Cycling the Headland Loop of the W2K section © Dave Mitchell
GREAT RIDE • GREAT LAKE TRAILS
BEST FOR: Excitement-seekers. This jigsaw of fun, fast trails makes the most of its lakeside setting.
WAIHAHA to WHAKAIPO BAY 1-3 days
84km
If the idea of riding the rim of a super volcano isn’t enough, then perhaps the promise of volcanic gorges, waterfalls and beautiful beaches will get you on the saddle. With switchbacks and speedy descents, the Great Lake Trail is not only scenic, it’s seriously good fun.
Highlights of the trail • Sleepy Kinloch is a 20-minute drive from Taupō township with good cafés and a sandy bay. Three of the four trail sections are accessed from here, so it makes a good base. • Kinloch Club is an awardwinning golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. • The large rocky overhang at Echo Rock looms over the trail like a frozen stone waterfall. • Uphill slogs provide elevated views of Lake Taupō and the
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mountain peaks in Tongariro National Park. • A secret waterfall hidden deep in the Waihaha Valley is a highlight of the Waihaha section. • Come summer, you’ll want to swim in the pretty bays lapped by aqua-blue water. • Kawakawa Bay is small, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in aesthetics.
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s the result of one of the biggest volcanic eruptions in history, Lake Taupō’s enormous crater is lined with exorcised pumice stone, allowing for a free-draining, all-season terrain and year-round cycle track. This Grade 3 trail straddles the northwestern corner of Lake Taupō and is split into four sections comprising the Waihaha-Waihora Trail, the K2K Track, the Ōrākau Trail (Chairmans) and the W2K Track. Each section is easily accessible from the lively hub of Kinloch and can be ridden in various combinations, or tackled all-in-one over the course of one to three days. Those taking on the entire stretch tend to work from the west to the east. Depending on your chosen route, shuttles may be required. A water taxi is also available to transport cyclists to four points along the trail. Built for mountain bikers by mountain bikers, the track is heaven for fans of single-track riding, while the lofty views over the lake and distant volcanoes offer a pleasant distraction. Expect long downhills as well as few challenging climbs, plenty of switchbacks and gorgeous little bays beckoning you in for dips.
TRAIL INFO 1-3 Days 84km
TRAIL GRADES: WAIHAHA SECTION GRADE 3 (INTERMEDIATE) KAWAKAWA SECTION GRADE 3 (INTERMEDIATE) W2K SECTION GRADE 3 (INTERMEDIATE) MOBILE PHONE COVERAGE: Good coverage close to Kinloch on the W2K and Headland Loop; but be prepared for areas of no coverage at times. DRINKING WATER: Be selfsufficient and carry enough drinking water for the entire trip. TYPE OF BIKE: A ship-shape mountain bike is recommended. E-bikes are also welcomed. GRADE 3 (INTERMEDIATE)
More mountain biking, please The 42 Traverse is known as the greatest mountain bike ride in the North Island, while the Rotary Ride traces the Waikato River for 6km all the way to Huka Falls. The Craters Mountain Bike Park is located on the outskirts of Taupō in Wairakei Forest and also connects to the Rotary Ride. Families tend to like the Huka Falls to Aratiatia Dam Trail.
