Te Kopahou

Te Kopahou Reserve had been a walking and biking area until recently, with a few trails that hadn’t been upgraded or refurbished for many years. For several years, Craig Starnes of the Brooklyn Trail Builders (BTB), and long-time Trustee of Trails Wellington, had advocated for the opportunity to transform this area into an amazing trail space with better connections, loops and more modern and fun trails. A key area that could enhance the connections between our city and the amazing flora and fauna of Wellington’s South Coast. Craig’s gruelling and unrelenting efforts to convince Wellington of this opportunity finally started to get traction in 2020.

Progress

Trails Wellington got behind his efforts, and WCC engaged professional trail design support to work with Craig and other key members of our trails community. Most of Craig’s ideas were supported by WCC officers, although his whole vision wasn't fully adopted. Our community rallied their support behind this opportunity, and the Councillors approved an elaborate network of biking and walking trails within the Te Kopahou Reserve. This link provides an overview of Te Kopahou Track Network Plan that was approved by WCC. The Brooklyn Trail Builders have completed the initial build of Trail 16, and the trail is currently being finished to be a consistent Grade 4 level before it is opened.

Trail 18 and more

Craig Starnes has been leading the charge on getting local landowner consent to allow BTB to extend Trail 16 to connect to Elliot Park in Brooklyn.

WCC are funding the construction of the Tip Track Trailhead on Happy Valley Road and the building of the uphill trail 20A.

Trail 18 (Design Phase) Some initial design work has been completed on Trail 18 (New downhill grade 4 trail running close to the current Red Rocks trail). Trails Wellington is budgeting to provide funding to help accelerate the construction of this trail. It is possible this project could commence later this year.

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