Wellington Regional Trails
People walking along one of the two swing bridges over the river amongst trees in Kaitoke Regional Park.

Walking time

1 hr return

Length

2.1km

Uses

Walking/Running

Type

Single track

Walking difficulty

Easiest: Short walk

Profile

203m highest point

Dogs

Yes (on lead)

About the trail

The Swingbridge Track is a family-friendly 2km loop walk that takes about 1 hour to complete. It takes you across a swing bridge suspended high above the Hutt River, then weaves downstream towards the river gorge. On this walk, mature rimu and rātā trees tower above you, and the Hutt River churns below.

For the past 20-plus years, Kaitoke Regional Park has been a stopping point for Lord of The Rings fans, as the area was a filming location for Rivendell.

Getting there

Hutt River in Kaitoke Regional Park surrounded by lush green bush.

What to expect

This trail includes an accessible swingbridge crossing of Te Awa Kairangi (The Hutt River).

The loop passes through an ancient Rimu and Rātā forest. Some trees are over 900 years old. The forest is abundant with birdlife. The bridge crossings and seating near large trees offer multiple stopping points along the way.

Know before you go

Get ready using Plan My Walk for track alerts, weather forecasts, trip reviews and a packing list.