Rimutaka Rail Trail

Classic Mountain Bike Ride

Wellington, North Island

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 carpark in the Rimutaka Forest Park, and Greater Wellington Regional Council manages the section from Kaitoke to the Summit in the Pakuratahi Forest.

Photos

Grade: 1-2 Easy
Distance: 18km one way
Time: 1 hour one way

Directions

Turn off SH 2, 9 km north of Upper Hutt, the turn off is signposted to Pakuratahi Forest.
The carpark 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.