EXPLORE Old Coach Rd 1 Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park This dual use track runs North SKYLINE and South along the ridge MAORI HISTORY AND KEY Wellington City Council set aside 200 TRACK between Old Coach Road in SIGNIFICANCE OUTER GREEN START/FINISH hectares of retired farmland South- EXPLORE Johnsonville and Makara Saddle BELT Carmichael St West of the city for a mountain bike in Karori. park in 1998. Volunteers immediately While European settlers named parts of the skyline, SKYLINE TRACK most of the central ridge was known to local Maori began development of the Makara Allow up to five hours to traverse 12kms of Wellington’s ridge tops 2 as Te Wharangi (broad open space). This ridge was Peak Mountain Bike Park by planting WELLINGTON following the Outer Green Belt onto Mt Kaukau, the Crow’s Nest, NORTHERN Truscott Ave not inhabited by Maori, but they traversed frequently trees and cutting new tracks. In the Discover Wellington’s Town Belt, reserves and walkways Kilmister Tops and Johnston Hill. Take time to indulge in the stunning WALKWAY Reserve and by foot when moving between Te Whanganui-a- Johnsonville Park first year, six tracks were built and rural, city and coastal views along the way. On a clear day, views of Tara and Owhariu. EXISTING TRACK 14,000 native seedlings planted. the Kaikoura ranges, the Marlborough Sounds, Wellington city and John Sims Dr Nalanda Cres A significant effort was also put into MT KAUKAU 3 dleiferooM dR harbour, and the Tararua and Orongorongo ranges will take your The Old Maori Trail runs from Makara Beach all the 1 9 POINTS OF controlling possums and goats, breath away. way to Thorndon Quay, which is categorised as a INTEREST ALONG which were destroying the pockets landscape track and is of medium historic significance. THE WALKWAY Sirsi Tce of native forest in the park. Please be aware that the route is challenging in areas and weather conditions can be extreme on this very exposed ridgeline. Kanpur Rd Awarua Street Khandallah Park There is 28km of track ranging from Recreation Reserve 'Easy' to 'Extreme'. For an up-to- This track can be completed in stages as there are many entry and Burma Rd date map and other information, exit points along the way to plan a safe and enjoyable experience. 7 Woodmancote St refer to www.makarapeak.org.nz. Reasonable fitness is required for completing the entire trail, it can Bells Track be strenuous. Warm clothing and stout footwear are essential. Awarua St Santara Cres Santara Bring lunch and plenty of water. There are no toilet or water facilities SKYLINE TRACK VIA along this walkway. Simla Cres KILMISTER TOPS JOHNSONVILLE AND KARORI The completion of the track link between Makara Saddle and Chartwell 4 KHANDALLAH was made possible with the support of Meridian Energy who agreed NGAIO to grant public access over their Otari property and shared the costs of the track development. Silverstream Rd Follow the yellow directional markers along the track. www.feelinggreat.co.nz Sub Station Winston St This track runs North and South along walk up the hill. This will lead you to It is the primary source of television along the Skyline ridge to the the ridge between Old Coach Road the Johnsonville Reservoir on the west and radio coverage for the greater Kilmister Tops. Photo: View of Chartwell Dr in Johnsonville and Makara Saddle side of the track. Take a two minute Wellington region and is supported Khandallah from Mt Kaukau 1940 Churchill Dr in Karori. You can start the track at walk down the Truscott Track and you by more than forty translators (Alexander Turnball Library, either end and follow the yellow will arrive at a tunnel in the bank that scattered around the district providing Wellington, New Zealand). Otari-Wiltons Bush Otari Farms Wilton Bush Rd Wilton Rd directional markers. once accommodated the (now disused) in-fill coverage. (privately owned) outlet pipe from the Reservoir. 4 Kilmister Tops The area surrounding the television 6 1 Old Coach Road In 1910 the Johnsonville Town Board tower and lookout is privately owned. John and Henry Warwick St Heritage Trail Please respect the landowners and purchased land on the Northern and Kilmister, sons of the their wishes. Tinakori Hill Old Coach Road was the Eastern slopes of Mount Kaukau to build early settler John Kilmister, bought Sky WILTON first formed road that a high-pressure water supply to all Farm or Kilmister Tops from the Crown JOHNSTON HILL connected Johnsonville properties in their area. Water was 3 Mount Kaukau in the 1860s and split the land in half. Karori with Ohariu Valley. Built pumped up from a dam in the Johnston Hill Climb onto the Cemetery between 1856 and 1858, its popular Ohariu Valley to the reservoir, built Heading South from Mt Kaukau at Reservoir 5 Reserve viewing platform for Reservoir Homewood Cres name is flawed as no coaches ever used 314 metres above sea level. It flowed the first set of pines, approximately Nottingham St Standen St 360 degree views. Parkvale Rd the road. under considerable pressure to the 1km past the turn off to Chartwell START/FINISH Ave Montgomery Makara Rd ikaruaH dR township below. Experience views of the entire city, Drive, was Henry’s half known as Nevertheless, it is recognised as one of carpark Wellington Harbour, the Rimutaka and Henry’s Pines. Hatton the finest horse-era roads in New Follow the trail up to Mt Kaukau. 