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Te Kopahau

Te Kopahau is Wellington's newest mountain biking destination, nestled behind Waimapihi Reserve. The trails extend from the iconic radar dome at the summit, sweeping down towards Red Rocks and eastward to Happy Valley Road, offering riders diverse terrain, stunning coastal views, and exciting downhill adventures.

Getting There, History and More

About

Te Kopahau

Te Kopahou Reserve

Te Kopahou the Reserve is a popular walking and biking area stretching from the Brooklyn wind turbine to the South Coast, encompassing Te Kopahou Reserve and Hawkins Hill. It features a variety of old-school style shared walking and mountain bike trails that offer stunning views of the South Island.

Main Access from Brooklyn Wind Turbine
105-136 Hawkins Hill Road, Brooklyn, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
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Secondary Access from Bottom of Tip Track
227-229 Happy Valley Road, Ōwhiro Bay, Wellington 6023, New Zealand
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Park Amenities:
No Dogs
Car Parking
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Local trail group

Brooklyn Trail Builders - BTB

Volunteers building and maintaining trails in Wellington’s Waimapihi Reserve & Te Kopahou Reserve.

Extreme

Te Kopahau

trails

Looks like there aren’t any trails of this grade in this area yet. Think there should be? Help make it happen by volunteering to kickstart new trail projects.
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Te Kopahau

rides

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ALl rides
Mountain Bikers Code

trail etiquette

Read Full Rider Etiquette

Riding or walking Wellington trails requires you to share the track, cycleway or road with others – fellow cyclists and walkers, but also dogs and horses.  Here are a few important pointers to foster positive attitudes between different trail users and remember we are lucky that WCC have given us access to their land.

Share the Trail

Respect others on the track. Give way to walkers, use a bell or greeting, and be patient when passing. Ride in small groups and stay in control at all times.

Ride Only Where Allowed

Stick to open and permitted trails. Respect seasonal closures, leave gates as you found them, and plan ahead with food, tools, and warm clothing.

Protect the Track

Don’t damage the trail. Avoid skidding, cutting corners, or riding in wet conditions. Take your rubbish home and clean your bike to stop weeds spreading.

Follow Road Rules

Be predictable and courteous. Stop at lights, signal clearly, and let traffic pass when safe. Ride no more than two abreast and always offer a smile or wave.

riding safety

pre ride, re-ride, freeride

Build confidence, not risk. Start slow with a warm-up lap to check the trail ("Pre-Ride"), go again to learn the features ("Re-Ride"), then let loose once you know what’s coming ("Free-Ride"). This approach helps you ride safer, progress faster, and have more fun.

1.
Pre-ride
Warm up the brain and body by riding the trail at lower speed
2.
re-ride
Lap the trail a few times and get to know the flow and features. Make those smaller adjustments to your timing and technique to build confidence.
3.
Free-ride
Starting small, work your way up to faster speeds and larger features.

trail Map

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Trail Closed
New Features

Join Us in Making a Difference

Your support can help us enhance our trails and create a lasting impact in the community.