Urban fringe
Point to Point (one way)
Very hilly
Dog Friendly
Native bush
Open farmlands
Open ridges/tops
Sealed Road
Gravel Road
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +8.0%
Average Downhill Gradient: -8.5%
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8:00
Slow
6:00
Moderate
4:00
Fast
As described on the race website:
Head up to Mt Kaukau lookout. From the lookout, take the LEFT track which will take you along the SKYLINE track. You'll want to follow the yellow markers for 11-12 km until you reach Makara Road. There are also some signs which point towards Makara Hill Road, so follow these. Watch for traffic here as you cross the road, and head up the drive, through the barrier, and head on up the track on your RIGHT called VARLEYS in BLUE. Keep going up, and veer RIGHT until you hit the 4WD track. Turn LEFT, and follow this up, and it will take you to Makara peak lookout.
From here you want to keep going over and follow the 4WD track just over the ridge. carry on down the 4WD track veering to the RIGHT down 701 Snake Charmer, until you see a green sign that says 'Lazy Fern' - take this all the way down until you hit the MTB car park. Exiting the car park, hang RIGHT on South Karori road, and then LEFT onto Hazlewood Ave, and then RIGHT onto Fitzgerald Place. At the end of the street there is a trail (Salvation) taking you up through Wrights Hill reserve. Keep following this trail until you reach Wrights Hill Road. Cross directly over the road (watch for traffic here!) and follow the signs through to the Sanctuary Fence line.
Once you get to the Sanctuary path, hang RIGHT and carry on around the trail until you get to the Wind Turbine. Head over the barrier, and past the Turbine, and you'll want to head SOUTH. You'll find a marked trail just over the road. Take this track, and continue following this all of the way down to the top of the Tip Track and then down to Happy Valley Road. Once on Happy Valley Road, head LEFT, and go past CarlucciLand on your LEFT. On your RIGHT you'll see a track, and a gate to Tawatawa reserve.
Go through here (close the gate after), and head on up the zig-zag trail until you reach the top. Now you want to follow the path down some stairs, past a water tank on your RIGHT, and carry on until you reach a few track options. Take the path HARD LEFT (past the bathtub). When you hit the gate a few meters past here, take another HARD LEFT.
Keep following this track down and eventually you will come out at the Golf Course. Stick to the RIGHT around here, and you can follow down to Adelaide road via a Soccer field. Take care crossing Adelaide as it's a busy one. Go up the side of the BMX track to the Scout den, and head around the LEFT side. You will see a 4WD track going up. This is quite a grunty climb. Follow it sticking to the RIGHT, and you will come to Mt Albert Road. Follow this up and around the corner before crossing, and heading through the gate, and up to the Southern walkway.You now want to follow the Southern Walkway until you reach Melrose Park off to your RIGHT. Head diagonally across the park, and follow the track to the LEFT, just past the changing rooms. This will take you down the zoo fence line until you hit a small car park near the start of the Zoo.
Look to your RIGHT, and you'll see a small track taking you up to Manchester Street. Head over the road, and you will see where the track continues. This is a blind corner so take extra care when crossing. Take this, and head LEFT. You will head up and over this small park, and keep to the RIGHT of the Bowls club (along the tree line). Keep heading up the gravel road until you reach the water tank down to your LEFT. Follow the path down until you hit Coromandel Street. Take the first RIGHT onto Colville, then LEFT down Paeroa, and follow the trail down to Crawford.
Head over the road (watch for cars), and continue following the Southern Walkway trail, which is to the East side of Alexandra road, or the RIGHT side as you're running up towards Mt Vic. Keep on following the trail up, and when crossing Alexandra road take care, as cars fly along here at times. Finish is the very top, at the Lookout so touch the stone to say you've done it! Admire the view because you'll definitely deserve it, and the great thing is, you can see in the distance where you started!
This trail includes the peaks Makara Hill and Wrights Hill.
The views of the city!
Khandallah Park, next to the pool. Along the trail: Mountain bike park main carpark, Wakefield Park, Mt Vic Lookout.
Trains and buses to within a 10minute walk. Plenty of parking at the road end turnaround, although can be busy in summer and around school pickup/drop off times.
12 km
18 minutes
Yes
No
Moderate.
Generally good.
Thermal leggings, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map
Water and toilets at the Makara Peak Mountain Bike Carpark
Can be very windy along the ridgeline. Slippery after a lot of rain
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and WUU2k - 42km Route
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Outstanding run - where else can you run a marathon plus worth of trails, all within a couple of km of civilisation! I have run the 43km and 63km routes and thoroughly enjoyed both - though not for the faint hearted. Lots of vert means terrific views in all directions, particularly down near the South coast and along Skyline. An event to put on the calendar every year!
July 24, 2023
Did this trail in reverse this time and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
August 9, 2020
Where else in the country can you run so much varied trail so close to the city. This is the jewel in Wellington's crown
July 16, 2020
My favorite running event. Pure joy. Run all the sections leading up to the event and you will be good to go.
December 15, 2019
These overlap with this trail to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate activity for each.