more stats
1,411 ft
Distance
61 ft
Climb
-168 ft
Descent
00:01:34
Avg time
-107 ft
Altitude change
781 ft
Altitude min
927 ft
Altitude max
902 ft
Altitude start
797 ft
Altitude end
-7.6%
Grade
-47.3%
Grade max
18.3%
Grade min
531 ft
Distance climb
761 ft
Distance down
118 ft
Distance flat
00:01:34
Avg time

Pōhatu (Lower Section) Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
  • AKA
    North Face Extension
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Voted Difficulty
    Black Diamond (11 votes)
  • Local Popularity
    90 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 90 in E-Biking
    • 35 in Trail Running
    • 70 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #20196 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #3892 in E-Biking
    • #156527 in Trail Running
    • #129250 in Hiking
  • National Ranking
    #422 in Mountain Biking · New Zealand [+]
    • #68 in E-Biking
    • #2,679 in Trail Running
    • #1,802 in Hiking
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T1 Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Downhill Only
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • TTFs on Trail
    Berm, Drop, Jump, Rock Face, Rock Garden
  • Year Opened
    2020
  • Land Owner
    Wellington City Council

Pōhatu - Te Reo for rocky or stony, due to the massive amount of rock work that went into creating the trail, including armouring the surface, edging the track, creating drops and rock garden features.

This volunteer, hand built singletrack is the last section of the Pōhatu trail ending at Snake Charmer and creating a full Grade 4 descent from the summit to the carpark by continuing into Starfish . It was built by Mākara Peak Supporters and volunteers during 2020, beginning before the first COVID-19 lockdown.

It's starts off in a similar style as Starfish, with some small drops, catch berms and a bit of enduro-flow. After exiting the native bush onto an exposed ridge, things start getting steeper, the drops bigger and the fun factor ramps up. An enormous amount of rock was sourced from the surrounding hillside and used to armour the track, build the berms, edge the track, and create a series of rock garden features in the final 100m of track.

Disclaimer

Some parts still under construction. Ride with caution. Look out for trail builders.

Local Trail Association

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 7 rides
  • 7 miles average
6 Months
  • 135 rides
  • 13 miles avg distance
All
  • 1,935 rides
  • Last: Oct 27, 2026
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Pōhatu (Lower... Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Sep 19, 2026 @ 8:51am (Pacific/Auckland)
Sep 18, 2026
Surprisingly ok in the recent wet weather.
Aug 9, 2026 @ 1:41pm (Pacific/Auckland)
Aug 8, 2026
Jun 19, 2026 @ 12:55pm (Pacific/Auckland)
Jun 18, 2026
Apr 7, 2026 @ 8:16am (Pacific/Auckland)
Apr 6, 2026
reporter
Low points filled and drains cleared to help water get off trail surface quickly. A bit soft in places. Gorse & barberry cut back down open...
Apr 1, 2026 @ 6:23am (Pacific/Auckland)
Mar 31, 2026
reporter
Vegetation cut back to improve sight lines, drains cleared of silt, puddles filled with local soil. Surface raked. Got as far as RH switchback.
more »
Status:
on Sep 19, 2026
Variable
Avg: 4.65 (20 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (18,931)
close
      Directions to p-hatu-lower-section trailhead (-41.292180, 174.715370)

      Photos

      14 more »
      mtb
      64 |
      Apr 6, 2026 @ 1:13pm
      Apr 6, 2026
      mtb
      55 |
      Apr 6, 2026 @ 1:13pm
      Apr 6, 2026
      mtb
      71 |
      Jul 22, 2022 @ 8:04pm
      Jul 22, 2022
      mtb
      103 |
      Nov 6, 2020 @ 11:36am
      Nov 6, 2020

      Videos

      6 more »
      youtuber NEW ROCKY FLOW - Pōhatu Mountain Bike Trail...
      mtb
      0:36 | 756 | Feb 21, 2021 , Wellington
      youtuber Pohatu(NEW!!!) @ Makara Peak MTB Park
      mtb
      0:33 | 855 | Dec 24, 2020 , Wellington
      Pōhatu | Mākara Peak Mountain bike Park |...
      mtb
      2:01 | 165 | Nov 20, 2021 , Wellington
      Pōhatu - Mākara Peak
      mtb
      2:18 | 225 | Sep 19, 2021 , Wellington

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      6 Reviews & Comments

      mylesarmstrong
      They were planning on making an expert line when cutting the track, there was a really nice large natural rock face. Shame it STILL hasn’t come into play…
      Wozza-nz Wozza-nz
      This track and lower Starfish. Two of the best pieces of trail I have ridden.
      deester84
      Great start to a more technical descent on the northern side of the hill. Hopefully the rest is like this.

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      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Pōhatu (Lower Section) located?
      Pōhatu (Lower Section) is located in Mākara Peak Mountain Bike Park, Wellington, New Zealand. It is part of the Mākara Peak Mountain Bike Park trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates -41.29218, 174.71537.
      ▼ How hard is Pōhatu (Lower Section)?
      Pōhatu (Lower Section) is rated as Advanced difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 7.6%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Pōhatu (Lower Section)?
      Pōhatu (Lower Section) has 61 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 168 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 781 ft to 927 ft.
      ▼ Is Pōhatu (Lower Section) a point to point trail?
      Yes, Pōhatu (Lower Section) is a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Only. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Pōhatu (Lower Section)?
      Pōhatu (Lower Section) is 1,411 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Pōhatu (Lower Section)?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Pōhatu (Lower Section). Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ How do I access Pōhatu (Lower Section)? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Pōhatu (Lower Section) are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Pōhatu (Lower Section)?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 2 minutes to ride Pōhatu (Lower Section). The trail is 1,411 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Pōhatu (Lower Section)?
      Pōhatu (Lower Section) is a very popular trail. There have been 18,644 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 18,931 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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