Wellington Regional Park Walking Track Closures Hit Peak Winter Season

Wellington’s hiking community faces a challenging winter ahead as multiple regional park walking tracks remain closed due to storm damage and deferred maintenance, with some popular routes unlikely to reopen before spring.

• Seven major walking tracks across Wellington regional parks currently closed
• Makara Peak and Belmont Regional Park worst affected by recent storm damage
• Council maintenance budget shortfall delays repair work by 3-4 months
• Popular weekend destinations like Cannon Point and Colonial Knob tracks affected
• Alternative routes identified but capacity concerns for peak usage periods

Wellington’s walking and hiking scene is feeling the pinch as winter approaches, with seven major tracks across the region’s most popular parks remaining closed following April’s severe weather events. The timing couldn’t be worse for weekend warriors seeking their regular bush fix during the traditionally quieter hiking months.

Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park has three of its walking loops completely inaccessible due to significant tree fall and erosion damage. “We’re looking at a minimum eight-week closure for the Sally Alley and Lazy Fern tracks,” says Wellington City Council parks manager Sarah Chen. “The damage is more extensive than initially assessed, particularly around the ridge sections.”

Belmont Regional Park hasn’t escaped unscathed either. The popular Cannon Point Track, a weekend staple for families and casual hikers, suffered major slips that have made sections impassable. Colonial Knob Track in Porirua has similar issues, with safety barriers erected around unstable cliff edges.

Budget constraints bite deeper

The closure timeline has been extended due to Wellington City Council’s constrained maintenance budget, which has pushed non-urgent repairs into the next financial quarter. “It’s frustrating timing, but we’re prioritising safety over convenience,” Chen explains. “Some of these repairs require helicopter access and specialist equipment.”

According to Victoria University’s Centre for Building Performance Research, the finding showed Wellington’s track infrastructure requires approximately $12 million in deferred maintenance across the regional network.

For regular hikers, this creates a domino effect. Alternative tracks like the Red Rocks coastal walk and Zealandia’s outer loop are already seeing increased weekend traffic. “We’re getting 40% more visitors than usual on the tracks that remain open,” notes Department of Conservation ranger Mike Peterson.

The closure of Makara Beach access track has particularly irked the mountain biking and walking community, as it eliminates one of the few easily accessible coastal options from the western suburbs. Te Kopahou Reserve’s tracks remain open but lack the variety that draws repeat visitors.

Winter walking window narrows

The extended closures mean some of Wellington’s prime winter walking territory will be off-limits during the season when weather conditions are most suitable for bush walking. “April through August is traditionally our sweet spot for comfortable day hikes,” says Hiking Wellington club president Lisa Park. “Losing these tracks for three months really limits options.”

Park warns that the reduced track availability could push more hikers onto the Rimutaka Range and Hutt Valley networks, potentially creating overcrowding issues on popular routes like Mount Matthews and Kaitoke Regional Park. “We’re already seeing parking issues at Kaitoke on weekends,” she notes.

Council has identified interim solutions including enhanced signage for lesser-known tracks and improved maintenance of existing open routes. The Skyline Track in Karori and various Town Belt walks remain fully accessible, though these lack the wilderness feel many seek for longer weekend adventures.

Repair work is scheduled to begin in July, with most tracks expected to reopen by September. However, some specialist repairs requiring dry weather conditions may push reopening dates into early summer, effectively writing off the tracks for the entire 2026 hiking season.