Te Whiti Riser

This new track in the Eastern Hills of Lower Hutt is the easiest track that NZPlaces has ever been on. The gradient is less than that of a gentle staircase, even fit for prams if not wheelchairs.
The hills of the Hutt Valley are marked with wide and well maintained firebreaks in bush of various states, some rough gorse, some second growth and pockets of original growth. The makers of this track showed inspiration in placing it behind popular Te Whiti Park in the well populated suburb of Waiwhetu. Accessibility is supreme, with the track starting behind the sportsfields and near to two large carparks.
Though it is possible to walk up the firebreaks, the riser track is the better option for most, and is also used by mountain bikers of all abilities. It takes about 60 minutes to get up and 45 to get down, with rewarding views of the Hutt Valley on the way up, and outstanding views of the Hutt and Wellington nearer the top. An extra small push to a picnic table on top is more pleasant when the standard norwest wind is lower than normal. Other tracks branch off from the summit and serious mountainbikers make use of many of them.
The abundance of apparent shortcuts on the way down can be deceiving and many an unsuspecting cyclist or walker has found themselves eyebrow deep in gorse with nowhere to go, as they do not all link up with the main track. The best advice would be to not be lose all common sense due to the simplicity of the track. Bush is still bush and lost is still lost, so by simply sticking to the first rule of tramping and sticking to the track you can't go wrong. NZPlaces recommends this track to anyone, including elderly, preschoolers and prams, a true endorsement for a walking track.