Waikato River Trail – Timber Trail – Great Lake Trail – Whakarewarewa Loop Track
Track & Trail’s central North Island 5-day self guided tour gives you an overview of many of the amazing trails available on the North Island’s central volcanic plateau. Apart from 5 days of fantastic off-road riding, your tour will pass many of the points of interest; lakes and hydro dams, ancient podocarp forest, rare birds, geothermal features, waterfalls, hot pools, Māori and natural history, secluded swimming spots, staying at quality accommodation and eating great food.
Please note that this tour is exclusively designed for private, closed groups who book and travel together. As a self-guided experience, your group will need to self-drive your own rental vehicle to transition between hubs, covering the journey from Auckland or Hamilton Airports to Cambridge, Matamata, into the Waikato, and finally through to Rotorua before returning to Auckland or Wellington.
5-Day North Island Group Cycle Tour at a Glance…
Price: NZD $1,955 inc GST. Add $575 inc GST if e-bike hire is required.
Time commitment: 5 days.
Who is it for: grade 2-3 cyclists, capable of riding 40 kms of well-formed gravel or forest trail each day.
Ride starts at: Ātiamuri, just south of Tokoroa.
Ride ends at: The Secret Spot, Waipa carpark, Rotorua bike park
Time commitment: 5 days.
Minimum Numbers: 4 riders
Departs from: Mangakino Ends at: Rotorua
Accommodation styles: Hotels and lodges. Price based on either Queen standard or twin share basis.
Total kilometres: approximately ~200 kms of cycle trail in total.
Own Room? the tour price is based on twin-share or double accommodation. If you require your own private room throughout the tour, a single supplement of NZD $640 applies, subject to availability at the wilderness lodges.
Best bike: hardtail mountain bike, full-suspension mountain bike, ebike, gravel bike.
BYOB or Hire: BYO bike or hire ebikes
What Track & Trail provides…
- Accommodation: Comfortable, hand-picked lodging booked ahead for you.
- Trail shuttles: where required.
- Bike Hire: e-bike booking and setup if required.
- Navigation: A daily “how-to” itinerary and a curated Ride with GPS route collection ready for your phone or bike computer.
- Local Support: phone and WhatsApp support.
- Meal Arrangements:
- Remote Lodge Stays: When staying at remote wilderness lodges, all 3 meals are provided for you on-site.
- Town & Settlement Stays: For standard nights, your itinerary is designed around excellent local cafes for breakfast/lunch and restaurants for dinner (purchased independently).
- Department of Conservation: concessions paid
Itinerary: Waikato River Trail, Timber Trail, Great Lake Trails, Whakarewarewa Loop
Click the + to open the daily stage info, elevation charts and maps
What an exciting day ahead! Today you’ll ride the southern half of the Waikato River Trail. The mighty Waikato river, originating in Taupō, will be right beside you all day.
You’ll pass three hydroelectric power stations and dams; Ātiamuri, Whakamaru and Mangakino and learn about their creation and contribution to NZ’s economy since the 1950’s.
The trail is not quite flat but nor does it have any big hills. The surface is smooth, 2-way gravel single track without large climbs but with fun corners and cuttings. You end our ride at the Mangakino Domain (great swimming spot) and overnight at the nearby Lake Maraetai Lodge.
After overnighting in Mangakino, you head up to Pureora Village and to the northern entrance of the Pureora Forest Park to start the first day of the Timber Trail (40kms). You’ve probably heard a lot about the Timber Trail and you won’t be disappointed. In the first 13 km you climb up to 990 m before making a long descent to the center of the forest. That surface is a mix of gravel path an forest floor. Lower intermediate bike skills are required. In all you will cross eight suspension bridges, three of which are more than 100 metres long! Keep your ears and eyes open for Kereru, Kākā and Kōkako re-introduced to the forest in July 2021. You end your day on Timber Trail Lodge’s deck with a cold beverage and a pizza before a sit down dinner with other guests.
You restart riding on the Timber Trail at Piro Piro Flats. Today you complete the second half of the Timber Trail (42kms) riding over suspension bridges and railway cuttings and the famous Ongarue Spiral. You might want to stop and read the many interesting interpretive signs detailing the history of the railway, or cool off with a dip in a stream or pause to look out from the many views to the west. Though similar surface, terrain and distance as day 1, today’s ride takes less time as there is more downhill.
