March 2010

Masterton - Wellington - Napier
Coastal Tour

 

 

ACTA members Margaret & Donald, and Lyn & Neale cycled out of   Masterton and, after a journey of 12 days & 700kms,
cycled into Napier along the picturesque foreshore cycle path.

The following pictures, taken by each of the riders, and text written by Lyn, tell the story of this
epic  -  I think that's the right word  -  trip.

 

 

Lyn writes:-

We could not have contemplated our journey without Margaret’s pre tour organization & contact with sheep station
managers/owners, enabling us to complete this expedition – many thanks, Margaret.

 

We followed the coastline wherever possible & each day this was a tour filled with   Memorable Moments –

-       stunning scenery –
the Wellington & Wairarapa coastlines are truly spectacular. At times we climbed up to 400m then descended to the next valley - it felt like we were on top of the world. On some beaches the surf was wild – one could hear the sound of pebbles being dumped with the force of the waves. We passed 4 lighthouses – at Cape Palliser there were 258 steps to reach the lighthouse, Castlepoint lighthouse very picturesque at sunrise. When looking back it was very pleasing to see headlands we had ridden around the previous day, looking north there was often the next goal in sight – Baring Head, Castlepoint, Cape Turnagain, Cape Kidnappers.   Margaret stopped often to capture every view and landscape with her trusty camera, Lyn and Neale thought this was great allowing them to keep up with the pace.

 

(More of Lyn's notes will follow throughout these pages.)

 

 

 

Masterton - Orongorongo Station

 

Historic church at Gladstone on the way to Martinborough.

 

 

 

 

 

 

-       Rimutaka incline –

this old railway line has been transformed into a cycle track – the newer train link between Wellington and the Wairarapa now runs through an 8.8km long tunnel below. Day 1 we headed for the bottom of the incline via Martinborough (lunch stop) & Feathestone (visit to Fell Museum). The museum, named after the Fell engines which struggled their way up the very steep gradient, was full of historical material, old photos, railway equipment (including a Fell engine) & a very interesting film presentation enacting a journey in the late 1800’s. We camped that night at Cross Creek before tackling the steep section to the summit. The cycle trail passes through 4 tunnels, beautiful bush, Siberia gully (prone to strong winds which blew a fully loaded train from the rails) & on reaching the summit great views across the Rimutaka forest park. The route into Upper Hutt was a lovely down hill cycle on a well maintained section of the track, through pine forests & grazing land.

 

 

First night - camping at Cross Creek Station on the Rimutaka Rail Trail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cordon-bleu dining at Cross Creek.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The day draws to an end at the foot of the Incline.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Siberia!!   This is the place on the Incline where a train was blown off the rails in
September 1880.  The line crossed the gully on an embankment which has been
washed away since the railway closed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remnants of the Fell locos at Summit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neale always wanted to be a fireman!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Descending the rail trail en route to Upper Hutt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoying the 29km Hutt Valley river trail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The South Island is visible behind the Interislander entering Wellington Harbour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking back to Pencarrow Lighthouses.

The upper light was built in 1859 but, as the light was often shrouded by fog and mist the
second light on the beach was built in 1908.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View from the crest of Baring Head looking down on Donald.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entering Orongorongo Station (the farm buildings are nestled in the trees).
This was the end of the short bit of sealed road near Baring Head!!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The lovely old station cottage at Orongorongo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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