Roller Coaster

Development of the Zealandia ecosanctuary in Karori is an amazing story in itself. While that story is relevant, it’s literally off to the side of why we’re here.

Back in the dark ages of the mid-1980s—before full suspension and purpose-built tracks had been invented and before the ambitious Zealandia vision became reality—mountain bikers used to ride the access road adjacent to the Karori Reservoir boundary fence.

In the late 1980s, the infamous Kennett brothers were among the regular riders in the area. After riding and naming the Tip Track in about 1989, they also remarked that some of the terrain in the area was like a roller coaster, largely describing the whole stretch from where the wind turbine is now, down and up and down to Highbury.

The 1993 2nd edition of the Kennett’s Classic New Zealand Mountain Bike Rides had a ride called Wrights Hill to the Roller Coaster. It describes climbing up around the back of the Karori Reservoir, then... "At the top of this 10–15 minute climb, veer left and enjoy the 'roller coaster'. Do not wave your arms in the air! Veer right a couple of times and you'll come out at Highbury."

“Judging by the inverted commas, 'roller coaster' was a fairly fresh name at that time,” says Simon Kennett.

In the early 1990s, riders also started venturing into the Karori Reservoir interior. On offer was a myriad of good descending and climbing riding options – with the Reservoir, dams and bush all enriching the experience.

When it was proposed that this area would be fenced off to make a bird gulag, mountain bikers were up in arms. A young(ish) Brooklyn resident, Craig Starnes (the first and now longest-serving member of Brooklyn Trail Builders—BTB), showed a glimmer of his future potential and began advocating for tracks—if not in the water catchment being locked into Zealandia, then how about Polhill?

In 1998, Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park was established by Wellington City Council. Some say a fair swap for closing off the Karori Reservoir. Construction of the 8.6 km Zealandia predator-proof fence began in April 1999 and was completed in August the same year, sealing off 225 hectares of land to become the world’s first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary.

Outside of the fence is a 3–4 m wide track to stop animals jumping across into Zealandia. That trail, which skirts the perimeter, is imaginatively called ‘Fenceline’. Riders active in those days talk of the promise they were given of a fully rideable trail around the entire perimeter of Zealandia. This was only ever partially delivered, as anyone trying to circumnavigate the Fenceline will attest to.

Shortly after the Zealandia fence went in, another trail was bulldozed on the harbour-side of Fenceline. This new track was for downhill riding, to avoid user conflict on the pedestrian uphill-riding Fenceline trail. It had no build input or design from riders (that approach hadn’t been invented then either!).

Around this same time, the name Rollercoaster was being commonly used – but if it was an attraction you had to pay for, many would likely ask for their money back. The Rollercoaster of those early years (and progressively worse thereafter) was predominantly a slippery, rooty, rutty, off-camber, poorly-drained speed run to test suspension and nerves. Riders’ tolerance for gorse lacerations was also well-tested, but plenty took the plunge and spilled a bit of blood for their efforts. Nevertheless, it was always a fun challenge to get down it as fast as possible—or at least stay upright.

In 2010, Wellington City Council (WCC) tree contractors felled some pine trees along the harbour side of Rollercoaster and on the middle strip to the west. This left the trail covered with half a metre of wood chips and mostly unrideable.

By this stage, MTB volunteering was building up in the spirit of: “If ya want it, do it yaself.” So Eugene Black, a young rider who later went on to develop Mystic Portal, got a crew together and dug the track back out.

As part of restoring this area, local Highbury resident Garth Baker got trees from WCC and planted them between Rollercoaster and Fenceline, about halfway down. This is where Garth’s planting bug first emerged, going on to spearhead the planting of more than 20,000 native trees throughout Polhill (to date).

Around this same time, Garth worked with Eugene and his mates to replace the bridge at the bottom of the steep downhill. They also put in wooden drainage trenches, which were later upgraded with Tom Adams and BTB’s Andrew Jackson adding expertise.

Eugene and co went on to put in a series of wooden ramps and drops, including one very steep booter nicknamed “Time Machine”. Toward the bottom of the trail, you’d find a left-to-right dirt hip/gap jump, the left-hand option sending you bigger than a smaller gap option to its right. All these features could be ridden around for those who preferred to keep the rubber-side down.

As inevitable as time itself, the gorse grew back and the track rutted further. A few keen volunteers did their best to maintain and improve it at various times, including those organised by BTB, the Wellington Mountainbike Club, Duncan Kenderdine from Highbury, and James Duncan, whose Dirt Merchants bike shop was in Aro Street.

Rollercoaster was still being used, but ran the risk of being consigned to folklore. On any given day, you could ride it to find someone had created a hastily built jump or butchered someone else’s janky feature. The legendary Time Machine wooden sender lay sadly off to the side of the trail like an abandoned toy – a nod to better times.

Meanwhile, there were more attractive purpose-built downhill tracks appearing across Wellington, and the Highbury Fling trail provided an easier route to Highbury.

Really dry weather (by Wellington’s standards) and the early COVID-19 lockdown work restrictions delayed progress, but as Phase 2 got underway – moving and forming the dirt piles into features – things really started to take shape. TrailPro added extra precious metres by taking the existing trail line into the pine trees on the city side. Many of the digger-formed features were hand-finished by the TrailPro crew – all very accomplished riders and trail builders.

Social media postings about how things were looking started to create a buzz in the riding community. Incredibly, the vast majority of riders listened to the plea to stay off the trail as it was being built (thank you!). A few ignored the plea (we know who you are!).

Brooklyn Trail Builders and volunteers removed gorse and other weed trees, and 2,500 native trees were planted in record time down its length in 2020. Further planting and weed tree removal is planned for future years.

On 14 June 2020, Wellington turned on a stunner of a day. In the morning, good people turned out for a community planting event on lower Rollercoaster organised and hosted by iRide. In the afternoon, the revamped trail officially opened with hundreds of riders in attendance to take their first run at it.

TrailPro delivered a product that far exceeded anyone’s expectations. It’s defined by sculpted berms, rollers, tables, drops, gaps and hips plus alternative lines to cater for those who want to progress their riding and jumping—or just cruise down it at a more sedate pace on their daily commute.

It's fair to describe the new Rollercoaster as successful, with high and constant user numbers. It’s featured in MTB magazines and social media channels. It’s been described as a destination trail, which is a solid endorsement and lives up to its intent of being a safe or send progressive flow and jump trail.

But let’s not forget that the old Rollercoaster wasn’t completely without charm and can lay claim to being one of Wellington’s earliest trails. Today’s hardtail purists with minimal suspension and those who enjoy a good rutty line may well miss the earlier versions.

Whatever way you look at it, one thing remains unchanged – the fact that the evolution of this trail has been a roller coaster of a ride. Long may that continue.

Rollercoaster sits immediately east of Fenceline and above Highbury Fling. It starts just north of the entry to Ikigai and finishes about 800 m later where it rejoins Fenceline near Highbury’s George Denton Park. Its location allows for magnificent views over Wellington city, the harbour and the ranges beyond.

By Rob Lee and Garth Baker
(with some fact checking by Simon Kennett)