Paeroa Hauraki Rail Trail brings you right into the heart of Paeroa, a town that’s reinvented itself multiple times but remains a rural New Zealand town with heart.
A visit to the Historical Maritime Park and Museum - which has campervan parking too – is right on the trail.
Paeroa is at the junction of the trail to Te Aroha and Matamata, as well as through to the popular Karangahake Gorge and Waikino to Waihi section, making it an ideal place to spend some time shopping, eating, and getting organised for the next part of your ride.
Across the road from the rail trail, you can cool off at the Paeroa pool sright beside Pedlar’s Motel. It’s a great place to take a dip after a hot day on the trail.
You’ll want to get the obligatory selfie at the giant L&P bottle at the south end of town – and don’t make the mistake of some past visitors who took their selfies at the wrong bottle (the smaller version outside L&P Café). But there’s much more to see and do.
The Waihou River is abundant with wildlife, with fishers catching trout by licence, lots of inanga, the odd seal in the summer who gorge on this, and even a very rare dolphin in the lower reaches.
The new wharf on Wharf St is being built which will allow people to travel by boat right into the middle of town, allowing people to ride the trail, have a swim, jump on the boat to take a river cruise to the maritime park and museum. Despite a tough 2021 and 2020, events are being organised for the town, and the site Positive Paeroa is a great option for keeping up to date with what’s on. Among the biggest by far is the Paeroa Highland Games and Tattoo, traditionally held in February, and which brings together the clans from around the country but is also a must-do for anyone with a hankering for all things Highland. It started out as a small Pipe Bands Competition and is now a fully-fledged Highland Games, with an evening tattoo and a day full of Scottish dancing and games. You will find multiple choices for accommodation in around Paeroa – a good bet is to see our advertisers on these pages as they are set up for cyclists of the Hauraki Rail Trail and are used to helping riders with arranging transportation, food and giving the local knowledge that can make all the difference. Pedlar’s Motel is right beside the trail, you
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Hauraki Rail Trail
