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1.2 miles
Distance
83 ft
Climb
-660 ft
Descent
00:07:28
Avg time
-577 ft
Altitude change
342 ft
Altitude min
950 ft
Altitude max
950 ft
Altitude start
374 ft
Altitude end
-9%
Grade
-81.8%
Grade max
14.2%
Grade min
1,496 ft
Distance climb
4,587 ft
Distance down
338 ft
Distance flat
00:07:28
Avg time
Leaping Lizard Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding AreaMākara Peak Mountain Bike Park
Wellington -
Difficulty Rating
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Voted DifficultyBlack Diamond (3 votes)
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Local Popularity70 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 40 in Trail Running
- 5 in Hiking
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Global Ranking
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Bike TypeAM, XC
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DirectionDownhill OnlyPopular Direction Shown
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Physical RatingModerate
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Trail VisibilityAlways easy to follow
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Dogs AllowedYes
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eBike AllowedYes up to Class 1
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TTFs on TrailBridge, Jump, Rock Garden, Roller Coaster
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Land Owner
One of the original Makara Peak trails and offers something different in the Wellington area. It's a fast rough and relatively wide plunge down the valley that suits big bikes and rewards staying off the brakes.
It doesn't get a lot of maintenance, so the chutes near the bottom can change after heavy rain. It ends at the most remote part of the park at which point you can exit out via Bail Out to the end of South Karori Road, or climb back into the park via the steep and challenging Possum Bait Line.
Track starts off with a fast roller coaster style downhill along an old farm 4WD track. You will pass a left hand branch that takes you down Nikau. From here the track switches back into single track, which is tight in places and increasingly steep and loose.
Access Info
From the end of Missing Link, head straight up the 4WD track rather than turning right into Aratihi and grind your way up for around 10 minutes. Alternatively, from the peak join Upper Leaping Lizard for a solid non-stop run to the bottom.
Local Trail Association
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Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to supportDonate to earn trail karma!
trail development & maintenance.
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
Recent Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 1 rides
- 32.1 km average
6 Months
- 24 rides
- 20.5 km avg distance
All
- 389 rides
- Last: Jun 11, 2026
| c1 | c2 | c3 | c4 |
|---|---|---|---|
January | February | March | April |
May | June | July | August |
September | October | November | December |
Leaping Lizard Trail Reports
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Trail Conditions
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Snow Cover Partial
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
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Directions to leaping-lizard-18775 trailhead
(-41.296660, 174.702390)
Photos
4 more »
Videos
6 more »
8:05 |
565 |
Nov 22, 2021 , Wellington
6:51 |
728 |
Jun 28, 2019 , Wellington
0:29 |
644 |
Aug 26, 2018 , Wellington
2:18 |
783 |
Jul 26, 2018 , Wellington
Routes with this trail
★ 5.0 • 6 miles • 1,489 ft • 16 • Loop •
An Advanced grade loop taking you out to the wilds of Makara Peak. Harder than an Intermediate grade due...
★ 3.0 • 4 miles • 729 ft • 4 • Loop •
A great loop for riders looking for some variety or to extend their normal ride. This largely intermediate...
4 miles • 1,569 ft • 9 • Point to Point •
Alternative grade 4 (advanced) route to the summit from the end of . Taking in , the top of and and it...
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Nearby Trails
- Supa Kanuka 0 ft
- Upper Leaping Lizard Alternate G4 Line 810 ft
- New Sw G4 Trail 1,398 ft
- Aratihi 1,903 ft
- Nikau Valley 2,274 ft
Mākara Peak Mountain Bike Park
- By mccmartini
MCG & contributors - #18775 - 10,875 views
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Frequently Asked Questions About Leaping Lizard
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Where is Leaping Lizard located?
Leaping Lizard is located in Mākara Peak Mountain Bike Park, Wellington, New Zealand. It is part of the Mākara Peak Mountain Bike Park trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates -41.29666, 174.70239.
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How hard is Leaping Lizard?
Leaping Lizard is rated as Advanced difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 9%.
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What is the elevation gain for Leaping Lizard?
Leaping Lizard has 83 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 660 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 342 ft to 950 ft.
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Is Leaping Lizard a point to point trail?
Yes, Leaping Lizard is a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Only. The trail type is singletrack.
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