Day four is Taupō day. Fine weather will give you views south to the Tongariro National Park, and Mt Ruapehu and Mt Ngauruhoe. You are going to be riding the northern edge of Lake Taupō from Kinloch on the Otaketake trail to Whangamata Rd carpark then down Orakau to Kawakawa Bay, and return to Kinloch for lunch (32 kms). Though only grade two riding there’s plenty of up and down, S bends today as you ride from secluded beaches on the lake’s edge up to headlands and lookouts then back down again. Lower intermediate bike skills are required. You end the day with a visit to the Huka Falls and a calming soak in the Wairakei Terraces hot pools and dinner in Taupo.
Your grand finale is the incredible Whakarewarewa Loop track (below). This is an awesome 35 km trail that encircles the Redwoods mountain bike park, climbing up to sweeping vistas above Lake Rotorua, passing Rotokakahi/The Green Lake and Tikitapu/Blue Lake on expertly created tracks. You can download the Whakarewarewa Loop companion phone app developed by the Rotorua Lakes Council. Lower intermediate bike skills are required for the Loop trail.
You’ll wrap up the day—and the tour—at The Secret Spot, tucked right on the edge of the Whakarewarewa Forest. Unwind your tired legs with a complimentary shinny dipping (a refreshing foot soak in natural spring water), or upgrade to a private cedar hot tub surrounded by native ferns. Celebrate your 175 km journey with a fresh tap beer or cider, a barista-made espresso, and hot showers before heading home.
CLICK TO ENLARGE WAIKATO RIVER TRAIL PHOTOS
What Track & Trail provides…
- A total distance of ~200 km spread over 5 days of riding. Arrive the night before the tour starts.
- The rides are ~80% grade 2 with some short grade 3 sections. Note: as of Sept 2025, the Timber Trail has been regraded to grade 3. Tell me about the Great Rides grading system?
- Daily riding distances have been planned to be achievable for entry intermediate riders, allowing plenty of time for photo stops and points of interest along the way.
- 32-42 km riding per day on off road, well-formed gravel and forest floor paths. No riding on any roads.
- NZ cycle trails are seldom flat or straight. They are general built by experts to be fun and challenging at times. The average riding speeds 10-15 kmph
- A mountain bike or e-bike would suit this tour. Road bikes would not be suitable.
CLICK TO ENLARGE TIMBER TRAIL PHOTOS
The Rides
- A total distance of 175 km spread over 5 days of riding. Arrive the night before the tour starts.
- The rides are ~80% grade 2 with some short grade 3 sections. Note: as of Sept 2025, the Timber Trail has been regraded to grade 3. Tell me about the Great Rides grading system?
- Daily riding distances have been planned to be achievable for entry intermediate riders, allowing plenty of time for photo stops and points of interest along the way.
- 32-42 km riding per day on off road, well-formed gravel and forest floor paths. No riding on any roads.
- An 8:30 am start each day is recommended to ensure plenty of daylight and breathing room for your ride and driving transitions.
- NZ cycle trails are seldom flat or straight. They are general built by experts to be fun and challenging at times. The average riding speeds 10-15 kmph
- A mountain bike or e-bike would suit this tour. Road bikes would not be suitable.
Maps
Click the [ ] top right to get a full screen map.
CLICK TO ENLARGE GREAT LAKE TRAILS PHOTOS
Bikes, Food & Accommodation
Are you considering BYO bike? If you are driving to the start of the tour in Rotorua, you may like to bring your own bike. Or if flying, see boxing & freighting your bike options. There are a few bike styles that work well on this trip. Here are the options:
- Hardtail mountain bike
- Full suspension MTB
- E-bike
- Gravel bike (wider tyres)
You are responsible for the fitness of your bike. Please get it fully serviced before you join the tour. It will be doing 175 kms off-road and parts and service centres are mostly not be immediate to hand.
Your bike must be able to carry water, your rain jacket, snacks, phone, spare inner tube and sunscreen so a handlebar bag, front roll or frame bag is recommended. Avoid backpacks as they put too much pressure on your sitting bones, affect your balance and are too hot in summer.
If you prefer not to travel with your own bit, or can’t, we can arrange e-bike hire for your entire journey. Because this itinerary spans several unique regions, your hire bikes are sourced directly from the specialized tour operators located right at each trail.
- How it Works: You will be transitioning between different bikes over the length of the tour. Sometimes you have the same bike two days running, sometimes a new bike each day.
