Getting Started

Switched on Bikes is the best place to begin your journey to the Remutaka Incline. Gear up at our shop just a few minutes away from Te Papa Museum and the iSite, centrally on the Wellington waterfront. We’ve got a large range of eBikes, hard and soft tail mountain bikes, gravel bikes and even a tandem bicycle! It’s easy to ride right from our store up to the start of the Remutaka Cycle trail without touching a road.

From our shop, we’ll direct you to Te Ara Tupua Cycle Way. This purpose built shared path connects Wellington City to the Hutt Valley and skirts Te-Whanganui-A-Tara (Wellington’s harbour), serving up stunning views of the harbour and its surrounding mountains. The next segment is a flat gravel ride along Te Awakairangi (The Hutt River) which brings you north through the Hutt Valley where the Remutaka Cycle Path begins.

Wellington City-Te Ara Tupua- Hutt River- Remutaka Cycle Trail

Incorporating one of the Great Rides of New Zealand in the Reumtaka Cycle Trail, this ride takes you through all sorts of terrains and locations such as the city, the coastline, a river trail and a stunning bush ride through tunnels and across suspension bridges to the summit of the Remutaka Incline. This ride is fully completable through separated cycle lanes. Rent an eBike from Switched on Bikes on the Wellington Waterfront the ride along Te Ara Tupua Cycle Path and the riverside trails along Te Awakairangi (The Hutt River). Make an adventure of it and cycle over the ranges to Featherston and catch a train ride back to the city.

View the official Remutaka Cycle Trail page for more information.

Plan your Route

There are plenty of duration options if you want to do a smaller ride or make a full day of it on the Remutaka Cycle Trail.

  • Wellington to Featherston w Train return: Pick up your bikes from us on the Wellington waterfront and take an epic ride all the way from the city, along Te Ara Tupua Cycle Path, along the Hutt River Trail and onto the Remutaka Cycle Trail. Make it over the ranges and down the hill to the town of Featherston and from there, walk your bikes onto the train! Enjoy the ride (and the rest) back to the city after the best day out you can have in Wellington.
  • Maymorn Station Start: A great option if you want to get straight into the action of the Cycle Trail. Take a 5 minute ride from our shop on the waterfront to the Wellington Train station and hop on with your bikes to ride the rails to Maymorn Station in Upper Hutt. Jump off and you’re right next to the start of the trail. Head up to the summit and ride back down to where you started and take the train once again or ride back to the city on fully separated cycle ways the whole way.
  • Featherston to Wellington: The full day ride from the other side. Once again, the train is your friend. Take an early departure to Featherston where you can begin your ride in reverse from the other options and make it back to Wellington on your own steam. Riding along Te Ara Tupua Cycle way with Wellington in view is a magical ride as the sun begins to set.
  • Two-Day Ultimate Wellington eBike Escape: This ride is the best of the best in Wellington. We’ve planned two days of riding in Wellington with accommodation, breakfasts, lunches, luggage transfers and more all included. This ride features the Miramar Peninsula one the first day and the Remutaka ride the next. Let us help you with an epic eBike adventure without the stress of organising. For bookings and more information check out this page:  Two-Day Ultimate Wellington eBike Escape

Remutaka Rail Trail

This iconic and popular cycle trail is where the adventure really begins. Boost up your eBike’s power level as you begin the gentle climb up the ranges. During this section of the ride you’ll weave through lush native bush and on well maintained tracks which are easy to navigate on a self-guided ride. Traverse a suspension bridge and ride through five historic rail tunnels as part of the ride (your eBikes lights will come in handy here!) and make sure to check out the historical rail artifacts along the way too. Rest and take in the views at the summit of the range. From here, you can return the way you came and make your way back down the incline or venture down the other side of the Remutaka range towards Cross Creek. Still keen for more? It’s just a 10km ride to Featherston, one of the five towns of the scenic Wairarapa region. In Featherston put your bikes on the train and ride back with them to Wellington after an epic days riding.

Keen to get out there? Book your bike here.