REMUTAKA
Siberia Bridge, Remutaka Cycle Trail © Johnny Hendrikus
Cycle Trail
GREAT RIDE • REMUTAKA CYCLE TRAIL
BEST FOR: Losing yourself in the natural and industrial remnants that surround our capital.
PETONE to ŌRONGORONGO 2-3 days
114km
Starting on the edge of Wellington Harbour, the Remutaka Cycle Trail flits between urban townships and untamed wilderness, meaning you’re never too far from a strong latte and a wild landscape.
F
rom disused train tracks to historic settlements, pockets of human activity hint at an industrial past, while rugged coastlines, lakes and river valleys allow for a total retreat into nature.
As intrepid as the ride may sound, there are no major hill climbs and the tracks are mostly flat. With several access points, day rides are just as feasible as the entire two to three-day shebang. © Remutaka Cycle Trail
TOP TIP – With several, often lengthy, tunnels along the trail, don’t forget bike lights or a head torch.
Flirting with the seaside, Petone’s fondness for good coffee, food, fashion labels and craftmanship nurtures a lively and innovative spirit. Head to Jackson St to experience the best of it. Venturing into Hutt Valley, often referred to as Wellington’s ‘big backyard’, the terrain gets noticeably wilder, and by the time you reach the Remutaka Range, the only noise left is natural. This forested trail traces an old railway line and includes a 584m-long tunnel and a 90m swing bridge over Siberia Gully. To navigate the tunnels, don’t forget your bike lights or a head torch. Pedal on towards Wairarapa, where several townships offer hearty food, and by the time Wairarapa Moana (Lake Wairarapa) comes into view, the topography has changed yet again, into one of wetland and estuary. The coastal road is often lashed by an unforgiving wind that gives reason to its shipwrecks and plenty of quake-made topography. At Turakirae Head, rocks once shaped by sea are now ruled by seals and it’s only a little further to Ōrongorongo River mouth, where pre-booked shuttles return to Petone and Wellington (or you can carry on along the add-on Wainuiomata Valley Ride back to Lower Hutt).
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