Railway and road, running so closely parallel to each other for the greater part of the route from Wellington to the Manawatu country, pass through scenes of varied character, the reverse of a monotonous journey. Coast and island, forested mountains, comfortable homes and pretty gardens, richly-grassed fields, and many patches of small bush on the level lands, give beauty and pleasant change along the route. It is a storyland of the old-time Maori, and of the pioneer pakeha, and there are several native villages alongside the way, with here and there a carved house-front showing. It is a route with many attractive sidetracks for the inveterate walkers, who are encouraged to strike off from the rail and motor roads and explore mountain and seashore and lakeside, and picnic to their hearts' content; and if they do this under the paternal guidance and care of the Railway Department, so much the better for them on their tramps.

The foothills of the Tararua Ranges here keep close company with the traveller, towering close to in some places, as at Paekakariki and Waikanae. There is still some dense and tall timber up there, particularly in the Wainui Forest Reserve. Peaks of over 3,000 feet are in sight. A height of fame in local legend is Kapakapanui, a forested peak regarded by the Maoris as a “lightning mountain” of omen; lightning flashing downward repeatedly above or near its summit was regarded as a portent of a chief's death or other misfortune to the tribe living below.