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WAIKATO RIVER TRAILS
KARĀPIRO to ĀTIAMURI
1-4 days - 104km
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© AA Traveller 2022
Off-road and upstream, this southwardbound trail traces the banks of New Zealand’s longest river: the mighty 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. Notable behemoths include Arapuni dam and later,
Whakamaru dam and Maraetai dam. Awesome in the true sense of the word, there is beauty to be found in their 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 (there are no malls...) 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 VILLAGE) GRADE 3 (INTERMEDIATE)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Sometimes trail sections are closed due to logging operations. Before starting out, check www.waikatorivertrails.co.nz 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.
TYPE OF BIKE: Mountain bikes are recommended. E-bikes are also permitted.
WATER: Taps to fill your water bottles in the villages along the way, namely Arapuni, Mangakino and Whakamaru.
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), 34.6KM
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), 19.6KM
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.
MARAETAI (MANGAKINO LAKEFRONT TO WHAKAMARU DAM),12.3KM
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.
Waikato River Trails © Hamilton & Waikato Tourism
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRAIL
• Countless riverside reserves provide the perfect spot for picnics and if you’re packing a tent, camping spots.
• Arapuni Suspension Bridge is 152m long, over 50m high and a total show stopper. Refuel at nearby Rhubarb Café.
• Detours to local pubs in small, hospitable towns such as Tokoroa, Putāruru and Maraetai are a must.
• Visit the Bus Stop Café on the Mangakino lake’s shore after a dip in the cool waters.
• Part of a 1000ha forest, Jim Barnett Reserve features several walking trails amidst rejuvenated forest. Keep an eye out for 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.
Ancient Egyptian Garden © Hamilton Gardens
ADD-ON TRAILS
CAMBRIDGE-WAIKATO RIVER CONNECTION: 40km/2–3 days. Links Cambridge with the Waikato River Trail.
CENTRE OF THE NORTH ISLAND: 50km/1 day. Connects the Waikato River Trails and the Timber Trail.TE AWA RIVER RIDE: Winding its way for 65km from Ngāruawāhia to Lake Karāpiro, following the mighty Waikato, Te Awa River Ride combines boardwalks, bridges, picnic spots and stunning views. Add this trail to your Waikato itinerary.
