Mountain biking and cycling

With its wide open spaces and challenging forest tracks, Belmont Regional Park draws mountain bikers from all over the region and beyond.

Please keep to the designated cycle tracks, use gates and stiles, be considerate to others and give way to walkers.

Note that the Farm Track down from the airstrip is closed to mountain bikers as it is the main farm access road for vehicles and livestock.

Borderline

• 1 km
• 15 mins

Boderline is a mix of flowing trail, drops, jumps and banked turns. There are a few deviations towards the bottom of the bottom of the trail that cater for different abilities and those who like to jump. Access is via Old Coach Road. You can ride on the metalled farm track up to Old Coach Road (it's pretty steep), or take the sealed road back up Stratton Street, take a left onto Cottle Park drive, left onto Normadale Road and a left where Normandale road and Sweetacre Drive meet, until you come to Old Coach Road - then keep riding until you find the start of Borderline.

Kilmister Loop

• 12 km
• 2-3 hours return

From the end of Hill Road, ride up through Waitangirua Farm past WWII ammunition bunkers, before heading right at the fork, passing more historic bunkers and descending towards Belmont Road. Take the right fork towards Boulder Hill then follow the signposted track along a stream and back to Hill Road.

Dry Creek Loop

• 9 km return
• 1-2 hours

From the Dry Creek entrance, ride up a zigzag track on the valley's south side to a farm road. Take the track's right-hand fork to go through farmland and manuka forest before descending the north side of the Dry Creek valley back to the carpark.

Bull-a-varde                                                                                                                                                   

• .5 km 

The western end of this track starts with a set of climbing switchbacks. The track crosses a saddle point between two hills. Near the midway point of this track the more advanced Bull Run track dives off down a valley towards Hill Road. After traversing a sharp ridge, the track rolls up and down fairly sharply. Finally, it sweeps down to meet Sweetacres near another saddle point. 

Belmont Road                                                                                                                                                 

• 5 km 

This is the main northern entrance to the Belmont Regional Park. There is a 200m altitude difference between the ends of this track. Parts of the track are quite steep, with a grade of up to 12', though the overall grade is much less. For most of its length the track surface is gravel and hard-packed clay, with the occasional grassy section. 

For the northern end, turn off State Highway 58 (Haywards Hill Road) and go up Belmont Road to where the seal ends. This is a narrow road - barely one lane - so watch out for traffic in the other direction. Belmont Road continues up the hill in the form of a farm road. The southern end of Belmont Road is at an intersection with Hill Road and Duck Creek, by the gas station.

Sweetacres                                                                                                                                                     

• 2 km 

After a short, steep, climb from Old Coach Road, this track winds its way down through Sweetacres reserve. There are a couple of particularly steep parts - near the summit, and the initial section just above Hill Road. From the upper grassy section there are great views over the Hutt Valley and towards Wellington Harbour. But keep an eye on the track, as it is quite rough in places. The lower sections pass through regenerating bush, with a few tight switchbacks to slow down your descent.

Belmont Dress Circle

• 13.5 km return
• 2-4 hours

Starting at the Stratton Street entrance, follow the farm track up the valley past an old woolshed then up to Old Coach Road. Continue left around the head of the valley to Round Knob, Cannon's Head and then to Belmont Trig, or take a shorter route via Middle Ridge. From Belmont Trig, take the farm track back to Stratton Street, watching out for walkers, horse riders, or other mountain bikers. You will have great views of Porirua and the Hutt Valley from the ridge tops.

The Bull Run                                                                                                                                                  

• 1.46 km one way                                                                                             
• Advanced grade

The start of this track is near the midway point of Bull-a-Varde with the bottom just below the start of Hill Road. Start from Old Coach Road and ride along until you get to Bull Run on your left. Note however once at the end the quickest way to return to Old Coach Road is to make a loop through the park via Hill Road.

Belmont Trig and Korokoro Valley

• 12 km one way
• 2-5 hours

From Stratton Street, this challenging route climbs up towards Belmont Trig before a steep and narrow descent into the Korokoro Valley. Follow the Korokoro Stream track down either to Cornish Street (to SH2) or go up to Oakleigh Street and back to Stratton Street via Dowse Drive. Watch out for walkers in the Korokoro Valley.

Puke Ariki / Haywards Korokoro Traverse

• 22km
• Medium/ hard grade
• 3-4 hours

Take the challenge! This rewarding half day mountain bike ride traverses the length of Belmont Regional Park. Starting at the Dry Creek Haywards entrance the track rises to Boulder Hill (442m) and runs over undulating farmland to the Airstrip, Round Knob, Cannons Head and Belmont Trig. The track then descends into the Korokoro Valley and exits at Cornish St in Petone. Along the way is a diverse range of landforms and vegetation, from farmland to native forest.

Return via the Hutt River Trail or via the train from Petone railway station. Go prepared for all conditions, take warm, windproof clothing, strong lace-up footwear and sufficient food and drink for your ride.