Remutaka Cycle Trail: Petone to the Wild South Coast

Overview

The Remutaka Cycle Trail starts on the edge of Wellington Harbour at Petone, winds up the Hutt Valley, climbs gently over the forested Remutaka Range on an old railway, and drops into Wairarapa. Then it skirts the rugged south coast back toward the capital. The four sections add up to about 120 km, usually ridden over 2–3 days.

Trains make the logistics easy: Petone, Maymorn and Featherston are all on the Wellington–Wairarapa line.

Highlights

• The historic Remutaka Incline railway bridges and tunnels, including the 584 m Summit tunnel
• The leisurely Hutt River Trail, Petone's Jackson Street and the Dowse Art Museum
• Featherston's Fell Engine Museum and Booktown, and Wairarapa wine country nearby
• Birdlife around Lakes Wairarapa and Onoke, with more than 100 species
• The remote Wild Coast and the fur seal colony at Turakirae Head

Trail sections

• Remutaka Rail Trail: It passes through Tunnel Gully and the 221 m Maymorn tunnel, then climbs gently to Summit, which has a shelter and toilets. Beyond Summit, the trail is Grade 3 to Western Lake Road: steeper, narrower and loose, with drop-offs. It crosses the Siberia swing bridge, where a train was blown off the tracks in 1880. In high winds, use the alternative route. Bring a torch for the tunnels. See also our Pākuratahi Forest guide.
• Wild Coast: The most scenic and most challenging section. It's fully exposed to wind, has rocky and sandy surfaces and streams that can flood, and there are no services and almost no mobile coverage. Keep at least 20 m from the seals. Pre-book a shuttle from Orongorongo for the 30 km back to Petone.

Current alerts

• Wild Coast: An active slip at Harris Falls, about 1.5 km west of Corner Creek Campsite, has taken out the track. A beach diversion is in place, but avoid it for an hour either side of high tide.
• Rail Trail: There were intermittent closures between Cross Creek Yards and the Cross Creek car park for upgrades in July–September.

Check the trail website or Facebook page before you go.

Day rides

• Remutaka Rail Trail (up to 25 km): One of Wellington's most popular day rides. Park at Kaitoke, or take the train to Maymorn. Ride to Summit and back, or over the top to Cross Creek and on to Featherston for the train home.
• Hutt River Trail (up to 28 km): Petone to Upper Hutt, split any way you like.

Need to know

• Bike: A hybrid is fine for the Hutt River, the Hutt side of the Rail Trail and Western Lake Road. Use a mountain bike or wide-tyred gravel bike for the Wairarapa side and the coast, where punctures are common.
• E-bikes: Welcome, but e-bikes over 300 W count as motor vehicles and aren't allowed on the Incline or the coast. There are no charging points.
• Wind: It can be ferocious, especially southerlies at Siberia and on the Wild Coast.
• Food: There are plenty of cafés in the Hutt Valley and Featherston, but nothing beyond Upper Hutt apart from those.
• Camping: Basic sites at Ladle Bend, Summit and Corner Creek.
• Dogs: On a lead, and not allowed on the Wild Coast between Corner Creek and Orongorongo Station. Horses only between Kaitoke and the Summit tunnel.

Getting there

Wellington Airport is 30–45 minutes from Petone. Book shuttles and accommodation ahead. Bike hire is available in Petone, Upper Hutt and Martinborough.