10 minute read
HAURAKI Rail Trail
BEST FOR: Riders of all abilities looking for a laid-back adventure.
KAIAUA to MATAMATA: 3-5 days/160km
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Embark on a five section cycleway that is both gentle and flat and therefore ideal for everyday riders including children. You can tackle all five segments at once, or pick one section for a pleasant day trip.
Grab some binoculars because this ride commences (or culminates depending on your direction) along the Shorebird Coast, aptly named for its abundant birdlife that can exceed 10,000 in number. The route from Kaiaua to Thames presents Wetlands of International Significance, tranquil farmland, natural hot springs at Pūkorokoro Miranda and café stops in the villages of Waitakaruru, Pipiroa, Kopu and Thames.
Under the watchful eye of curious cows, Paeroa is one of many charming townships you’ll discover along the way, and noteworthy for its giant L&P bottle. This signature Kiwi drink is a national favourite. Soon to be yours.
The return trip to Waihi does add an additional six to eight hours to your schedule but cycling through a 1100m tunnel complete with glowworms is a huge drawcard. Gold mines define this area, with Karangahake Gorge and Victoria Battery bringing history front of mind. Back on the original route, glide under the gaze of Mt Te Aroha (‘the Mountain of Love’) and past farms resonating with vocal goats and alpacas, making headway to Matamata and Hobbiton.
Karangahake Gorge reflection © Coromandel Tourism
KAIAUA TO THAMES, 53KM
Named ‘The Journey of Te Aho’, this section of trail follows in the footsteps of early Māori settler Te Aho. Starting from Kaiaua, it winds around the edge of the shallow Firth of Thames, over chenier shell banks and through wetlands of international significance. Visit the Pūkorokoro–Miranda Shorebird Centre where you can learn about the area’s precious birdlife before heading out to the hides to see them for yourself. Fanatical twitchers may wish to check ahead for the arrival and departure schedules of various migratory species. From Miranda Holiday Park and Hot Pools, the trail skirts around the Firth, following stop-banks for much of the way.
There are expansive views of coastal wetlands and verdant farmland, with the volcanic Coromandel Ranges a dramatic backdrop. Refreshments are available in the villages of Waitakaruru, Pipiroa and Kopu. After the Kopu Bridge, the trail turns northwards for a few kilometres to reach Thames, an atmospheric town with plenty of dining and accommodation options. As you approach the town centre, look out for various sculptures along the community’s art trail.
THAMES TO PAEROA, 34KM
This richly historic area was once only accessible via the two rivers, Waihou and Hikutaiā. The Māori people believed that the deep valleys cutting through the Coromandel Ranges were carved by the thrashing tail of a taniwha. This is also the place where bushmen, gumdiggers and gold miners sought their fortunes, routinely crossing over to the eastern side of the ranges on rugged bush tracks through forests of mighty kauri. It is amid this history that this section of trail begins, at first following the old railway line out of Thames town and onward through lush farmland with the impressive ranges a constant companion to the east. Matātoki’s Cheese Barn, The Coach House at Pūriri and the Convenient Cow Café at Hikutaiā are nicely spaced pit-stops. Near Paeroa, it’s also just a short detour to the Historical Maritime Park where you can catch a boat ride on the Waihou River. Paeroa, at the southern end of this section is ‘world famous in New Zealand’ for its giant L&P bottle – a homage to home-grown soda-pop. Its antique shops are also notable. There’s also accommodation and places to eat for riders wanting to overnight here.
