The Wairarapa Five Towns Trail Network is an ambitious project to develop almost 200km of recreational trails for walking and cycling, linking Martinborough, Featherston, Greytown, Carterton and Masterton.
This is the first stage (11km) to be completed linking Featherston to Greytown along the Underhill Roads (yes there are 2 -one starting from Featherston and ending at the Tauherenikau River and the other starting just west of Woodside Station and also ending at the Tauherenikau River).
Like many projects in New Zealand, it has relied on the partnership of the local communites and their local service groups with local government agencies. The local Greytown community was heavily involved with all stages from the first ideas; planning; raising money to build the bridge; holding regular and numerous working bees to clear, make, beautify and now maintain the tracks leading to the bridge. This process will be repeated as the other stages of the Wairarapa Five Towns Trail Network are developed and completed.
The Tauherenikau River, also known as the Tauwharenikau River, flows initially southeast from its sources on the slopes of Mount Hector before turning southwest to run down a long valley in the Tararua Range. From the end of the valley it again turns southeast, flowing past the town of Featherston before reaching the northern shore of Lake Wairarapa.
Getting there:
Carparks are available to access the bridge (the Woodside end of Underhill Road is not suitable for large/long vehicles, motorhomes, etc) at both ends of Underhill Road, or by utilising public roads, you are able to cycle/walk between Featherston and Greytown.
The bridge can be accessed from both road ends by wheelchair.
Logging Requirements:
- On the bridge there are hundreds (maybe thousands) of hexagonal bolts. What is written on them (3 letters, 1 digit, decimal point, one digit)?, and,
- Find the sign: When are you to keep off this bridge (3 words)?
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Include in your log a photo of yourself, GPS or a personal item showing you have visited the bridge. Congratulations if you manage to have a photo of a train crossing the railway bridge.
Send an email to 3letters1digit.1digit3words@gmail.com Remember the decimal point.
For example, if the three letters and two digits are 'geo 5.6' and the three words are 'cars angle park', then send an email to geo5.6carsanglepark@gmail.com
Put your geocaching name in the subject line of the email. The text of your email can be left blank. If your answers are correct you will receive a confirmation email containing a request and permission to log almost instantly. If you log the cache without the confirmation email your log will be deleted. Remember to check your spam folder if you do not receive the email.
Page 5 of Metlink's Wairarapa Bus and Train Timetable will give you an idea of the times the trains cross the rail bridge if you want a photo of a train on the rail bridge. Freight trains also use these rail tracks.
The Tauherenikau River looking east from the walking cycling bridge.
A commuter train on the rail bridge.
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.