The Karapoti Classic is New Zealand's longest-running annual mountain bike event, started in 1986 by Paul Kennett. The full course is 50 kilometres (31 mi) long and starts in Karapoti Park, Akatarawa, in Upper Hutt, and heads up the 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) Karapoti Gorge. From there it begins a single 30 kilometres (19 mi) loop in the native and pine forest of the Akatarawa Ranges.
One of the steep uphill passages (2006)
Upper Hutt is a city in the Wellington Region of New Zealand and one of the four cities that constitute the Wellington metropolitan area.
Upper Hutt, view towards city centre.
The grave of Upper Hutt's first European settler, Richard Barton.
Upper Hutt Blockhouse was built as part of a stockade in 1860, during the New Zealand Wars.
Orongomai Marae is named after the Māori name for the area, meaning place of Rongomai.