The train journey from
Glenbrook to
Waiuku marks the end of our stay in this part of New Zealand. The line from
Paerata to Waiuku was first opened in 1922. It was operated by steam locomotive for 45 years before being closed in 1967. Just three years later, the
Glenbrook Vintage Railway Charitable Trust Board was founded and revived a 4.5-kilometer section in 1977. This line is still operated today with a
Ww480 steam locomotive that was renovated in 2018. Stepping into the old carriage with its red leather seats takes you back in time and evokes a sense of nostalgia. The steam engine puffs and whistles, waiting impatiently until all the passengers have boarded. A trip costs NZ$27. The train slowly starts moving, giving you plenty of time to admire the landscape around Waiuku. On the return journey, the train stops at an outlying station where you can get off. The train reverses and then passes you at full speed. It's a great idea for taking unique photos. In Glenbrook, you can experience the nostalgic atmosphere of the station, which is a highly recommended experience.
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| Passenger in the red carriage, Glenbrook, New Zealand |
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| Railway nostalgia, Glenbrook, New Zealand |
We leave the region and head for Wellington. To be more precise, this week we are traveling a little further north, to
Lower Hutt. Via
Hamilton and
Cambridge, we head south past
Hobbiton Movie Set, the village of the hobbits from the movie “The Lord of the Rings.” A guided tour of the village costs NZ$120 per person, which we don't want to spend, so we decide to watch the village again in the film.
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| Small town scene in New Zealand |
We continue on to
Taupo.
Lake Taupo is a crater lake formed by a volcano that collapsed around 26,500 years ago. It is New Zealand's largest lake. The
magma chamber collapsed, causing the area to sink by around 500 meters within a radius of 500 km². The rivers of the 3,500 km² catchment area filled the depression. In the north, near the town of Taupo, a breakthrough was created that maintains the lake's current water level. The
Huka Falls were created at this breakthrough. With a drop of 11 meters, they are not high, but still very attractive. We continue south on
State Highway 1 and, after a mountainous climb, reach a desert-like plateau. To our right, the 2797-meter-high
Mt. Ruapehu towers above us. Unfortunately, its summit is shrouded in clouds, so we cannot see if there is still snow on top. However, we assume that there is. In
Waiouru, the landscape changes again, and lush pastureland replaces the desert. Shortly before
Hunterville, we leave State Highway 1 and turn into a narrow valley, onto
State Highway 54. In
Waituna, we reach a large plain that stretches all the way to
Palmerston. On
State Highway 3, we drive over a mountain ridge between
Ashhurst and
Woodville and arrive in another valley that leads us to the edge of
Kaitoke Regional Park. In
Featherston, we check into a simple motel. At Brac&Bow, a beautifully decorated restaurant, we discover fine cuisine. We feel at home and reflect on the day.
The next day, we head back through the mountains to the Hutt Valley. We will spend the next few days hiking here. We have discovered the Hutt River Trail for ourselves. It starts in the
Hikoikoi Reserve and extends to Kaitoke Regional Park. That's about 23 kilometers along the Hutt River. It is an easy, flat hiking trail that can be accessed at many points. Parking lots along the way make it easy to get on and off again. We cover a total of three stages. The Hutt River flows into
Wellington Harbor. The natural harbor was called Port Nicholson until 1984 and was then renamed Wellington Harbor. The harbor covers an area of 78 km² and opens to the south through a 1.5-kilometer-wide entrance to
Cook Strait. On the southwestern side of the harbor lies the capital city of Wellington, which we plan to visit next week. Until then, as always, fair winds and keep a stiff upper lip.
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