PAEROA TO WAIHI, 24KM
The most popular section of the Hauraki Rail Trail follows the Ohinemuri River through the dramatic Karangahake Gorge, a deep canyon cut through the Kaimai Ranges. Highlights of the gorge include a cascading waterfall, photogenic gold-mining sites and the charmingly old-fashioned Victoria Battery museum, plus the freaky Windows Walkway that burrows through a shadowy side-gorge. The pièce de résistance is an amazing 1100m-long railway tunnel, wobbled through with the aid of a torch. Near the halfway point is cute Waikino Station where there’s a café and bike hire. This is the terminus of the vintage train that runs between Waikino and Waihi; it’s well worth timing your riding to coincide with its running times as it’s a pretty special experience. Otherwise, it’s another 8km of riding to Waihi. With plenty of accommodation and places to eat – as well as proximity to glorious beaches – Waihi is a great base for your Hauraki adventures. This ‘Heart of Gold’ town still has an operational mine that can be visited on tours, plus the wonderfully interactive museum known as the Gold Discovery Centre.
PAEROA TO TE AROHA, 23km
Heading south, this leisurely section passes through pretty Waikato farmland dotted with dairy cows. Front and centre are the bushy Kaimai–Mamaku Ranges and their 952m-highpoint Mt Te Aroha (952m; ‘the mountain of love’), plus wide-ranging views over the Hauraki Plains. Currently, the southern terminus of the Rail Trail is Te Aroha, a small rural town with historic mineral hot pools – a great way to soothe pedal-weary muscles. Te Aroha also has a lovely town domain, and is home to some great cafés.
TE AROHA TO MATAMATA, 37km
This new and gentle section of trail passes through fertile plains and significant horse studs stretching all the way to Hobbiton, near Matamata, where visitors can get their Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings fix (it’s well worth going for the gardens alone, never mind a refreshing pint at the Green Dragon Inn!) Along the way it passes various landmarks including the scenic Wairere Falls, Stanley Landing and the Firth Tower with to new great cafés along the way!
Hauraki Rail Trail © Coromandel Tourism
TRAIL INFO
TRAIL GRADES:
KAIAUA TO THAMES 53KM GRADE 1 (EASIEST)
THAMES TO PAEROA 34KM GRADE 1 (EASIEST)
PAEROA TO WAIHI 24KM GRADE 1 (EASIEST) & GRADE 2 (EASY)
PAEROA TO TE AROHA 23KM GRADE 1 (EASIEST)
TE AROHA TO MATAMATA 37KM GRADE 1 (EASIEST)
MOBILE PHONE COVERAGE: Mobile phone coverage is generally good; it can get patchy within the narrows of Karangahake Gorge.
REFRESHMENTS: We recommend carrying plenty of snacks and drinks to keep you fuelled up; this is especially important out of peak season when some cafés and shops run on limited hours. Water bottles can be filled at settlements along the way; be sure to carry plenty on hot days.
TYPE OF BIKE: Friendly rail trail terrain makes this suitable for everything from children’s bikes and uprights, to touring bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes.
Highlights of the trail
• Visit Pūkorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre for information on migratory shorebirds.
• Kaiaua is the ideal laid-back coastal community to sit by the sea and chill out.
• Taste award-winning Gouda on the veranda at The Cheese Barn in Matātoki.
• Pose for a picture with the seven-metre L&P bottle in Paeroa.
• Venture along the old walkways and forgotten tunnels that make up Karangahake Gorge.
Katikati sign © Bay of Plenty Tourism
• Relax into the hot pools at either Pūkorokoro Miranda or Te Aroha (or both!).
• Te Aroha’s restored Edwardian Hot Springs Domain has mineral spas and swimming facilities. In addition, the 1898 Cadman Bathhouse houses a museum.
• Mokena Geyser is the world’s only soda geyser and explodes every 40 minutes.
• Get off your bike and onto the Goldfields train for a ride between Waihi and Waikino Station.
• The colourful rural town of Katikati is awash with murals, sculptures, mosaics and tapestries.
• Katikati Bird Gardens has lily ponds, secret paths and a café.
• Visit Firth Tower in Matamata. One of 13 heritage buildings, Firth Tower was constructed in 1882 to provide a lookout over the countryside.
• A goblet of ale awaits your arrival at The Green Dragon™ Inn in Hobbiton near Matamata.
