Mount Kaukau

Mount Kaukau is in Wellington, New Zealand on the western side of Wellington harbour near Johnsonville and Khandallah. The summit is 445 metres above sea level and is the most visible high point in the Wellington landscape further accentuated by Wellington's main television transmitter tower the Kordia TV transmitter mast, which stands a little over 100m tall. There is also a compass pedestal placed at the top. Spectacular views of the city, harbour and the Rimutaka and Tararua Ranges can be experienced from the summit. On a clear day Mt. Tapuaeoenuku and the Bryant Range in the South Island may be seen, whilst northwest is the Porirua Basin and the broad expanse of the Tasman Sea. Mount Kaukau is also a field trip for primary schools and provides a great scenery spot for photographing.

Kaukau Challenge

Every year Khandallah School, which is at the base of Mount Kaukau, organises a fun walk / fun run from the school to the summit and back, called the Kaukau Challenge. The Kaukau Challenge has been an annual event since 2006 with about 500 people taking part each year. Coordinates: 41°14′00″S 174°46′39″E / 41.2332°S 174.7776°E / -41.2332; 174.7776

Snowfall of 2011

In mid-August 2011, two Wellington men, and Daniel McFayden claimed to be the first people to ski and snowboard down Mount Kaukau when they took advantage of the highly unusual weather pattern delivering snow to most parts of the North Island. [1]