Check out the list below for some ideas on how to get the most out of your Mākara Peak experience.
Kids and Beginners Loop
Starts/Ends: Allington Road Entrance
Trails: Rimu - Miro - Magic Carpet - Miro - Rimu
Technical difficulty: Easy
Fitness level required: Beginner
Estimated riding time (for beginners): Approximately 30-45 minutes
Trailforks link
This is the flattest and easiest loop at Mākara Peak with mostly wide trails with good site lines and gentle gradients. It’s a great way to get into mountain biking without having to do much climbing - allowing riders to focus on bike handling and basic skills.
Starting at the entrance at the end of Allington Road, head along Rimu, turn right onto Miro and follow the signs pointing to Lazy Fern. Miro undulates along and up to the four wheel drive track, which you cross before heading along Big Tom’s Wheelie for 200m. Exit right onto the four wheel drive track at the intersection with SWIGG and head up to the start of Magic Carpet which loops back to the end of Big Tom’s Wheelie.
From there, head up the 4WD track parallel to Big Tom’s Wheelie to the container, were you go back down Miro to Rimu and exit onto Allington Road.
Try next:
Drop down through some great native bush on Lazy Fern to the main entrance on South Karori Road. This is also a great shuttle option for older kids not wanting to do too much climbing.
Do another loop of Magic Carpet!
Fern Loop
Starts/Ends: Main Entrance on South Karori Road
Trails: Koru and Lazy Fern
Technical difficulty: Beginner
Fitness level required: moderate
Estimated riding time (for beginners): Approx 30-45 minutes
Trailforks link
The shortest and easiest loop from the main entrance on South Karori Road, the climb up Koru starts steadily before easing up a touch with some short descents to give your legs a break. From the end of Koru, head back down the fun and flowing Lazy Fern.
Try next: Add a loop of Magic Carpet when you finish Koru.
Mid-peak loop
Starts/Ends: Main Entrance on South Karori Road
Trails: Koru, Sally Alley, Three Brothers, Smokin, Lazy Fern
Technical difficulty: Intermediate
Fitness level required: moderate
Estimated riding time: Approx 45-60 minutes riding plus breaks
Trailforks link
Starting and finishing at the main entrance on South Karori Road, climb at a steady gradient via Koru and Sally Alley to roughly half way up the peak, before traversing across on Three Brothers. From there you get to descend on fast and flowing Smokin and Lazy Fern.
These are all beginner or intermediate grade tracks that are mostly under the trees and offer protection and shelter from the sun, wind or rain. This loop is a good option if the weather's really bad, you don't feel like going all the way to the summit, or if you are short on time.
Try next: Add on a Magic Carpet loop before heading down Lazy Fern.
Lizard Loop
Starts/Ends: The summit of Mākara Peak
Trails: Upper Leaping Lizard - Leaping Lizard - Supa Kanuka - Aratihi
Technical difficulty: Intermediate
Fitness level required: moderate
Estimated riding time: 45 - 60 minutes plus breaks
Trailforks link
The Lizard Loop from the summit, down Upper Leaping Lizard into Leaping Lizard, returning via Supa Kanuka and Aratihi.
This loop into the south west corner of the park is ideal for riders who are comfortable on Peak Flow and Smokin and are looking to extend their normal ride with something a bit new and different.
This largely intermediate (grade 3) loop descends from the summit down the recently extended and upgraded Upper Leaping Lizard. It starts off as a high-speed, machine built flow trail with perfectly sculpted berms, rollers and table tops, before getting progressively narrower and more natural.
From there it joins Leaping Lizard - don’t let the advanced grading put you off - the top section is a wide and fast farm track that’s easy to negotiate. After passing the intersection with Nikau Valley, look out for a left hand turn onto Supa Kanuka. You’ll then traverse on Supa Kanuka before climbing back to the summit via Aratihi.
Variations to this include stopping at the bottom of Upper Leaping Lizard and grinding back up the 4WD track to the summit.
Missing Link and Nikau Valley Climb
Starts: At the end of Sally Alley
Ends: Summit
Trails: Missing Link - Leaping Lizard - Nikau Valley - Missing Link - Aratihi
Technical difficulty: Advanced
Fitness level required: moderate - high
Estimated riding time: 30-40 minutes
Trailforks link
This climb offers a bit more variety and challenge for advanced riders heading to the summit.
From the end of Sally Alley, drop down Missing Link. This Mākara Peak classic features fast narrow sections, short pinch climbs, exposure on the outside edge, all on a rutted and rough trail surface. Just remember it’s two way - so look out for Elephants round every corner (and/or uphill riders).
There’s a grunty climb up out of the bottom of Missing Link to the start of Leaping Lizard on a mixture of singletrack and 4WD track. Then fly down the fast double track of Leaping Lizard and turn left onto the Nikau Valley trail, where things get narrower, rougher and more exposed in this isolated and remote-feeling valley.
There’s a bit of technical climbing towards the end of Nikau to get the heart racing before settling in for the long climb to the summit on Aratihi.