- The Fleet: Where available, we utilize high-quality, NZ-designed Sinch e-bikes in small, medium, and large frame sizes.
- Pricing: The cost is NZD $575 incl GST to cover all e-bike hire arrangements throughout the 5-day tour.
- Rider Responsibility: Please note that because you are renting from multiple independent local operators along the route, you are fully responsible for the bike while it is in your care. Any loss or damage caused to an operator’s bike during the tour will be at your own expense.
Interested in hiring? Please let us know what your height and frame style preferences are in the booking form comments.
Because this is a self-guided tour, meal inclusions vary depending on your overnight stop. Your stay at the Timber Trail Lodge includes all three meals (breakfast, packed or lodge lunch, and a sit-down evening dinner). For all other nights and days, your itinerary is designed around excellent local cafes for breakfast and lunch, and recommended restaurants for dinner, which are purchased independently.
Accommodation is included for 4 nights of the tour. We will be staying at the Maraetai Lodge in Mangakino, the Timber Trail Lodge, Beech Tree Hotel un Taupō and the JetPark Hotel in Rotorua.
Accommodation is on a share twin basis. If you’re travelling alone, we’ll pair you to twin-share with another same-gender biker. If you do not wish to share a single supplement is available.
Safety comes first! The group must carry a personal locator beacon and first aid in the Pureora Forest. Track & Trail will mitigate as many risks as possible but care and attention will be required from you at all times. Our T&Cs have more details.
This self-guide cycle tour includes rides of up to 40 km per day. Preparing for your cycle tour should involve:
- Riding on gravel and other unpaved surfaces
- Riding hills
- Riding a couple of times a week with rides of 25-30km in length
The more prepared you are the more you will enjoy your adventure!
Whether you’re driving or flying, international or local, getting to the start is straightforward. Travelers from the upper North Island can easily drive down via the Waikato Expressway from Auckland, Hamilton, or Cambridge or if flying in, you can land directly at Rotorua Airport, or take advantage of Jetstar’s international flights straight into Hamilton Airport. Unless you are close to Rotorua, its best to arrive and overnight in Rotorua on day before your tour departs (feel free to ask us for a 20% local accommodation discount voucher).
CLICK TO ENLARGE WHAKAREWAREWA PHOTOS
Trip Price
NZD $1,955 inc GST plus bike hire of $575 inc GST if required.
Singles
If you do not wish to share let us know early. A single supplement of NZD $640 inc GST applies.
Note: Single room upgrades are restricted on Day 4 due to wilderness lodge configurations. In the event a single room is unavailable at the Timber Trail, a partial refund of the supplement will be issued, or alternative twin-share arrangements with a member of your own group will be made for that night.
Exclusions
The tour price does NOT include:
- Transport and rental vehicle costs between trail hubs (this is a self-drive tour)
- Fuel, parking, and vehicle insurance
- Meals and breakfasts in towns/settlements (except all-inclusive wilderness lodge stays)
- E-bike hire or single room upgrades (unless added to your booking)
- Damage repairs to hire bikes
- Personal cycling and clothing equipment
- Alcoholic drinks, snacks, & independent café stops
- Flights or travel to/from the tour start and end points
- Emergency evacuation or personal travel insurance
Though NZ has a no-fault accident assistance scheme (ACC), we strongly recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance.
Book Now with a 25% Deposit
For Groups of 4 and above. Drive between trails.
Self Guided or Self Driving Term & Conditions
In addition to our full term and conditions, clients accept responsibility for their own safety, wellbeing, and adherence to all local laws and trail guidelines while on a self-guided or self-drive trip. For self-guided and self-drive trips, Track & Trail provides a booking service. No Track & Trail staff or vehicles are present during your self-guided trip. These trips fall outside our safety management plan and normal operating procedures that help protect client safety and trip continuity. Other things to note:
- Clients are responsible for their own navigation on road and wayfinding on the trails, which are generally well marked and supported with maps supplied by the trail managers.
- Monitoring the weather via the Met Service phone app is advised as the weather is changeable in NZ.
- Some remote sections like the Timber Trail may have limited phone coverage, and carrying a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is strongly advised.
- Self-drive trips may include travel on gravel or winding roads so experienced drivers will be required.
If you experience any problem with accommodation, restaurant, or shuttle bookings arranged by Track & Trail, please contact our office for assistance.