How would you like to escape the city? Mount Kaukau is calling. Mount Kaukau is a prominent hill near Johnsonville. It stands 445 meters above sea level. That is about 1460 feet.
Mount Kaukau’s summit is the most visible high point. Wellington’s main television transmitter mast accentuates it. The mast stands 122 meters tall. That is about 400 feet.
From Mount Kaukau’s summit you can see the city. You can also see the harbour. The Remutaka and Tararua Ranges are also visible. On a clear day, Mount Tapuae-o-Uenuku can be seen. The Kaikōura Ranges in the South Island may also be visible. Northwest lies the Porirua Basin. You can also see the Tasman Sea.
Mount Kaukau was originally named Tarikākā. This means where the parrots rested. Native parrots called kākā were once common here. This was before the native tōtara forest was cleared. Today, the kākā population is regenerating. This is thanks to efforts at Zealandia. Kākā are becoming a more regular sight. They can be spotted in the rejuvenating native forest on Mount Kaukau’s slopes.
Much of the eastern slopes make up Khandallah Park. Khandallah Park is one of New Zealand’s oldest parks. It was established in 1888. It was registered as a domain in 1909. Khandallah Park has more than 60 hectares of native forest. Native birds are common sights. Keep an eye out for kererū, tūī and New Zealand fantail. Stumps of old tōtara trees can be seen. These are in the lower parts of the forest.
In 2017, an old bunker was rediscovered. The bunker is off Woodmancote Road. It had been sealed off and forgotten. The bunker is in an H shape. It was built for the Royal New Zealand Signals Corps in 1942. Due to poor construction, the bunker was very leaky. It was never used. Mount Kaukau forms part of the Northern Skyline track. This track runs from Johnsonville to Karori and Makara.
Khandallah Park has 9 kilometres of walking tracks. These tracks allow access to Mount Kaukau’s peak. You can reach it from Khandallah. Johnsonville, Ngaio and Crofton Downs are also access points. Some tracks are also open to mountain biking and e-biking.
The Mount Kaukau television transmitter was built in 1965. It was built to transmit television channel WNTV1. It offered improved coverage. This was over the channel’s previous transmitter at Mount Victoria. Today, it is the main television and FM radio transmitter for Wellington.
In May 2022, Kordia removed the top 18 metres of the aerial. This section was redundant. It followed the end of analogue television broadcast.
Every year Khandallah School organises the Kaukau Challenge. This is a fun walk and run. It goes from the school to the summit and back. The Kaukau Challenge has been an annual event since 2006. About 500 people take part each year.
Two Wellington men skied and snowboarded down Mount Kaukau in 2011. This was during a rare snowfall. Snow down to sea level is extremely rare in Wellington. It happens less often than once every 15 years.
The Mount Kaukau walk is a great way to spend a few hours. From the summit, there are panoramic views. You can see Wellington CBD. You can also see Wellington Harbour. The Rimutaka Ranges are visible. You might glimpse the South Island on a clear day. There are four access points to the summit. The summit is between 420 and 445 metres above sea level. It depends on the source you consult. Depending on the route, you’ll walk between 3.5 and 5km.