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4,039 ft
Distance
373 ft
Climb
-225 ft
Descent
00:07:32
Avg time
148 ft
Altitude change
899 ft
Altitude min
1,079 ft
Altitude max
899 ft
Altitude start
1,047 ft
Altitude end
3.7%
Grade
-54%
Grade max
44.5%
Grade min
2,536 ft
Distance climb
1,191 ft
Distance down
312 ft
Distance flat
00:07:32
Avg time
Upswing Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding AreaMākara Peak Mountain Bike Park
Wellington -
Difficulty Rating
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Voted DifficultyGreen (1 vote)
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Local Popularity100 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 85 in Trail Running
- 75 in Hiking
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Global Ranking
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Bike TypeAM, XC
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DirectionUphill OnlyPopular Direction Shown
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Climb DifficultyBlue
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Physical RatingModerate
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SeasonAll seasons
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Dogs AllowedYes
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eBike AllowedYes up to Class 1
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TTFs on TrailBridge
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Ride in RainYes
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Year Opened2017
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Land Owner
Upswing is the new climbing track that provides a much easier and more enjoyable way of getting to the summit of Makara Peak compared with Missing Link or Snakecharmer.
The first part of the track was built in 2016 by volunteers and corporate work parties. It climbs at a pretty gentle gradient through a series of eight switchbacks before crossing the 72 metre long Wild At Heart suspension bridge. The suspension bridge was planned by the Makara Peak Supporters, who also raised the funds and coordinated volunteers to assist Abseil Access with the construction of the bridge.
The bridge crosses high above a steep sided gully and native bush. There are viewing platforms and picnic areas on both sides of the bridge where you can enjoy the views of the bridge and the centre of the park.
The second portion of the track continues at a mellow gradient around the valley before joining about three quarters of the way up Aratihi. This section of the trail was digger and rock breaker built by TGL Contracting with funding from the Wellington City Council.
From there riders can continue for another 10 minutes of climbing to the summit or choose to head into the south west corner of the park via Upper Leaping Lizard.
Access Info
From the main carpark, head up Koru and Sally Alley. At the end of Sally Alley, turn right onto the 4WD track for 25m and then left onto Three Brothers . From St Albans Ave, head up Snake Charmer (4WD track) and drop into Sally Alley at one of the connector tracks.
Local Trail Association
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Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to supportDonate to earn trail karma!
trail development & maintenance.
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
Recent Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 12 rides
- 11 miles average
6 Months
- 373 rides
- 13 miles avg distance
All
- 3,390 rides
- Last: Jun 19, 2026
| c1 | c2 | c3 | c4 |
|---|---|---|---|
January | February | March | April |
May | June | July | August |
September | October | November | December |
Upswing Trail Reports
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- Snow Packed
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- Snow Cover Partial
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Directions to upswing trailhead
(-41.293910, 174.708450)
Photos
18 more »
Videos
1 more »
2:44 |
678 |
Feb 28, 2017 , Wellington
Trail Lists
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List of tracks
11 trails
Routes with this trail
6 miles • 1,399 ft • 4 • Loop •
From the carpark, climb to the summit via the iconic suspension bridge using , , and (or for a more...
4 miles • 1,265 ft • 5 • Point to Point •
This is the main, intermediate grade climb from the main entrance on South Karori Road up to the summit of...
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Nearby Trails
- Three Brothers (part 2) 1,014 ft
- Tower 18 Connector 1,132 ft
- Aratihi 1,509 ft
- Peak Flow To Ridgeline Connector 1,578 ft
- Three Brothers (part 1) 1,604 ft
Mākara Peak Mountain Bike Park
- By simon-ob
MPS MP Trail Crew & contributors - #81749 - 11,794 views
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Frequently Asked Questions About Upswing
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Where is Upswing located?
Upswing 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 -41.29391, 174.70845.
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How hard is Upswing?
Upswing is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 3.7%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
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What is the elevation gain for Upswing?
Upswing has 373 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 225 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 899 ft to 1,079 ft.
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Is Upswing a point to point trail?
Yes, Upswing is a point to point trail. The direction is Uphill Only. The trail type is singletrack.
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