The Remutaka Range runs north-east to south-west for 55 kilometres from the upper reaches of the
Hutt Valley (where the range's northern saddle abuts the southern end of the Tararuas) to
Turakirae Head at the western end of
Palliser Bay. The highest peak is
Mount Matthews, at 940 metres, near the southern end of the range. Narrow and winding,
State Highway 2 crosses the range from the Hutt Valley to
Featherston at the saddle where it meets the Tararuas. At the road's summit is a lookout point where there were usually tea rooms and well-guarded facilities maintained by residents. More recently there was a café. After disputes over toilets and land ownership between the then still new
Greater Wellington Regional Council and a series of tenants the building sat empty, was severely damaged by fire in April 2009 and later demolished. Taking a quite separate route the
Wairarapa Line railway used to climb across the Remutakas, including the famous
Rimutaka Incline, a rare example of the
Fell mountain railway system. It opened on 12 August 1878 and closed on 30 October 1955, when it was replaced by the
Rimutaka Tunnel. The former route is now the popular
Remutaka Rail Trail and part of the Remutaka Cycle Trail. The
Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust has plans to rebuild the railway from Maymorn, including the Incline, as a tourist and historical attraction. == History ==