Six of us drove to Cross Creek to walk the Remutuka Incline from the Wairarapa side. It was a perfect Autumn morning with not a cloud in the sky. It was a quick walk along the 2 km track from the car park to the old Cross Creek Station. I decided to use the toilet here and was intrigued with the vegetation growing up the back wall. It didn’t help the smell factor though, being one of the pongiest toilets I had used for quite some time. Then it was off up the Incline, which rises a lot more quickly on this side. It was quite chilly in the areas out of the sun, so another reminder the seasons are changing. This side is packed full of information boards and the vegetation is really taking off, making it a very pretty walk. It also has 3 tunnels, a swing bridge and lookout. The lookout is starting to lose some of its views, so I do hope the trees are trimmed back so it is not lost for good. The Summit Tunnel entrance was quite beautiful with interesting trees and 2 waterfalls, one on each side. These were a little bit dry today but I have seen them both flowing well. The tunnel is 550 metres long and comes out at The Summit, where we stopped for lunch. Then it was back the same way, we had come up. The pace going downhill was a whole lot quicker than the ascent (which wasn’t too shabby either) and we were back in the carpark just before 2.30pm. We decided it was too late to try and get a cuppa in Featherston as the café closed at 3pm. So it was back over the hill after a great Sunday walk.

Trip Leader - Judith O’Leary

Walkers: Judith, Denise A, Christine C, Chris M, Linda F, & Lyn M