Goldfields Train © Bay of Plenty Tourism
Top towns along the trail
1. Golden Thames
Once the largest town in New Zealand, in 1896 Thames’ pavements weren’t paved in gold, but they could’ve been, such was the abundance of it. Grahamstown is the heritage end of Thames, with historic buildings dating back to the glory days. Discover artefacts at the Thames Historical Museum or try your luck at gold panning at The Gold Mine Experience, complete with self-guided tour, mining relics and steam-powered machines. The Captain Cook Memorial is located on nearby Waihou River. A three-tonne steel ship’s anchor commemorates Captain James Cook’s endeavours in the Hauraki-Coromandel area, and makes the perfect picnic spot. View spectacular sunsets along the Thames Coast Rd or stretch your legs on the three-hour return Thames Coastal Walk. Lesser known but equally rewarding is the three-hour return Rocky’s Walk.
Thames Coast © Logan Dodds
2. Hobbiton & Matamata
Okay, we’ll confess, Hobbiton is a fictional ‘top town’ but definitely worth a visit, especially if you’re a Lord of the Rings or Hobbit fan. All Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tours depart from 501 Buckland Rd, a 15-minute drive from the Matamata i-SITE Visitor Information Centre (which is itself an adorable Hobbit House). Enjoy a two-hour guided Hobbiton tour complete with complimentary beverage at The Green Dragon™ Inn.
If Hobbiton isn’t on the agenda, Matamata has plenty to offer. Visit the 153m-high Wairere Falls, the highest waterfall in the North Island; walk the 1hr 40min looped Matamata Heritage Trail or bite into a delicious wedge of cheese at Kaimai Cheese Cafe in Waharoa, just a 10-minute drive from central Matamata. You can also buy cheese manufactured on site at their Deli Store.
3. Pop-tastic Paeroa
In 1908, the good folk of Paeroa discovered that adding lemon to the local spring water was downright delicious and thus L&P (or Lemon and Paeroa to use its full name) was born. Standing beneath the town’s giant-size L&P bottle is obligatory. Paeroa is also the ‘Antiques Capital of New Zealand’ and there’s a flurry of stores to peruse. For local talent, nip into the Paeroa Society of Arts or admire the works at Mikkelsen Gallery. Beautiful Karangahake Gorge is on the doorstep and rich in gold-mining relics. Don’t miss spellbinding views across the Waitāwheta River while traipsing the Windows Walkway or go in search of Owharoa Falls via the Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway. A little further afield is The Historical Maritime Park and Bullswool Farm Heritage Park which boasts a traditional milking shed, kauri museum, sheep shed and farmyard.
L&P sculpture, Paeroa © Logan Dodds
4. Why Waihi?
The section between Paeroa and Waihi features historic railway, including original railway bridges. Skirt the edges of Ohinemuri River and delve into old mining tunnels along the Karangahake Gorge. Pass the remnants of the Waikino Victoria Battery and imagine the roar it made in 1896 while crushing more than 800 tonnes of gold-bearing stone. In Waihi, discover The Secret Garden, a Bali inspired café and hangout as well as the fascinating Mosaic Garden, created by talented artist, Jude Morrah. For dreamy sun-soaked sand, perfect for lazy afternoons and picnics, Waihi Beach offers 9km of dazzling shoreline and one of the safest beaches in New Zealand for surfing. At the southern end of Waihi Beach sits the small settlement of Bowentown where you can embark on pleasant walks, explore former pā sites or enjoy safe, relaxed swims at Anchor Bay.
Victoria Battery, Waikino © Coromandel Tourism
More mountain biking, please
The Hauraki Rail Trail is flat and gentle so you might like to up the ante with some rugged mountain biking at Te Aroha Mountain Bike Tracks near Te Aroha. Offering a one-way loop of grade 3 tracks, there’s also the option for a more advanced, grade 5 experience. Best for those who consider themselves a medium or advanced rider, soak up the bush scenery complete with streams and waterfalls as you hurtle downhill.
