RIMUTAKA RAIL TRAIL - WAIRARAPA

The Rimutaka Rail Trail is a walking and cycling track running between Maymorn near Upper Hutt and Cross Creek near Featherston. It follows 25 kilometres of the original route of the Wairarapa Railway Line over the Rimutaka Ranges, including the world-famous Rimutaka Incline. The line from Kaitoke to Summit opened in 1877 and the following year the famous Incline was opened from Summit to Cross Creek with 1 in 15 gradient. Six Fell locomotives worked the Incline for 77 years until the current Rimutaka Tunnel was opened in 1955.

This is what I call my "local" rail trail as I am a Wairarapa girl, although I have not lived there for many years. It is in fact just a section of the larger Rimutaka Cycle Trail. Stage one starts in Petone and follows the Hutt River Trail all the way to the head of the Hutt Valley. This part I have cycled many times, a couple of times with my Dad. It is 35 km long and is a Grade 2 (Easy) trail.

So this trip will cover Stage 2 which heads into Tunnel Gully Reserve - once the main railway line between Wellington and the Wairarapa established in 1878. My plan is to catch the train from Masterton to Maymorn Station and start from there. This Rail Trail section is 25 km long and a Grade 2-3 (Easy to Intermediate). Apparently it should take about 3 - 4 hours to bike up to Summit and down to Cross Creek. Sounds good to me!

Rimutaka Rail Trail Stage 2 - Maymorn to Cross Creek

To start with I went to Torpedo7 and bought a portable bike pump in case I got a flat tyre. I think it's time I was prepared for this eventuality. I did my research and decided on the Lezyne Micro Floor Drive HV. It's a small aluminium floor pump so is very light. It will be no problem carrying it in my day pack. It is also compatible with both Presta and Schrader valves which is perfect because my two bikes have difference valve-types. Also I will be borrowing a bike on this trip so I don't know what valve-type I will end up with.

Lezyne Micro Floor Drive HV

I'm really looking forward to this trip, being my "local" and the Incline having such an interesting history. Both my parents traversed the Rimutaka Incline as children back in the day, pulled by the old Fell Engines and secured by brake vans. And my sisters and I used to play on the last remaining Fell Engine H-199 when she was the main attraction at the local Featherston playground from 1958. Falling into disrepair over the years, she was restored in 1989 and is now pride of place in the Fell Locomotive Museum in Featherston. I have not seen her for many-a-year - not since she was fully restored so I will be making a special visit to see my old playmate once more :)

Fell Engine H-199 as I remember her in the playground

Day 13: Journey's End

Raglan

Today is the last day of my "Girl's Own Adventure". I'm not really ready to go home yet, but my body could do with a rest right about now. It is a beautiful fine sunny day at last! So I decided to have a nice chilled-out last day, starting off by wandering around Raglan and then watching some surfing at Whale Bay. I will save the body-boarding for another summer weekend. This is a cool place to get away from it all.

Whale Bay - there were two surfers

Harbour View Hotel - bar and accommodation.
Might go up-market and stay here next time.



Nice landscaping throughout the town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Bridal Veil Falls

A 30 minute drive and I arrived at the Wairēinga/Bridal Veil Falls. I was debating whether to bother, but I'm very glad I decided to have a look. It is spectacular! And just a 10 minute walk from the road. At 55m high I was feeling the vertigo coming on me as I looked down from the top.

Stop at the carpark

Down the easy access path

From the top down to the bottom viewing platform - vertigo!

Boom! There she is! What a beauty!

261 steps down to the bottom viewing platform

Leg says NO!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Waingaro Hot Springs

I was lamenting the fact that there were no hot pools to soak in over this way, as that would be the perfect way to end this journey. I was looking at the map, deciding which route to take home, when I spied an oasis in the middle of nowhere, only 30 minutes away! Yahooooooo! Waingaro Hot Springs! Who knew? Thank you to my angels watching over me, and pointing it out :) So off I went. It really is in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by bush. As it was a week day and not the school holidays it was nice and peaceful with only a few people there. Music played as my tired muscles soaked it all up and I reflected on my incredible journey.

 

This looks pretty good

Can't wait to get in!



Still in one piece - just!
Well, time for a well earned soak in the pool now.
Next stop - Home.
Thanks for coming on my mountain biking journey with me!
Lot's of love, Roxy :)
xxxx

Day 12: Caves on the way to Raglan

Nikau Walk and Kaniwhaniwha Caves

On the way to Raglan there is a walking/cycling trail that leads to the Kaniwhaniwha Caves. The Nikau Walk is really nice to bike, and takes you to some really narrow caves that you have to squeeze to get in to. I was glad I kept my bike helment on and had my head light. I didn't go too far in because I thought I might get stuck and never be found! You would have to get the Sensing Murder team onto it.

