Mount Kaukau

Mount Kaukau, also known as Tarikaka, is in Wellington, New Zealand on the western side of Wellington harbour near Johnsonville and Khandallah. The summit is 445 metres above sea level and is the most visible high point in the Wellington landscape further accentuated by Wellington's main television transmitter tower the Kordia TV transmitter mast, which stands a little over 100m tall. There is also a compass pedestal placed at the top. Spectacular views of the city, harbour and the Rimutaka and Tararua Ranges can be experienced from the summit. On a clear day Mt. Tapuaeoenuku and the Bryant Range in the South Island may be seen, whilst northwest is the Porirua Basin and the broad expanse of the Tasman Sea. Mount Kaukau is also a field trip for primary schools and provides a great scenery spot for photographing.

Kaukau Challenge

Every year Khandallah School, which is at the base of Mount Kaukau, organises a fun walk / fun run from the school to the summit and back, called the Kaukau Challenge. The Kaukau Challenge has been an annual event since 2006 with about 500 people taking part each year.

Snowfall of 2011

In mid-August 2011, two Wellington men, Nick Fone and Daniel McFayden claimed to be the first people to ski and snowboard down Mount Kaukau when they took advantage of the highly unusual weather pattern delivering snow to most parts of the North Island. [1]

"Foliage" in the area

Mt. Kaukau is a prime spot for picking the fabled "Wellington Blue Meanies", around July. Wellington "Blue Meanies" are a potent type of psilocybin mushroom that only grow in the lower north island of New Zealand. Be prepared to trek off-road if you are hunting these.

The Kaukau Peg

Getting There

By Car

From Wellington, take either Aotea Quay or Tinakori Road to the Hutt Road (not the urban motorway) and then turn left up Kaiwharawhara Road into the Ngaio Gorge. Turn right at the roundabout at the top of the gorge, and continue straight through the next roundabout onto Khandallah Road. Simla Crescent is the first on the left, just before the Simla Crescent Railway Station.

From the north, take the Johnsonville & Khandallah motorway exit, and head towards Khandallah, along Moorefield Road, Burma Road, and Box Hill Road. Turn right at the Box Hill roundabout onto Cockayne Road, and then right again onto Khandallah Road. Simla Crescent is first on the right, just past the railway station.

There is a carpark by the Khandallah Park entrance on Simla Crescent, and another by the train station.

By Train

From Wellington Railway Station take a Johnsonville Line train to Simla Crescent Railway Station. The trains run at least every half hour, from 6am to 11pm every day. Tickets are purchased on the train, and the journey takes 15 minutes. Upon arrival at the station, exit towards the railway crossing, turn right, and walk 200m up Simla Crescent. On the left you will see a small carpark, and signposts indicating pathways into Khandallah Park.

By Bus

Bus route 45, which operates on weekdays during peak times only, travels close to Simla Crescent. The bus departs from Brandon Street in Wellington CBD.

Recommended Route

This loop walk begins from Simla Crescent and heads north up the southern ridge of Mt Kaukau. From the summit, the route branches to the west towards Johnsonville, before sweeping around to the south and down to the Khandallah swimming pool, through a children’s playground, and back to the Simla Crescent carpark.

Moments after leaving suburban Wellington, you will find yourself in lush native bush. A few residential houses come and go on the initial part of the path, but these quickly disappear, leaving you to enjoy the quiet pathways through the bush.

The first junction you reach marks the first of four paths exiting to the right, which all eventually leading to the Clarke and Woodmancote road ends. Upon completion of the loop, you will return to this junction on the way back, but for now, take the left hand path. The path rises further into Khandallah Park. The park was once a totara forest, the evidence of which can be seen in the large totara stumps and logs throughout the walk. The park today is mostly covered by broadleaf native forest, which has regenerated after the totara forest was cleared.

The forest canopy includes kohekohe, tawa, puketea, and rewarewa. Other smaller trees like kotukutuku, mamaku, puka, kawakawa, hangehange, pate, karamu, lacebark, and five finger make up the lower layer of bush. Throughout the walk, keep a eye (and ear) out for some of the native birds which inhabit Khandallah Park. Fantails, wood-pigeons, tui, as well as non-natives like thrushes and blackbirds.

The path turns to a track at this point, and rises through more native forest, before switching at right angles and running up a ridge. There are a number of seats scattered alongside the track, and some good viewpoints over Wellington city.

Another sign marks the last spot where you can exit the Mt Kaukau path and head down to Woodmancote Rd or Clark St. Continue past the sign, and through 200m of pine forest. As you come out of the forest, you will see the transmission tower, another sign and a stile. The sign warns you to be careful during lambing season (August to October). After the stile there is a very short climb up a grassy track to the Lions Lookout. The lookout contains a direction finder, and on a clear day views stretch from the South Island, across Wellington, and up the Kapiti Coast.

To the north lies the Kaukau Transmitting Station, a 122m high communications tower. The tower transmits TV and FM radio signals to the greater Wellington region, the Kapiti Coast, and even the northernmost areas of the South Island. The land beyond the tower is private property, so please do not enter this area. From the viewing platform it can be seen clearly that only the eastern side of Mt Kaukau is covered in native forest – the western side is used as farmland.

Obviously you can retrace your steps back to the carpark if you wish, but a more interesting loop route is taken by turning right just past the lookout and heading down the hill. Continue on down this track and follow the signs to Woodmancote Rd (that is, take the first two right hand paths, and then continue on straight through the next two track intersections).

Eventually you will pop out onto a grassy playground area. If you turn left here you can pop across a small footbridge and then turn left towards the Khandallah Swimming Pool, Café du Parc, public toilets, and an alternative Start/Finish point at the Woodmancote Rd carpark.

From November through March, you might be tempted by a dip in the nearby Khandallah swimming pool, which is beautifully set amongst the native bush. The 30m outdoor pool was opened in 1925, and the funding for its construction was raised by local residents. Hours are 10am to 6pm every day, and entry is $2 for adults and $1 for kids.

At the end of Woodmancote Rd, the historic Café du Parc provides refreshments, snacks, and meals. Originally built as a tea kiosk in 1926 by William Barnes, it became a private residence in 1973, before being restored as an eatery in 1999 by Patricia Kerr. The Woodmancote Rd carpark also makes a good alternative start/finish point for this walk, especially if arriving by car. Public toilets are also available here.

To continue back to Simla Crescent, walk back into the grassy area and head to the end of playground. Turn left up the hill, and follow the path alongside a house. Then then turn left again and exit into the top of Clark Rd. Turn right, and head across to the Clark Rd carpark, where signs indicate tracks into Khandallah Park once again.

Follow the sign to Simla Crescent, exit the carpark, and take the path a short distance into Khandallah Park. Turn left, then right almost immediately, and follow the Simla Crescent sign once again. Continue until you reconnect with the very first junction you met on your way up Mt Kaukau. Take the left hand path here, and retrace your steps back to the Simla Crescent carpark.

Route Options

From the suburban streets of Khandallah or Johnsonville, a number of different tracks lead up Mt Kaukau. With your own transport, (or some additional walking from or to one of the Johnsonville line train stations), it would be possible to begin and end your Kaukau summit walk at any one of a number of points, including Clark, Woodmancote, and Truscott road ends. All these tracks are of a similar standard, and are all well travelled and signposted.

Rock Climbing

Mount Kaukau has several rock climbing routes of OK quality but has recently become inaccessible due to overgrown bush and scrub.