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TRAIL GRADES:

KARAPIRO (ARAPUNI TO POKAIWHENUA BRIDGE CAR PARK) - GRADE 2-3 (EASY TO INTERMEDIATE)

ARAPUNI (ARAPUNI TO WAIPAPA DAM) - GRADE 4-5 (ADVANCED)

WAIPAPA (WAIPAPA DAM TO MANGAKINO LAKEFRONT) GRADE 3 (INTERMEDIATE)

MARAETAI (MANGAKINO LAKEFRONT TO WHAKAMARU DAM) - GRADE 2 (EASY)

WHAKAMARU DAM TO ATIAMURI - GRADE 3 (INTERMEDIATE)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Sometimes trail sections are closed due to logging operations. Check www.waikatorivertrails.com before starting out and respect closures and signage. Dogs are prohibited on many sections of the trail.

MOBILE PHONE COVERAGE: Outside the small towns of Arapuni, Mangakino and Whakamaru, there

is little to no mobile phone coverage.

Trail Info

The Waikato River Trails experience brings

your senses to life as you connect with

nature at its best.

WAIKATO RIVER Trails

1-4 Days

103km

1-4 DAYS1-4 DAYS 103km103km

KARAPIROKARAPIRO ATIAMURIATIAMURI

This cycle trail follows New Zealand’s longest river, the mighty Waikato. It offers

a multi-purpose walking and cycling experience, where around every corner there is a new vista.

Riders will experience the beauty of native and exotic forest, wetlands,

historic landmarks and intriguing volcanic rock formations. Highlights include towering dams, suspension bridges, long meandering boardwalks and expansive lake and river views.

Stories of the region’s rich history are signposted as your journey winds along the river. Riding the trail also offers

the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful hospitality of New Zealand’s farming and forestry heartland – previously inaccessible land far away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The Waikato River Trails was created through a partnership between the Waikato River Trails Trust, Principal Sponsor South Waikato District Council, Major Sponsor Mighty River Power, Waikato Regional Council, Taupo District Council and the New Zealand Cycle Trail project.

LOOK OUT FOR...

Swing Bridges

A trail highlight is the variety of bridges

– although the 152m-long Arapuni

Swing Bridge and the Mangawera and

Mangakino suspension bridges may be

challenging if you have a fear of heights!

Horahora Road © Waikato River TrailsBELOW: Waikato River, Arapuni

© Tourism Waikato

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11.5km 36km 19km 12km 23.5km

PokaiwhenuaBridge

Arapuni AtiamuriWaipapaDam

WhakamaruDam

Mangakino

Karapiro (Arapuni to Pokaiwhenua Bridge), 11.5km

This is one of the easiest sections on this

trail. It is Grade 2 with a few short Grade

3 hills. Most people park in Arapuni and

ride up the trail to Little Waipa Reserve

and back. The Huihuitaha Wetland, with

boardwalk, is a highlight of this section.

The Rhubarb Café in Arapuni is a very

popular place to head for after the ride.

Arapuni (Arapuni to Waipapa Dam), 36km

This section includes some road riding

from Jones Landing to the end of Waotu

South Rd. Jim Barnetts Reserve is full of

birdlife and there is a 1000-year-old totara

that is worth a visit. The Mangarewa

suspension bridge 42m above the

stream is a thrill.

Waipapa (Waipapa Dam to Mangakino Lakefront), 19km

Navigation along this section is quite

simple. Just ride across the dam and then

follow the blue marker posts. This section

is Grade 3 and has several steep little

RIDING THE TRAIL

“This project is what

New Zealand thinks of as

heartland values - groups

of people working together

to create a new community

project.”

Mighty River Power Chairperson, Carole Durbin

hills. Highlights of this section include the

Waipapa Dam and the native bush and

exotic forest.

Maraetai (Mangakino Lakefront to Whakamaru Dam),12km

This is an easy stage along the trail. It

is Grade 2 (Easy) and only 12km long.

Perfect for a family day out, this section

has a village at each end (Mangakino

at the start, Whakamaru at the end) and

includes a 70m-long suspension bridge

that’s around 12m high.

Whakamaru Dam to Atiamuri, 23.5km

This section has some of the best

scenery of the trail and has been

upgraded to Grade 3 (Intermediate). The

trail ends (or starts) at a small parking

area beside Ongaroto Rd (only 100m

from SH 1).

