Gemstone

Hutt River Trail, Wellington, New Zealand

East bank: Spur from Birchville Bridge towards Kaitoke.

Easy

Bike and Foot

From the shelter to the end of Harcourt Park, go down the gravel road towards the river. Veer off through the bridge underpass then up to the stopbank. Then follow the grassy spur that heads in the general direction of Kaitoke, but doesn't quite get there. Instead, it simply stops next to State Highway 2, 1.3km short of the Twin Lakes Road entry to the water treatment area.

Watch out for a set of steps in one of the bush sections, somewhere around the middle of the track.

At a small bridge, just before meeting State Highway 2, the track forks left and right. The righthand branch goes straight to State Highway 2, while the lefthand branch takes a slightly longer scenic route to meet State Highway 2 a little further along.

Return the same way then cross the Birchville and Bridge Road bridges to continue on the Hutt River Trail.

Next section of the Hutt River Trail:

Harcourt Park to the south

Edmund Lomas Park on the opposite bank

California Park to the southwest across the river

Western end is at the Birchville Bridge. Access directly from the eastern side of the road, or drop down towards the river on the western side of the road and go under the bridge.

Eastern end is on State Highway 2. Either return the same way or continue along State Highway 2 to the Kaitoke water treatment area.

There are plans to extend this track to the east alongside State Highway 2. It will then connect with tracks in the Kaitoke water treatment area and hence enabling access to the Rimutaka Rail Trail.

2.34km

Single track

1 Jan 2010 by Ian

Ian