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Level: Advanced
Length: 11 mi (17.7 km)
Surface: 4x4 Trail
Configuration: Out & Back
Elevation: +133/ -133 ft
Total: 2 riders
Mountain Biking Wild Coast Track
#85 of 171 mountain bike trails in North Island
The Wild Coast Track is a rough, four wheel track that runs along some of the south coast of the North Island. It's an isolated, rugged and windy coast to the south east of Wellington. On a bad day it's hell but on a fine, calm day it's sublime.
The track is rated intermediate but intermediate riders will often feel outside their comfort zone. There is some soft sand, some steep bits, some shifty gravel, river crossings, washouts and other obstacles expected on a barely-maintained 4wd track.
The track is promoted as a part of the "Rimutaka Cycle Trail" which combines four very different tracks. The first is the Hutt River Trail which which is a surburban ramble from Petone to just beyond Upper Hutt. The second part is the popular, heritage-rich Rimutaka Rail Trail. The third part is Western Lake Road which is a relatively quiet sealed road. The fourth part is the Wild Coast Track. They are very disparate trails but they make up a popular two or three day supported holiday adventure ride of 115 kilometres.
First added by Jim Cummings on Jan 14, 2018. Last updated Sep 19, 2024. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: unknown
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: yes
- Fat bike grooming: unknown
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
The western end of the track is accessed from Wellington via Wainuiomata. Take the Coast Road to the car park where it ends at the Orongorongo River. The eastern end of the track starts at the Corner Creek Campsite (Google Maps will take you there) which is at the end of Ocean Beach Road. At times a four wheel drive vehicle is needed to get all the way along to the campsite. There are plenty of places to park along this rough isolated road. The track now forms a part of the extended Rimutaka Cycle Trail so many people ride out from Wellington or Petone, staying overnight along the way.
The Wild Coast Track runs around a narrow coastal strip where the Rimutaka Range plunges into the sea at the bottom of the North Island. It is an isolated and rugged area often lashed by cold southerly gales. The four wheel drive track gets little maintenance and suffers from the wild weather and frequent floods washing down fans of alluvial gravel. So it's an adventure ride that usually offers up a few surprises and a constant grandeur that will remind you of your insignificance and transience on this planet. It's rated intermediate but you really need advanced skills to enjoy it. We were lucky to strike beautiful weather and loved it!
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