The highlights of this section include

views of the picturesque Lake

Whakamaru and the Whakamaru Dam,

the wetland and boardwalk at Dunhams

Creek Reserve and the Ongaroto Steps.

Visit www.waikatorivertrails.com

Horahora Road © Waikato River Trails

1

1

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29

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528

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TOKOROA

POKAIWHENUA BRIDGE

ARAPUNI

WAIPAPA DAM

WHAKAMARU DAM

MANGAKINO

ATIAMURI

Little Waipa Reserve

Tirau

Putaruru

Jones Landing

WaotuJim Barnett Reserve

Maraetai Dam

To Pureora

Mangakino Stream

MangakinoSuspension Bridge

Lakefront Reserve

Whakamaru

Lake WhakamaruReserve

Dunham PointReserve Lake

Atiamuri

Kinleith Forest

Lake Karapiro

Lake Arapuni

Lake Maraetai

Lake Whakamaru

Horahora Road

Lake Arapuni Road

Darby RoadArapuni Suspension Bridge

Waotu South Road

Mangarewa Suspension Bridge

road ends

Waikato

River

Waikat o River

1

open section

optional route

start / fi nish point

point of interest

bridge

i-SITE Visitor Centre

town

café/restaurant

toilets

car park

camping

accommodation

state highway

MAP LEGEND

© AA Traveller 2015

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things to do...

ALONGSIDE THE TRAIL

As well as the ever-present Waikato River, see wetlands, dams, lakes and cross bridges on this incredibly scenic trail.

Alongside the trail you’ll pass many

highlights worth getting off your

bike for. The Waipapa, Maraetai and

Whakamaru dams are all interesting

features; large man-made structures

almost out of place among the natural

landscape.

The Jim Barnett and Dunham’s Creek

scenic reserves have fascinating fl ora

and fauna to check out.

At Mangakino you can take a break

from your bike to hit the golf course,

take a guided tour on private land

with a Maori guide who will explain

the history and cultural signifi cance

of the area, or head down to Lake

Maraetai and enjoy a picnic or some

chill time. The lake is a popular spot for

wakeboarding and other water sports,

so be prepared to see some action.

The mighty Waikato River saw many

battles in the 19th century and there

are ancient burial and battle sites

along its shores.

Ancient Sites

Putaruruto appear in the manner of a ruru (owl) • 40km SE of Cambridge

Matamataheadland • 63km E of Hamilton on SH 27

Just south of Cambridge, Lake Karapiro

is the result of a hydro-electric scheme.

Its mirror-like water is ideal for water

sports such as canoeing, boating and

rowing. Many famous rowers have

trained here.

Lake Karapiro

ABOVE: Mountain Biking, South WaikatoTOP, RIGHT: Kayaking on Lake Karapiro, Both © www.hamiltonwaikato.com

RIGHT: Waikato River from Taupiri

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Located near the trail is Sanctuary

Mountain Maungatautari, a must-visit

for wildlife lovers. With a 47km-long

predator-proof fence, this is the largest

ecological island on mainland New

Zealand. The eradication of mammalian

predators is now largely complete

allowing the populations of our most

endangered native species to recover.

There are various walking tracks

available. Birds to look out for include

kiwi, takahe, hihi and kaka, and there are

reptiles, including tuatara, as well as fi sh,

amphibians and beautiful fl ora.

Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari

the river is the source of their mana

or pride, their strength and identity. To

this day, local Maori believe the river’s

This trail puts you in touch with New Zealand’s

longest river, the Waikato.

EXPERIENCE THE MIGHTY RIVER

Mangakinostagnant stream • 69km NW of Taupo

Tokoroalong pole • 89km S of Hamilton on SH 1

Cambridgeafter the 2nd Duke of Cambridge • 24km SE of Hamilton on SH 1

The Waikato River is spiritually

important to Maori, in particular to

the local people, Tainui. They believe

Waikato River at Hamilton © davidwallphoto.com

RIGHT: Maungatautari bush walk © www.hamiltonwaikato.com

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• Great farmhouse breakfast.• Dinners by arrangement. • Freshly picked produce used in

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$165 + extras $20.

129 Plantation Rd, RD 2, Cambridge P: 07 827 2846 M: 021 995 331E: redwoodpark@xtra.co.nz

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Affordable lodge accommodation

Phone 0800 88 22 82 for bookingsSC

OTT RD

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WHAKAM

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Waikato Cycle Trails

waters are inhabited by taniwha. It is

thought they guard the river, in both a

physical and metaphorical sense, and

the people who are linked to it.