8 minute read
WAIKATO RIVER Trails
BEST FOR: A ‘dam’ fine way to marvel at the brilliance of natural and human ingenuity.
KARĀPIRO to ĀTIAMURI
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1-4 days/107km
Off-road and upstream, this southward-bound trail traces the banks of New Zealand’s longest river: the almighty Waikato. A dot-to-dot trail of river dams strewn between great stretches of forest, wetland and rock, it’s a landscape engineered by both Mother Nature and mankind.
This Grade 3-4 trail does incur a good deal of alternating sharp ascents and descents, as well as approximately 600m of climbing, so a decent level of fitness is beneficial.
Cycle from Pokaiwhenua Bridge to Little Waipa Reserve on the edge of Lake Karāpiro and stop in Arapuni for lunch at The Rhubarb Café; a firm favourite with locals and visitors alike. Not far from here, Mangarewa Suspension Bridge is one of the route’s most photogenic focal points, as well as the gateway to your first dam of the excursion: Waipapa Dam. Notable behemoths include this dazzling monstrosity and later, Whakamaru Dam and Maraetai Dam. Awesome in the true sense of the word, there is beauty to be found in their crude concrete features.
At certain times of the year, Lake Maraetai appears to be swathed in snow, but it is the fallen fluffy seeds from surrounding poplar trees. Mangakino boasts a distinct lack of development (the locals won’t mind telling you there isn’t a single McDonald’s here) and the lakefront is a sleepy nugget of paradise, popular for boating, fishing, birdwatching and kayaking.
Move onto Whakamaru, where, as well as the hydro dam, there is a dazzling sheltered lake. From here, push on to Ātiamuri, your final destination. Not wanting to be the odd one out, Ātiamuri also has its own power-producing hydro dam.
TRAIL INFO
TRAIL GRADES:
KARĀPIRO (POKAIWHENUA BRIDGE TO ARAPUNI) GRADE 3 (INTERMEDIATE)
ARAPUNI (ARAPUNI TO WAIPAPA DAM) GRADE 4 (ADVANCED)
WAIPAPA (WAIPAPA DAM TO MANGAKINO LAKEFRONT) GRADE 4 (ADVANCED)
MARAETAI (MANGAKINO LAKEFRONT TO WHAKAMARU DAM) GRADE 3 (INTERMEDIATE)
WHAKAMARU (WHAKAMARU DAM TO ĀTIAMURI BRIDGE) GRADE 3 (INTERMEDIATE)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Sometimes trail sections are closed due to logging operations. Before starting out, check www.waikatorivertrails.com and respect closures and signage. Dogs are prohibited on many sections of the trail.
MOBILE PHONE COVERAGE: Mobile phone coverage is reasonably reliable on the Karāpiro, Whakamaru and Maraetai sections. It gets patchy beyond there, particularly on the Arapuni and Waipapa sections.
WATER: Taps to fill your water bottles in the villages along the way, namely Arapuni, Mangakino and Whakamaru.
TYPE OF BIKE: Mountain bikes are recommended. E-bikes are also permitted.
Cycling Waikato River Trails © Jodi Sweetman Photography
Riding the trail
KARĀPIRO (POKAIWHENUA BRIDGE TO ARAPUNI), 11.5KM
From the Pokaiwhenua Bridge car park the first half of the trail follows an easy path beside the road, before winding beside Lake Karāpiro for the rest of the way to Arapuni. As the trail nears the village it crosses the Huihuitaha Wetland via 500m of boardwalk. This allows riders to pass through the area without damaging this special riparian habitat.
Even if you’re not heading to Arapuni’s Rhubarb Café (highly recommended), it’s essential to experience the knee-wobbling crossing of the Arapuni Suspension Bridge. At 152m long and over 50m high, it’s one of New Zealand’s longest pedestrian (and cycling) bridges.
ARAPUNI (ARAPUNI TO WAIPAPA DAM), 34.5KM
This section of trail starts at the Arapuni Swingbridge, after 2km it joins country roads through to Waipapa Dam, the route is well sign posted. The road section is mostly sealed with a short section of unsealed road. The gradient includes some long steep climbs. Half way through this section is the Arohena conservation campsite, a good place to rest or camp. On the opposite side of the Waikato River, the trail between Arapuni Dam to Jones Landing (4km) and Waipapa Dam to Mangarewa suspension bridge (10km) is also open however there is no continuous trail connecting these two areas. For those riding the whole trail the western route must be used.
WAIPAPA (WAIPAPA DAM TO MANGAKINO LAKEFRONT), 19KM
This remote, fun section undulates in a generally uphill direction, with the occasional steep section giving it its Grade 4 rating. The trail follows custom-built singletrack and flowing forestry trails through a mix of exotic and regenerating native bush. Note that once on the trail, there’s no way off, except at Maraetai Dam where it joins the road for the last 3.5km to the pleasant lakefront reserve.
