Peter's local escape
Peter may have lived in the capital his entire life, but he never takes the trails on his doorstep for granted
Head for the hills at Rangituhi
Peter works in the central city but often heads to mountain bike trails at Rangituhi/Colonial Knob near his Porirua home after work and on weekends.
“The 360 degree views from the lookout are amazing and makes the 6.2km climb worthwhile.”
The tracks, some of which Peter has helped to build, have good design – he likes the flow of the downhill tracks, especially the recently completed Kēmu o rua haurua (Game of two halves) trail which presents a challenging descent.
The track layouts also allow for different distance loop rides depending on the time he has available. And most have a good tree canopy, which means they stay reasonably dry and rideable in light wet weather.
Relax and enjoy
Peter treats himself afterwards with a stop at Porirua's award-winning Get Fixed Bicycle Café for a flat white and Danish pastry.
Perched on Porirua's beautiful harbour's edge, the cafe offers Ripe coffee, gourmet bagels, burgers and salads with lots of plant-based options.
Easy access to central city trails
Peter also loves that there are so many outdoor opportunities so close to the city and suburbs.
When he’s not riding at Rangituhi/Colonial Knob, he rides at Waimapihi (Polhill) Reserve in Aro Valley.
Boasting spectacular inner-city wilderness, including Peter's go-to 7.3km "Blaster" loop track, it's a short walk/ride/drive away from the central city.
I like cycling for fitness, but I also just like the feeling of freedom and clearness of mind I gain from it – it’s amazing what you see and take in travelling by bike compared to motor vehicle.
Peter
A place to chill
After a ride at Waimapihi, Peter can't go past his usual flat white and Danish pastry from Arobake in Aro Valley.
Arobake is an artisan bakery with Swiss roots, offering a wide range of breads, cakes, pies, pastries, and other sweet treats.
What's your wild?
The Wellington region is full of trails for all walks of life. Discover some of these, and where to treat yourself after, through the eyes of locals.
