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rimutaka
A popular playground and
recreational forest park for outdoor enthusiasts can be found
just 30 km from Wellington.
The Rimutaka Forest Park is the southernmost range of the North
Island’s continuous chain of mountains from Wellington to
East Cape. The range is relatively low but deceptively rugged. It
extends from Palliser Bay on the south coast along the east side
of the Hutt Valley and ends at the Rimutaka Saddle on S.H.2.
The park’s most popular picnicking, swimming and walking
area is the Catchpool Valley just south of the suburb of
Wainuiomata. There are well-formed tracks through peaceful native
forest, and clear mountain streams. The renowned Five-Mile Track
to the Orongorongo River starts here. The track has a gentle
gradient through pine forest, semi-tropical nikau palms and red
beech forest. The river offers a range of tracks, which are less
strenuous than many of those in the nearby Tararua Range.
From the beautiful Orongorongo Valley it is possible to climb the
highest point in the range, Mt Matthews (941 metres). The ascent
begins after a 3 km walk upstream, firstly heading through the
forest to the Matthews Stream, and then climbing steeply to the
South Summit. You emerge onto a grassy clearing with commanding
views of Wellington harbour and the pounding surf of Palliser
Bay. The final section of the climb leads up a steep face on the
forest-clad summit with brief views of the Wairarapa Plains
below.
Another favourite walk at the north end of the park is the
Rimutaka Incline Walk. This is a 5-7 hour walk each way along the
historic railway line, which carried trains between Wellington
and Wairarapa before the train tunnel was built. This walk starts
on S.H.2, 9 kms north of Upper Hutt. This route is suitable for
mountain bikes.
The accessibility of the Rimutaka Forest Park makes it a major
attraction for visitors to the capital city. It offers a ready
escape to a place of solitude and peace.
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