9 Karori Tararua ranges, Porirua Basin, Kaikoura Zealand and has a Category I Historic 1km further on is the Park KARORI Friend St ranges and the Tasman Sea. On a clear and Makara Rd Places Act registration. The road was second set of pines, rotyahC tS 3 BCL TV Transmitter day you can see the snow-capped Play Area altered by earthworks at the John’s land. John Karori Rd Johnsonville end but is otherwise Mount Tapuaenuku 2885m (see picture Constructed in 1965, the sawed the timber from nville to Makara Saddle in Karori. in Saddle Makara to nville well-preserved. The purchase of land below) on the South Island, the first Johnso Broadcast Communi- one tree to build his either side of Old Coach Road has significant peak climbed by New you from Old Coach Road in Road Coach Old from you ides gu k Trac Skyline cations Limited TV house (which still stood in 1920-1930s) The allowed Wellington City Council to Zealand’s most famous mountaineer, transmitter on Mt Kaukau with the roof built level to the ground protect and manage this area. Sir Edmund Hillary. From Mt Kaukau, stands an impressive 122 metres tall. early history of the area. the of history early head West and follow the for shelter from the wind. Lawrence NORTH some and It is the site that replaced the initial Kilmister (grandson of John Kilmister Wrights Hill , una fa and a r lo f ng unni t s ews, vi esque ctur pi er v yellow directional signs disco 2 Johnsonville Reservoir Reserve 8 television service WNTV1 broadcast from where you can exit the and son of Frederick) built the Leaving the farm land behind you, Mt Victoria, and greatly improved the track onto Bells Track, chimney-like structure that still stands and parks beautiful Wellington’s of some through Walk cross over the stile and take a short coverage for Wellingtonians. Awarua Street or continue today for mustering in the 1930s. Kilmister Tops is a peneplain remnant 1880s. This is the house Face west towards Makara and you (and still contains) infrastructure Gold prospecting excavations 1930s (Alexander Turnball Library, which is high, broad and largely clear that can be seen today. will see the entrance to the cemetery. forming part of the Wellington city A number of former gold prospecting Wellington, New Zealand). SAFETY AND REGULATIONS of tall vegetation. This seems more water reticulation system. excavations and other remains exist in JOHNSONVILLE The Wilton’s cleared Makara Hill Windbreak The Skyline Track is a very exposed trail with very little shelter. We strongly dramatic close-up rather than at a the Outer Green Belt. There is a well and farmed most of 7 Makara recommend considering all weather conditions to be prepared for your journey. distance, despite the glimpses of green The remaining features of historical preserved drive on the ridge between To reduce the impact of strong winds Cemetery Warm clothing and stout footwear are essential as weather conditions and golden pasture at the top of the hill their land that stretched almost to the interest are the two dams and their Ohariu and Tawa. The remains of shafts on traffic passing the summit of Makara can be extreme on this exposed ridgeline that contrasts to the dense bush below. top of Tinakori Hill but fenced off an area In 1940 the Board associated structures, including the and drives of the more intensive mining Hill Road, the Makara Road Board built of 17 acres of forest near their homestead of Health required iconic valve tower in the middle of the period from 1869 to 1873 can be seen a timber windbreak on the North side Be Sunsmart – take a sun hat and sunscreen NGAIO allowing public access. This became a of the road in 1894. In 1913 the rotting Bring water for hydration 5 Parkvale Road Wellington city to locate another burial lower dam. Development of the in the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary. structure was replaced with concrete. popular leisure destination for people site as Karori Cemetery edged towards sanctuary provided public access to Generally, the excavations have the Pack food John and Henry Kilmister from the city.