Walk Details
NZ Walking Routes > Wairarapa > Rimutaka Rail Trail
Rimutaka Rail Trail
- Location
Turn off SH 2, 9 km north of Upper Hutt, the turn off is signposted to Pakuratahi Forest. The car park is 1 km along a metal road.
You can also access the trail from Cross Creek in the Rimutaka Forest Park, about an hour and 15 minutes drive from Wellington across the Rimutaka Hill Road. Turn onto Moore St, Featherston, continue into Western Lake Rd, and turn right onto Cross Creek Road.
- Description
The rail trail is a gently graded 18 km 5hr walk (one way Kaitoke to Cross Creek carpark) or mountain bike ride. This makes it an ideal trip for families with children. The trail is also popular with dog walkers.
A rail route established in 1878 between the Hutt Valley and Featherston carried passengers up the steep incline from the Rimutaka summit to Featherston until the opening of the Rimutaka rail tunnel in 1955. The innovative Fell mountain railway system pulled trains up the steep slope of the Rimutaka Incline.
DOC and the Wellington Regional Council now jointly manage the incline as the Rimutaka Rail Trail. DOC manages the Incline section from the Summit to Cross Creek car park in the Rimutaka Forest Park, and Greater Wellington Regional Council manages the section from Kaitoke to the Summit in the Pakuratahi Forest.
Enjoy swimming and fishing in the nearby Pakuratahi River and picnic or camp in the pleasant surrounds of Ladle Bend and Summit.
Eight species of moa once roamed the area which still contains some native birdlife, including bellbirds, tui, kaka, kereru and ruru.
- Level
- Medium
- Amenities
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- Birds
- Camping
- Carpark
- Dogs Allowed
- Fishing
- Historical
- Huts
- Lookouts
- Mountain Biking / Biking
- Picnics
- Plant Life
- Swimming
- Source
- www.doc.govt.nz
- Discussion
- Start a discussion on this walk