Kaitoke
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Kaitoke is a locality in the southern North Island of New Zealand. It is located above the northern end of the Hutt Valley, 40 kilometres northeast of Wellington and six kilometres from the northern end of Upper Hutt urban area. It lies close to the southern end of the Tararua Ranges.
The "Puffer" tramping track providing access into the Tararua Forest Park climbs from Kaitoke onto and along the Marchant Ridge. This Ridge is the part of the Tararuas that is prominently visible from Wellington. The Marchant Track has a side track leading to the Tauherenikau Valley. The end of the Marchant Ridge (after 4 hours of 'up hill, all the way, both ways') leads to Mount Alpha, and onto The Southern Crossing. The entire track to Alpha skirts the Kaitoke Water Catchment at no time entering the catchment. The water supply for Wellington is thus protected from any human contamination.
The first YOUTH HOSTEL of the North Island was established in the old Ministry of Works barracks at Kaitoke, which were situated behind the Post Office and alongside the Kaitoke Hall. The PO, the Hall, and the Youth Hostel were the only buildings of the settlement.
The Pakuratahi River flows through the eastern Kaitoke Basin from its source in the Rimutaka Ranges. The Railway, which closed with the opening of the Rimutaka Railway Tunnel in 1955, ran from Upper Hutt to Maymorn, to Kaitoke and around Goat Rock up the Pakuratahi to the Summit, and from there, because of excessive steepness, a Fell Mountain Railway system was used to take the trains down to Cross Creek. This railway is now used as a cycling excursion path. Winds can be strong, and more than one train has been blown off the railway lines.
The nearby Kaitoke Regional Park was the filming location for exterior shots of Rivendell for the movie The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
The Hutt River has its source to the north of Kaitoke, and much of the land in the vicinity is used as a water supply reserve. Filming, rafting, swimming and other human activity all take place downstream of the Wellington City water intake.