 

At the carpark

Going into the bush part

Very nice

Some bridges

Cave entrance

Down in the dark



Some torch light required

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raglan

And now it's time to slow down a bit and give my leg a rest. I've never been to Raglan before. It's a really nice little place, kind of trendy and villagey. The camp I'm staying at is on the other side of an inlet and there is a nice foot bridge to bike over to get to the town centre.

My little cabin

All the mod cons

Off to explore the town by bike

A very pretty foot bridge over the inlet

 

Day 11: Waikato River Trail - Stage 1

The storm seemed to have blown itself out overnight, so it was time for the Stage 1 part of the Waikato River Trail. Again, the book says Grade Easy and talks of riding on a flat section alongside the river and some wetlands over boardwalks. Well do you think I could find that part of the trail? No way. The trail I followed was Grade Intermediate, lots of uphill, but again, I was lured by the promise of another very long swing bridge. I'm such a sucker!

Go down here they said...

...it'll be flat they said... no pics after this - too tired!

After much huffing and puffing, I made it to Arapuni Dam

The Arapuni swingbridge lures me on

Made it! 152m long.

Stopped in the middle - it's a bit freaky here, swaying around

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pouakani Totara Tree

Later in the day after I had recovered sufficiently, I went for a bush walk to see the largest Totara Tree in New Zeland. It really is a spectacular "Old Man of the Forest". It's not often you get to see such large trees in New Zealand. This one is said to be between 1750 and 1850 years old! 42.7m high, 12.2m girth, 3m diameter.

Start of the walk - a very overgrown bush track

It's very nice natural bush in here

I love moss on the trees

And there he is in a fenced off area! Amazing!

Some stats which are wrong apparently

Trying to get a decent shot into the canopy

Mossy southern side of the base

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 10: Waikato River Trail - Stage 4

I booked in to the Managkino Lakeside Inn due to the wild weather. I had intended to stay in my tent down by the lake, but that wasn't a good idea. The Inn is the old Maternity Hospital and I was the only one there. So I made myself at home, nice big TV so I can see what's going on in the world.

William wastes no time settling in

It's all very cozy and warm while the storm blows

After I settled in I decided to head out on Stage 4 of the Waikato River Trail. My book says Grade Easy, nice and flat. But when I got to the sign post it said Grade Intermediate. The sign was right! Lots of uphill. It starts out easy but not for long. My target was the 70m Mangakino Swing Bridge and after slogging it out in the drizzle I made it! I went a bit further but decided to head back when I got to the next hill.

 

Start of Stage 4

Looks harmless enough

Still good. It was hell after this part.



Target eventually secured!



Mangakino swingbridge 70m long

 

 

 

Day 9: Riding the Dragon's Tail

Last full day in Rotorua! I'm going to miss the smell of sulphur! Another fine day so I set off to see the Blue and Green Lakes. They are still as beautiful as ever.
 

Viewing platform between Blue and Green Lakes

 

Blue Lake

 
 



Green Lake



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After that I was determined to ride the bumpy old Dragon's Tail at Redwoods, another must-do Intermediate trail. There are so many trails here and I have only been halfway up the mountain. It takes me half an hour just to ride up to the mid-way tracks. There is a shuttle bus that takes riders and bikes right up to the top on the weekends. I will have to do them another time. A pretty decent effort though - 4 out of 5 days riding - one day rained out. I am officially awesome!

 

Start of Dragon's Tail

 

This is the best video clip I could find of the trail. It really is like a dragon's tail, lots of sharp bumps, roots to get over and winding all around. It was pretty hard going on a hardtail (only front suspension). I have to stand up and use my legs as suspension over all the bumps. And my jumps are limited. It's fairly hard on my unbroken leg - it gets a bit sore. Thank goodness for the hot pools :) I'm going to have to upgrade to full suspension soon!

 

 

So then it was back to the hot pool for a recovery session. Fantastic!

 

 

True confession time.

I had a crash.

On my first day at Redwoods.

Straight over the handlebars.

Flat on my face.

I'm fine.

It looks worse than it is.

Only a cut and a bump on my nose.

And one on my forehead.

Oh and these big bruises on my thighs.

My nose didn't bleed.

I haven't got a black eye.

It will all be healed by the time I get home.

So all good.

I'm done with the Redwoods now.

Didn't want to worry you...