“Ready for some hill work on a non-technical trail?” asks the wind. That’s how North Climie might greet you. It’s a place where gravel meets sky and stunning views reward your effort.
North Climie isn’t just a spot on a map. It is a destination offering breath-taking 180-degree vistas. Look out across Wairarapa. See Cook Strait. Gaze over Wellington and the Hutt Valley. This ridge marks the tailbone of the Rimutaka range. Because of its location, North Climie endures weather from all directions. Expect snow and ice in winter.
To get to North Climie, start at Tunnel Gully Recreational Area. Find the upper car park. Look for a sign-posted white metal gate. The adventure begins there. The track covers 12km out and back. Elite runners complete it in 1 hour 15 minutes. Novices might take 2 hours 45 minutes. Prepare for a 610m altitude gain. The average gradient is 14%. Some sections reach 20%.
As you leave the white gate, settle into the gravel access road. Your destination is a scattering of communication towers. You won’t lose your way. Even in the dark, the path is clear. A few minutes in, a trail drops to your right. It leads through northern rata, miro, and rimu. This fire-break is popular. Mountain bikers, walkers, and horses frequent it. Stick to the main trail. Further up, Tane’s Track is signposted to your left. Ignore it. Stay on the relentless gravel. As you gain altitude, notice the changing bush. It transforms to kamahi and beech forest.
After a couple of kilometers, a gap in the vegetation offers a teasing view. Do not stop. Keep going. A couple of short stretches offer false hope with an easier grade. These were included as a joke by the track creators.
After a winding climb, you will reach the first communication tower. You’ll exit the bush onto open tops at North Climie tower. Celebrate briefly. You’ve broken the back of the climb. The final kilometer runs along the ridge to Climie tower No.2. It stands at 860m.
Skirt around the tower enclosure at the end of the track. Run the final 100m of single track. This crosses the only true snow tussock on the Rimutaka Range. A knoll looks south. It offers stunning views of Wellington Harbour and Mana Island. Look east over Lake Wairarapa. Or, you might see nothing because of the cloud.
Beware the boardwalk west of the knoll. Especially in fog. This inviting 10m slope is a launching platform for para-gliders. It will drop you into the abyss.
North Climie is ecologically unique. Its exposed tops are covered by snowgrass. That’s unusual for the low-lying Remutaka Range. This contrasts the forest giants in Tunnel Gully.
The Fig Tree Café closes at 4pm. Do not loiter on Mount Climie. Enjoy the run down. It is made more satisfying by the knowledge of your accomplishment. Remember that berry smoothie at the Fig Tree Café? It’s so good it must be bad for you.
At North Climie trig, there are good views over Upper Hutt. But south Climie, the higher summit one kilometer along, really takes the prize. It’s here the scene opens over the spine of the Remutaka Range.