Grade 2-3 | Easy to Intermediate
On this four day itinerary on the Timber Trail, you'll feel like you've been suspended in time.
Discover some of the longest suspension bridges in New Zealand as well as ancient forests, ancestral lands of local Maori and a historic tramway on the unique Timber Trail.
If you prefer your scenery with a large dash of action, catch a jet boat ride to the base of Huka Falls.
Enjoy a leisurely brunch in Auckland before journeying down the centre of the North Island to Taupō. There’s plenty to see and do en-route, from the rolling hills of the Waikato to the lush forests and views of Lake Taupō. The Huka Falls, located just before you reach Taupō, is an impressive show of hydropower. Want to get even closer? The Huka Falls Jet Boat combines adrenaline and adventure and gets visitors close up to the falls themselves.
Accommodation: Taupō
Large suspension bridges are a highlight of this back country ride through native forest.
From Taupō, travel to Pureora, located between Lake Taupō and Te Kūiti and the start of the Timber Trail. There is the option to ride with a guide, or to have your transport, bike hire and accommodation taken care of. Start the trail with a warm up through native forest before gaining elevation up Mt Pureora, and then heading downhill through the Hauhungaroa Ranges. Here, cyclists encounter one of the jewels of the trail – one of the longest and highest suspension bridges in the country.
That evening, stay at the newly opened Timber Trail Lodge, which has been designed and built to make your Pureora experience even more memorable. Set in the middle of a renowned conservation park featuring huge podocarp trees and rare birds, the lodge opened in April 2017 with nine guest rooms, and expanded to 20 rooms in September 2017. Alternatively, try Piropiro Flats campsite(opens in new window) or Black Fern Lodge(opens in new window), 6km from the trail.
Accommodation: Piropiro
You'll be amazed by the splendour of the forest and sound of birdcalls on The Timber Trail.
The second day is easier than the first, with the trail winding its way through mixed forest, past huts and across more soaring bridges. Soak up the historic Ellis and Burnand Tramline, the Ongarue Spiral and the Maramataha Bridge along the way. In many of the open areas cyclists get to enjoy panoramic valley views. The trail comes to an end when you reach Ongarue, where cyclists can catch their transfer back to Taupō.
Accommodation: Taupō