MARAETAI (MANGAKINO LAKEFRONT TO WHAKAMARU DAM),12KM
This moderately technical leg is mostly an easy ride, but the occasional steep section ramps it up to Grade 3. It starts by climbing gently towards Whakamaru Dam with lovely views along Lake Maraetai. Around the midway point is a graceful 70m-long suspension bridge crossing the Mangakino Stream. This leafy part of the trail has been beautified even further by the thousands of trees planted as part of the Waikato River restoration project.
WHAKAMARU DAM TO ĀTIAMURI, 26KM
The southernmost section starts at Whakamaru Dam, although many riders actually start at the nearby Dam Café. The trail follows the lake edge, initially passing through Lake Whakamaru Reserve. Around midway, bluffs rise dramatically from the lake providing a stunning backdrop, while just shy of Ātiamuri is the magnificent and culturally significant Pōhaturoa Rock, lifted by volcanic forces and weathered by the elements over the millennia. The trail ends at a parking area in Ātiamuri Village, a common pick-up or drop-off point for shuttles.
Cambridge Town Hall © www.hamiltonwaikato.com
Highlights of the trail
• Arapuni Suspension Bridge is 152m long, over 50m high and a total show stopper.
• Countless riverside reserves provide the perfect spot for picnics and if you’re packing a tent, camping spots.
• The sheer remoteness of this trail allows for long stretches of empty track.
• With so much water, wetland and bush, the birdlife is abundant.
• Detours to local pubs in small, hospitable towns such as Tokoroa, Putāruru, Maraetai and Mangakino (amongst others) is a must.
• Part of a 1000ha forest, Jim Barnett Reserve features several walking trails amidst rejuvenated forest. Keep an eye out for petite North Island robins.
• Soak up the picture-perfect beauty of Jones Landing, a small reserve with public toilets, playground, and due to all the boaties, a jovial vibe.
• Pōhaturoa Rock near Ātiamuri, stands 520m tall and is the result of significant volcanic activity more than 500,000 years ago. More recently, it acted as a natural fortress for Māori tribes.
Cycling Waikato River Trails © Waikato River Trails
More mountain biking, please
For mountain bike tracks off the main route but worth a detour,
Hamilton Mountain Bike Track is great for beginners or rusty cyclists. Tackle 10km of single track and Grade 2-3 terrain.
If you’re after diversity, Cougar Mountain Bike Park near Tokoroa offers 35km of Grade 3-5 off-road forest tracks, and if you’re passing through Cambridge, Te Miro Mountain Bike Park is less than 30 minutes away, with a variety of Grade 2-4 single track trails and many obstacles.
© Hamilton Mountain Bike Track
Waikato's urban gems
Cambridge
Because Cambridge is influenced by England, and not solely by name, the aesthetics have a certain Britishness to them.However, Kiwi characteristics by no means take a back foot. Farm tours are available and bird sanctuaries such as Maungatautari offer guided tours to see such native species as takahē and tuatara. Fortunately, Cambridge doesn’t borrow its weather from England so when the sun shines, Lake Karāpiro implores you to grab a stand-up paddleboard. For something niche, after-dark kayaking excursions result in a galaxy of glowworms. Can’t get enough of these bright butted larvae? Come nightfall, Pokaiwhenua Stream lights up like a Christmas tree.
Hamilton
Taste all five award-winning teas at Zealong Estate; New Zealand’s only tea plantation. Tour the estate, taste the leaves or enjoy a high tea. Hamilton also has oodles of green spaces. Walk the 3.8km perimeter of Hamilton Lake or visit Hamilton Gardens. With free entry and a series of internationally themed gardens, you can visit the entire world in one afternoon. With its collection of 600-plus native and exotic animals, Hamilton Zoo is popular with families, and The Waikato Museum represents Māori as well as European history in fascinating detail. Visit the renowned Classic Museum for its huge collection of vintage cars and then nip into its retro American diner for a burger.
Hamilton Gardens © www.hamiltonwaikato.com
Piarere
The small locality of Piarere offers a picturesque country setting close to the shore of Lake Karāpiro and is just 6km from Tīrau township. Open farmland is peppered with old milking sheds, farmhouses and uninterrupted rural views. The hydroelectric Lake Karāpiro on the Waikato River also hosts the Mighty River Domain, a Waipa District Council site and International Event Centre that showcases huge annual events such as the National Waka Ama Championships and the National Dragon boat championships, amongst others. Being just a 4-minute drive away (or 15-minutes by bike), Piarere is the perfect place to base yourself for all the lake’s exciting festivities.
ADD-ON HEARTLAND TRAILS
CAMBRIDGE-WAIKATO RIVER CONNECTION: 40km/2–3 days. Following town streets, country roads and riverside, this route links Cambridge with the Waikato River Trail at Arapuni.
CENTRE OF THE NORTH ISLAND: 50km/1 day. This route connects the Waikato River Trails and the Timber Trail via backcountry and forest.
