Last Updated: 18th Mar 2024

Intermediate

Save Trail Save

I've done it Done

Suggest edit Edit

Swallow's loop

Wellington, Wellington

Last Updated: 18th Mar 2024

Intermediate

Save Trail Save

I've done it Done

Suggest edit Edit

Open

Grunt Factor: 40 ?

Gnarl Factor: 20 ?

23.8km

Length of run

1975m

Total Ascent

1975m

Total Descent

495m

Highest point

Driving Time

Driving Distance

Directions to start

Share your photos

Send to phone

View other trails

Trail Map

Type of Run

Front country - easily accessible

Combo

Very hilly

Dog Friendly

Coastal

Other

Run Makeup

90%

10%

Farm Road / 4WD Track

Moderate Single Track

Average Uphill Gradient: +16.7%

Average Downhill Gradient: -16.7%

Trailhead

Estimated Times to Run

6:00

Slow

4:30

Moderate

Fast

GPX File

Topo Map

3D Satellite

Guide

Head halfway up the tip track and cross spooky gully before heading up the red rocks track to the radar dome. From there follow the road for a couple of hundred metres before dropping down the Radome track and climbing the other side to rejoin the red rocks track.

Follow this down to the coast before finding the bunker track behind the Bach to the west. Follow this trail until the next junction before heading down into the Waipapa loop, which is run anticlockwise.

After that, it's back up to the ridgeline and along to the radar dome and down the tip track to the finish.

This trail includes the peaks Hawkins Hill and Te Kopahou.

Distance from Wellington:

5 km

Driving time from Wellington:

12 minutes

Dog friendly:

Yes

Landowner permission required:

Navigation Rating:

Moderate.

Cellphone Coverage:

Patchy.

Suggested Gear List:

Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map

Availability of Water:

A couple of stream crossings, bring means to treat water if intending to rely on these.

Seasonality Issues:

Can be very exposed on the ridge, and is often subject to the brunt of Wellington's wind.

Trail Legend

Natasha Furness

has completed Swallow's loop once in the last year.

Learn about Trail Legends.

Fastest Known Times (FKTs)

Learn about Fastest Known Times.

View your Fastest Known Times

Missing your time?

You and Swallow's loop

As a VIP member you can record private notes for this trail, see all of your times and more.

Already have an account? Login now

Trail Reviews

Aimee Francois

Steep hills and amazing views. The track is very exposed so you need to make sure you are well prepared. Probably one too many hills loops for me. I would run it in the direction shown on the map as there is a very steep section coming out of red rocks beach that would be much easier going up than down!

Aimee Francois

March 18

Trail Running Community

Find people who are interested in or have completed this trail run.

You must register or login to view this feature.

Overlapping Trails

These overlap with this trail to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate activity for each.