Wellington Regional Trails

Walking time

7 - 8 hr

Length

21.6km

Uses

Walking/Running, Tramping/Hiking, Mountain Biking

Type

Single track

Walking difficulty

Advanced: Tramping track

Mountain Bike Grade

Expert: Grade 5

Profile

454m highest point

Dogs

No
The view of the mountain range from Belmont Trig Track at Belmont Regional Park in Lower Hutt.

About the trail

The Puke Ariki (‘The Place of Leaders’) trail offers a unique and varied journey across some of the region’s most beautiful and rugged terrain.

You’ll weave along 4WD tracks and meander along native bush-clad trails, and climb steep hillsides. Starting at the Dry Creek entrance, trail climb climbs to the top of Boulder Hill. From there it follows undulating farmland to the airstrip, Round Knob, Cannons Head, and Belmont Trig. The track then drops down into Korokoro Valley and exits at Cornish Street in Petone.

Sometimes referred to as Haywards Korokoro Traverse, Puke Ariki is suitable for mountain bikers and walkers.

  • This trail can be completed in either direction by starting at the Dry Creek entrance to Belmont Regional Park or Cornish Street in Petone.
  • There are regular bus and train services to Porirua, Lower Hutt and the surrounding areas. Timetables are available from the Metlink.