Reservoir Road, a private route for waterworks and council staff, doubles as the Lower Dam Walk.
History
Reservoir Road began in the 1870s as a tramway used to transport cut logs from the forest to a mill located on Moores Valley Road. This logging operation, along with the tramway, was owned by the Sinclair family, early settlers of Wainuiomata who held substantial land in the area. However, by 1880, the Wellington City Council’s water catchment and pipeline project required the acquisition of Sinclair land to halt logging in order to preserve the pristine state of the water catchment area. Consequently, the Sinclair mill was sold, and the family received compensation for their land. From then on, the tramway was used to take people to a dam that was constructed in 1884. Eventually the tramway was replaced by Reservoir Road which was originally unsealed for many years, but is sealed today.
Today
Reservoir Road is primarily a service route for waterworks and regional council staff, but it also doubles as the Lower Dam Walk, which is an integral part of the Gums Loop Walk. This private road, mostly free of vehicles, offers a pedestrian-friendly experience. Although a separate path is available for rare vehicular use, most people prefer walking directly on the road.
While the road is open to the public for driving up to the car park, vehicle access beyond this point is restricted by a locked gate. This marks the beginning of the path leading to the Waterworks Recreation Area, home to a historic dam and a water museum. Along the way, visitors can explore various walking tracks and enjoy tranquil swimming spots like Ultimate Pool.
Just east of the Wainuiomata Water Museum and the old dam, a locked gate restricts access to the road leading to Morton Dam and the Wainuiomata Treatment Plant. Around this point, the road eventually merges into Catchment Road, also known as Top Road, where a car park is situated. All vehicles reaching this far must drive over the mandatory car wash before proceeding into the catchment area toward the Orongorongo Tunnel or the Orongorongo River.
