Makara is located on the southwest coast of the North Island of New Zealand, on the western edge of the capital city, Wellington. It is on the shore of the Tasman Sea.
There is winding road access from Karori or Johnsonville/Ohariu.
Makara is a rural area with sparse development and a population of 756 (2006).
Makara is a popular destination for walking, fishing and diving.
Makara beach has a large car park with a small boat ramp near the mouth of the Makara Stream.
There is a 6km walkway which is managed by the department of conservation which starts at the beach and follows the coast up to the cliff tops, over looking the views of Mana, Kapiti and the South Island. The track continues to the WWII gun emplacements at Fort Opau.
Recently opened is the West Wind Recreation Area where you can get a close look at the Makara wind turbines and walk to the old gun emplacements overlooking Cook Strait, with views to the South Island, as well as Mana and Kapiti Islands, and it's fun to look around.
There is a cafe and a bed and breakfast/homestay. Makara has two historical churches, St Matthias (Anglican built 1920), and St Patrick's (formerly Catholic, now non denominational built 1873). There are 2 golf courses in the Makara area, and a Mountain biking park.
Makara is sheltered from the Southerly winds but exposed to the Northerlies with extreme wind conditions at times.
In the nineteenth century there was a small amount of gold-mining but no large-scale workable deposits were ever found.
Adjacent to Cape Terawhiti the Cook Strait cables come ashore, carrying power and telecommunications between the North and South Islands.
The stream estuary is an important native ecosystem and is gradually being restored by the Makaracarpas, a local environmental group. The tiny Makara 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.
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