Makara PeaK
Skills Park

Ride, Progress, Play

Brief


Location: Mākara Peak, Wellington, New Zealand
Land Manager: Wellington City Council (WCC)
Trail Standard: New Zealand Mountain Bike Trail Design & Construction Guidelines - August 2022
Length: Within existing defined park boundary

The Mākara Peak Skills Park is part of a wider initiative by Trails Wellington to develop purpose-built mountain bike skills areas alongside existing trail networks. This conceptual design supports rider progression, encourages outdoor recreation, and fosters community engagement. The park will feature elements reflective of real bike park conditions to help riders build confidence and technique in a supervised environment. Developed in partnership with Wellington City Council, the design will guide stakeholder discussions and inform future planning stages.

Conceptual design within the defined park boundary to include:

  • Maintain access for service vehicles up to 16 m in length to the transmission tower

  • No earthworks permitted within 12 m of the tower base

  • Skill development features ranging from beginner to expert

  • Emphasis on replicating bike park features to support progression in a controlled environment

  • Short trails incorporating corners, rollers, drops, and mixed surfaces, ranging from Grade 2 to Grade 4, suitable for both rider development and coaching

  • Progressive drop section (Grade 2 to Grade 5), flowing left to right

  • Open area for free riding and beginner practice (e.g., manuals, bunny hops)

  • Grade 3 and Grade 4 jump lines

  • Jump sequences to include wide spacing, allowing beginners time to recover between features

  • Optional structures such as see-saws, raised skinnies, balance beams, shark fins, and wall rides—only if space permits

  • Rest and viewing area

  • Reuse of existing picnic table

Terrain ANALYSIS

The terrain was analysed using a high-resolution 1m LiDAR model and GIS software to identify optimal alignments for the skills park.

Satellite imagery is used to identify tree cover, and existing infrastructure.

Height mapping illustrates elevation changes across the site and helps determine ideal start and end points to maximise the available descent or ascent.

The site is already clear of vegetation and has hosted a jump track. Mapping results identified the north most point as the highest and a suitable launch point, and the south most as the lowest and an ideal finish point. These are already used in the current layout. The elevation difference and distance between them, will dictate the lengths of the trail possible.

  • LiDAR DEM Source: Land Information New Zealand - Wellington City LiDAR 1m DEM (2019-2020)

  • Scan Date: 2019

  • Resolution: 1m

  • Highest point: 231m

  • Lowest point: 223m

  • Elevation Difference: 18m

Design Overview

In consultation with stakeholders, and based on the site’s topography and access requirements, the following layout has been identified as the most effective starting point for the Mākara Peak Skills Park:

  • Skills Development Zone (West):
    Positioned close to the park entry and the existing picnic table, this area flattens out after the northern starting hill, making it ideal for beginner-friendly features and coaching activities. Riders can develop core skills without intersecting the faster, more advanced jump lines.

  • Jump Lines – Grade 3 & 4 (East):
    Located on the eastern side, this zone allows riders to carry momentum from the start hill into the jump lines. This layout supports a natural progression and ensures separation between beginner riders and those moving at higher speed, improving both safety and flow.

Final Design

The final layout for the Mākara Peak Skills Park balances progression, safety, and rider enjoyment while making the most of the available space within site constraints. Features are strategically grouped to support skill development from beginner to expert levels, with clearly defined trail zones, dedicated return paths, and an open area for free practice.

Design Features:

  1. Start Hill
    •     3.5m high

  2. Skills Trail Grade 2
    Skills trail for beginners to practice cornering, pumping and jumping.
    • Rollers to 0.5m high
    • Jumps to 0.5m high, ramp angle up to 20°
    • Bermed corners, 4m outside radius
    • All features roll-able
    • 127m Long
    • 2m Wide

  3. Jump Line Grade 3
    •     Table top jumps, 1.5m high, ramp angle 25°
    • 16m spacing
    • Min Speed: 5.66m/s (20km/hr) (2.5m long table top)
    • Max Speed: 9.9m/s (36km/hr) (10m range)
    • 63m Long
    • 2m Wide

  4. Jump Line Grade 4
    •     Roll-able double jumps, 2m high, ramp angle 30°
    • 16m spacing
    • Min Speed: 5.66m/s (20km/hr) (2.8m gap)
    • Max Speed: 9.7m/s (35km/hr) (11m range)
    • 48m Long
    • 2m Wide

  5. Skills Trail Return

  6. Jump Line Return

  7. Wall Ride

  8. Free Ride Area
    A level open area for riders to practice bunny hops, manuals etc.
    • 13m x 20m
    • Note: remove existing fence to allow free movement

  9. Picnic Area
    Potential to install shelter.

  10. Drop Grade 2
    •     0.1m high, with gentle downhill transition
    • Min 1.2m wide
    • Timber or Stone Construction

  11. Drop Grade 3
    •     0.3m high, with gentle downhill transition
    • Min 0.9m wide
    • Timber or Stone Construction

  12. Drop Grade 4
    •     0.5m high.
    • Min 0.6m wide
    • Timber or Stone Construction

  13. Drop Grade 5
    •     1m high
    • Min 0.4m wide
    • Timber or Stone Construction

  14. See Saws
    •     Easy, 0.5m wide, 3m long
    • Advanced, 0.3m wide, 7m long

GPS TRACE

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References

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