more stats
3,737 ft
Distance
38 ft
Climb
-363 ft
Descent
00:06:34
Avg time
-323 ft
Altitude change
448 ft
Altitude min
773 ft
Altitude max
773 ft
Altitude start
449 ft
Altitude end
-8.6%
Grade
-39.7%
Grade max
21%
Grade min
522 ft
Distance climb
2,812 ft
Distance down
404 ft
Distance flat
00:06:34
Avg time

Starfish Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Mākara Peak Mountain Bike Park
    Wellington
  • Difficulty Rating
    Advanced Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Black Diamond (21 votes)
  • Local Popularity
    95 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 35 in Trail Running
    • 85 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #254 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #99156 in Trail Running
    • #119235 in 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, Bridge, Drop, Jump, Rock Garden
  • Year Opened
    1998
  • Land Owner
    Wellington City Council

Starfish is a fun, narrow piece of classic Wellington singletrack.

While Starfish isn't very steep, the trail builders have made the most of the terrain by including plenty of features including a rock roll, multiple drops, rollable jumps, a rock garden and a couple of alternative lines.

It's definitely a step up in difficulty from grade 3 trails like Smokin and SWIGG. It's a bit steeper, narrower, rougher and generally more difficult.

Originally built in 1998 with upgrades in 2000 and 2016. A major extension and realignment was hand built by volunteers in 2018/19 creating one long grade 4 trail from Snake Charmer down to the main entrance.

Access Info

You can also drop in from Snakecharmer at the end of Smokin and Miro.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 10 rides
  • 24.4 km average
6 Months
  • 169 rides
  • 20.6 km avg distance
All
  • 2,167 rides
  • Last: Sep 26, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Status:
on Aug 9, 2026
Wet
Avg: 4.47 (33 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (21,965)
close
      Directions to starfish trailhead (-41.294610, 174.716190)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      13 more »
      mtb
      168 |
      Aug 26, 2020 @ 2:29am
      Aug 26, 2020
      mtb
      202 |
      Jun 10, 2019 @ 4:33pm
      Jun 10, 2019
      mtb
      220 |
      Jun 10, 2019 @ 4:33pm
      Jun 10, 2019
      mtb
      243 |
      Dec 10, 2018 @ 9:16am
      Dec 10, 2018

      Videos

      14 more »
      youtuber Starfish @ Makara Peak MTB Park. Wellington
      mtb
      3:36 | 318 | Dec 9, 2024 , Wellington
      youtuber Starfish | Makara's Perfect Mix of Tech & Flow
      mtb
      3:16 | 809 | Feb 27, 2022 , Wellington
      youtuber FEATURE PACKED FUN - Starfish Mountain Bike...
      mtb
      5:05 | 1143 | Aug 26, 2020 , Wellington
      youtuber Starfish @ Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park
      mtb
      5:23 | 622 | Jan 19, 2021 , Wellington

      Technical Trail Features (TTF)

      Routes with this trail

      221
      Skyline (The Full Version)
      ★ 3.8 • 24 miles • 4,609 ft • 42 • Point to Point •
      Starting at the in Johnsonville and finishing in Owhiro Bay. This track is a solid day's undertaking and...
      75
      Makara Peak alternative intermediate loop from Karori Park
      ★ 3.0 • 8 miles • 1,356 ft • 14 • Loop •
      Tired of and looking for an alternative to the usual intermediate or grade 3 lap of Makara Peak? Try...
      178
      Wellington Grand Tour
      35 miles • 7,069 ft • 32 • Loop •
      From Johnsonville train station to Underworld Tavern the long way around. This route connects the main...
      4.6 ★★★★★
      33 Ratings
      5 ★ 76%
      4 ★ 12%
      3 ★ 6%
      2 ★ 6%
      1 ★

      4 Reviews & Comments

      MattWilliams88
      Top half is the best. Feels more natural than the lower bit. Good fun dips though.
      andymutch76
      Don't know what the intention is here but at the bottom section the trail builders seem to have gravelled over the rocks/roots only to put it fake features over the top of the trail. Thought it would've been better to leave the original trail!
      krisbubendorfer
      New extension is a joy - don't fear the rock roll at the start!

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      Nearby Trails

      Mākara Peak Mountain Bike Park

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Starfish located?
      Starfish 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 -41.29461, 174.71619.
      ▼ How hard is Starfish?
      Starfish is rated as Advanced difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 8.6%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Starfish?
      Starfish has 38 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 363 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 448 ft to 773 ft.
      ▼ Is Starfish a point to point trail?
      Yes, Starfish is a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Only. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Starfish?
      Starfish is 3,737 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Starfish?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Starfish. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ How do I access Starfish? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Starfish are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Starfish?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 8 minutes to ride Starfish. The trail is 3,737 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Starfish?
      Starfish is a very popular trail. There have been 22,915 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 21,965 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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