Mākara is a small farming/lifestyle area only twenty minutes from Wellington CBD. It has a long pre-European history and the remnants of fighting pa can be found on ridges above the coast. Early European settlement took place in the 1860’s when gold was discovered, and by the 1880’s there were 24 operative gold mines in Mākara.
Historic buildings in the area include St Patrick’s Church (1873) and St Matthias’ Church (1921), both on Mākara Road. Remnants of Fort Opau, the telecommunications centre and the gun emplacements (established during WWII to command the northern entrance to the Cook Strait and the approach to the Marlborough Sounds) are sited on Quartz Hill and are now accessible via the West Wind Recreation Area and public walkway.
Mākara Beach features the 6km Mākara Walkway leading up to the gun emplacements via a steep coastal climb offering spectacular views. The stream estuary is an important native ecosystem and is gradually being restored by the Mākaracarpas, a local environmental group. The tiny Mākara Foreshore Reserve behind the beach was an area of sand dunes until 1942, when they were bulldozed after fears invading Japanese could hide in them. This destroyed an ecosystem now extremely uncommon in the Wellington region, but rare plants are gradually re-establishing themselves.
The Skyline Walkway takes you from the top of Mākara Hill along to Johnsonville. Nearby, Mākara Peak Mountain Bike Park is set in 250 hectares of regenerating native bush. Since 2018, The Capital Kiwi Project has been leading an initiative to reintroduce brown kiwi to Mākara valley and the wider Wellington area. Kiwi were first released in 2022. Since then, they have been living and breeding in the valley thanks to the support of local landowners, residents and other keen trappers and visitors.
It goes without saying that Makara provides an abundance of scenic backdrops for your wedding photography – from farmland or cliff top to beach. Below is a list of some of the great local groups and businesses thriving in Mākara, including accommodation and photographic options.
Karori Golf Course (18 hole)
Makara Hall and St Patricks Church 