The Walkway Specification submitted with the application, the current walking, cycling and other recreational activities associated with the Rail Trail will be provided for with a new walkway located close to the railway formation.

The business plan includes reinstatement of the walkway as a key item for each stage. The new walkway will be constructed in stages ahead of the corresponding railway reinstatement to ensure continuity of walking and cycling activities for park users.

Provision for new routes that complete current gaps in the walkway have been included in the civil engineering investigations and preliminary route designs for the Low Flank Connection Route at Maymorn, and the Kaitoke deviation. The latter will provide an off-road, easily graded walkway alongside the heritage railway, connecting the Maymorn – Kaitoke station road portion of rail trail with the Kaitoke – Summit – Cross Creek section. Together with the proposed walkway along the former railway route included in the Maymorn Structure Plan, this presents a significant addition to the Rail Trail offering between Upper Hutt and the Wairarapa.

The stations at Maymorn, Kaitoke and Summit will also offer significant additional visitor facilities for walkers and cyclists, enhancing their experience of the Rail Trail and providing additional emergency and medical support in the remote mountainous route. Opportunities for collaboration with other tourist operators could be explored, including the possibility of train ride plus cycle hire, adventure tourism based at Summit, café and operation of the visitor and discovery centres. The railway operation will significantly widen the base of visitors to the Rail Trail and the Kaitoke and Summit areas, which may assist in the establishment and on-going viability of such ventures. The railway operation will also be relatively weather-independent, filling gaps in visitation that might otherwise occur when wet and windy weather dissuades the fair-weather walker or cyclist.