Wainuiomata Connector (Heartland) Ride

A new 28km Cycle Route will start at the Orongorongo River car park at the end of Coast Road in Wainuiomata and go through the Wainuiomata township, over the Te Hikoi Arawera / Wainuiomata Hill Shared Pathway and connect to the Hutt River Trail. It's name comes from the connection it makes to the two ends of the Remutaka Cycle Trail. 

The attraction of a Heartland Ride

Connector Rides are on-road trails within the Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trail network to connect to New Zealand's Great Rides. They’re designed to link urban centres and other key tourist attractions and “encourage cycling away from state highways and onto the safer and more enjoyable roads and paths where they will experience quintessential New Zealand”.

The route will be a Grade 3-4 ride attracting riders who are experienced riders and who are used to riding on rural roads, and be promoted alongside Remutaka Cycle Trail's more rugged coastal trail sections.

How the community benefits

The Wainuiomata Connector Ride aims to deliver a safer on-road cycling route, increase recreation and tourism opportunities and positively benefit the health and wellbeing of the community. 

This will include:

• enhanced road safety for all users
• employment from attractions and businesses that feature along the trail and are participating in trail related promotion
• increasing Lower Hutt’s appeal and competitiveness as a destination
• maximising opportunities for a range of recreational and health benefits for active communities.

The Remutaka Cycle Trail attracts thousands of riders each year across the region and generates around $4million in revenue and Wainuiomata stands to benefit from riders spending on hospitality, activities and accommodation. 

Where we're at

We're currently finishing the installation of route and safety signs. We’ve sought input from Waka Kotahi NZTA and are following guidelines in the New Zealand Cycle Trail Design Guide that sets outs requirements for on-road cycle routes.

We anticipate formally opening the route soon.

Partnering with our community

We’re helping the route come to life as a concept that has come from and been championed by the community.

The route was first identified as an option in the longer term visioning of the Remutaka Cycle Trail upon its launch in 2014. Many recreational and touring cyclists use this route on their own accord every week.

The concept of a cycle route through Wainuiomata was championed by local residents and the Homedale Village community and the feasibility of it being a Heartland Ride was investigated in 2018.

After Waka Kotahi NZTA advice on the fit with Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trail network requirements we investigated improvements required for the route and potential funding.

The concept was promoted by Love Wainuiomata and the Homedale business community in 2019. Information was shared with interest groups across the community and residents were invited to public meetings. Newspaper articles were published and info on the concept and route was available via Love Wainuiomata.

Community feedback was used in a formal application to Waka Kotahi NZTA in December 2019 for the proposed route. It has been provisionally approved which means we can access co-funding from Waka Kotahi NZTA. Approval has also been given by Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trail so the route can be part of the national network and promoted alongside 24 other Heartland Rides.

A route inspection was completed in January 2020 that has identified numerous safety enhancements including signs, road edge improvements and physical works to improve road user safety and enhance the cycling experience. 

A successful application to Waka Kotahi NZTA and NZCT to become part of the national network gave us access to government funding for specific improvements along the route.

Through feedback from riders and the rural community we identified a number of safety enhancements to create a Wainuiomata Connector (Heartland) Ride works list (PDF 1.9 MB).

We're working with Love Wainuiomata via a Heartland Ride working group including Wainuiomata Rural Community Association representatives, local businesses, interest groups and community board representatives to progress the project. Mana whenua have gifted the rode a name and we've been grateful to learn of the story of the area's earlier life and we're adopting this in the route's story and marketing.

Ride information has been set up at wainuiomataconnector.nz to promote the trail and activities nearby.

Next steps

• Continued community partnership - developing business, recreation and road safety outcomes.
• Route identity story, design and marketing - enhancing the identity for the route that will be used for promotion and tourism opportunities.
• Formally opening the route

Find out more

To find out more contact James Lamb, Senior Business & Economy Advisor:
T: 04 570 6666 
E: james.lamb@huttcity.govt.nz