Just for interest's sake...

Any given stretch of road in NZ will have a lot of interesting history and things to see - so we'll take a quick trip around the course and list off some way points you might notice along the ride...

• We start in Waikanae - translated as "The waters of the yellow eyed mullet".  No time for fishing now though!
• As we make our way south we pass Southwards Car Museum - One of the largest collections of cars in the Southern Hemisphere - rumour has it there are a few bikes as well.
• Next town on the route is Paraparaumu - which means "scraps from an earth oven".  Traffic management means we should be getting a green light here at the first of 3 sets of lights on the course.
• Further South you get a good view on the right of  Queen Elizabeth Park  as you go over the Mckay's crossing overpass.  During World War 2, this was the site of the largest United States Marine Corps camp in New Zealand.  The camp housed more than 20,000 men in and around the present park boundaries.  QE park is home to the Wellington Tramway Museum.  It was also the scene of Pelennor Field for close up work in the Lord of the Rings movies.
• We're getting close to the first big climb - but before that you'll notice the historic town of Paekakariki nestled on a narrow strip of land between the hills and the sea.  The name means "perching place of the kakariki (green parrot)". 
• Take a few deep breaths - steel yourself - and hang a left up the Paekakariki Hill road.  The summit is just past the lookout carpark.  The view from up here is spectacular.  On a good day you can see Mt Ruapehu, Taranaki and right down to the Kaikoura ranges of the South Island.  But dominatiing the view is Kapiti Island.  The name means "Joining" or "boundary" as it was once the boundary between 2 tribal areas.  It's 10km long and 521m high - over double the height of the summit we are riding over!  It's been inhabited for over 800 years - none more famously than by the Ngati Toa chief Te Rauparaha who used it as his base when he dominated the middle part of New Zealand in the 1830's - 60's.  It's been a wildlife sanctuary since 1897.

• The hill road  was originally constructed in 1848 - as a coach road - and Paekakariki was a coach stop for the Cobb and Co coaches that used to come over the hill from Pauatahanui.  The present day road was constructed in 1865 with reconstruction work creating The Cutting (that we ride through) in 1923 (see photo).  This was the main road north until the coastal centennial highway was finished in 1940.

• Once through The Cutting you can enjoy a long downhill ride.  Halfway down - we pass Battle Hill.  Site of early conflict where "On a cold August morning in 1846 the first shot was fired in a confrontation between Government forces and around 300 of Te Rangihaeata’s Ngati Toa near the summit of Battle Hill."  This is a fascinating place to explore when you have more time and you're not so short of breath. 
• Back down at sea level and the next town to tick off is Pauatahanui.  The name that means "Big shellfish".  There is evidence that the area has been occupied by several tribes from the 1600's on - with several pa sites dotted around the area.  In the 1860's this was a much bigger community that had 3 hotels catering to travellers on the Cobb and Co coaches that went up the Horokiwi valley (that we've just come down) to Paekakariki.  It also has one of the only schools in NZ to be over 150 years old. It was established in 1855, originally in a non-denominational chapel on the site of Te Rangihaeata's Pa, and later in the military barracks vacated by the troops. 
• As we leave Pauatahanui you might notice a church on the hill.  This is St Josephs Church - which was built in 1876 and is the oldest Catholic Church building in Wellington still in use today.

• From here we turn left onto Stage Highway 58 which runs across to the Hutt Valley.  This road follows the route of the original bridle track completed in 1874 by early settlers in the area we come to next - called Judgeford. It got this name from one of the original settlers Alfred Judge. Alfred built his house close to that point in the river where the road crosses and from there came the name 'Judge's Ford'. 
• If you hear someone yell "FOUR" - be careful - because the road here goes right through the middle of the New Judgeford Golf Course.  The original Judgeford course went into recess during World War II - and it became a base for both NZ and US Marines.  Following the war most of the Judgeford camp was demolished.  However there are many concrete abutments and several areas on the greens where the ground rises over filled in areas.  Once the military had left the golf club came out of recess and in 1949 the "New" Judgeford Golf Club was founded.
• After leaving Judgeford we head over the Haywards hill.  It's a climb that has a nice flat spot in the middle to catch your breath. The road as we know it today was completed in 1939.  The following photo from The Evening Post in March of the same year shows that the road then was a little different than it is now!

• Watch out for Orcs!  The Dry Creek Quarry at the bottom of the Haywards Hill was location of the filming of the Helm's Deep Battle scene in the Lord of the Rings film.  It was also used as the setting for Minas Tirith.  The photo below was taken during filming.

• Brake hard at the bottom and turn left again onto State Highway 2.  This is River Road and it runs next to the Hutt River - which also featured in the Lord of the Rings films as the River Anduin.  Filming was on various parts of the river on your left after you go over the Moonshine Bridge. 
• The 10 or so km of smooth flat riding up River road takes us past Upper Hutt City to our last left turn at Brown Owl.   This is Akatarawa Road and will take us all the way back to the start.   
• Harcourt Park at the start of the road takes us from Orcs to Wizards!  This was where more Lord of the Rings filming was done for the scenes involving Isengard - the stronghold of evil wizard Saruman in the Two Towers movie.  Lord of the Rings sets are everywhere around here - with the location of Rivendell filmed in the near by Kaitoke Regional Park.  
• The road starts rising from here and it's a long grind to the saddle - but it's beautiful scenery through the Akatarawa valley. 
• Akatarawa means 'trailing vines'. Maori used the forest for hunting and food gathering as well as an access trail to and from the Hutt Valley.  Saw milling was an important part of the economy with a wooden track bush tramway once serving both Cloustonville and Karapoti.  There was a proposal in the 1870's to have the Main Trunk Railway line go through the valley - but the idea was abandoned.
• Anyone riding a mountain bike will have to force themselves to go straight on when they reach Karapoti Road near the start of the climb.  This is the access point to the Karapoti Classic Mountain Bike race thats grown into New Zealands premier mountain bike event.
• Halfway up the climb you'll go past the Staglands Wildlife park.  There's a cafe here - but don't stop now - it's not too far to go.  It's definately worth a look at another time though. 

• Once you reach the saddle - it's all down hill from there - nearly!  Be careful on the descent - as there are plenty of off camber corners - and it's a long way down.
• The last place we travel through is Reikorangi which means "Gateway of Heaven" and with only a couple of k's to go - it's an apt name.  All that's left is a mad dash down the valley beside the Waikanae river to the finish.
• And we're done!  Happy and ready to come back next year for another crack.