park
• Central Park - in the playground
• Miramar watertowers - off Main Road near Wellington Prison.

Areas Closed to Mountain Biking

Some areas and tracks in Wellington are closed to mountain biking.

Schedule A - Open Space Access Plan (42Kb PDF)

Horse Riding

Wellington city has some tracks available for horse riding.

• Old Coach Road, between Johnsonville and Ohariu Valley
• Te Kopahou, the reserve west of Owhiro Bay
• Woodburn Reserve, Takapu

These tracks are also open to walkers, runners and mountain bikers.

Related Links

• Open Space Access Plan
• Reserves and Town Belt - Volunteers
• Projects - Owhiro Bay Entrance
• Track Recreation Activities Policy
• Tracks New Zealand website

Department Details:
Reserves & Town Belt (Parks & Gardens)