This winter, as Matariki rises and we reflect on those who came before us, a new chapter has opened along the Mountains to Sea – Ngā Ara Tūhono Great Ride: Te Hangāruru.
The Missing Link Comes to Life
Te Hangāruru is more than just a new trail — it is the long-awaited missing link in the vision to connect Mt Ruapehu to the Tasman Sea by bike and on foot. Since the concept was first imagined in 2009, this central section between Horopito and Waimarino (formerly National Park Village) has been the final puzzle piece needed to fully unite the journey.
Its completion marks a moment of profound achievement. It’s a bridge — literally and figuratively — between north and south, past and future, land and people.
A Trail Forged Through History
This newly opened 9km section from Horopito to Pōkākā Road represents over 15 years of vision, determination, and collaboration. Traversing rugged terrain and weaving through complex consent processes, the trail is the result of deep partnership between iwi, local government, DOC, contractors, and community.
Built with care and guided by the stories of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua, this is a trail shaped not just by machines but by the collective aspiration to restore, reconnect, and regenerate.
Corridors of Connection – Ancient and New
Te Hangāruru follows a path long used for journeying. Generations of mana whenua once traversed these valleys to move between the Manganui o te Ao and Tokaanu. Later, the North Island Main Trunk Line, forged with grit and sweat, passed through Horopito — culminating in the 1908 "Last Spike" event that symbolised a connected Aotearoa.
Then came the timber tramways, carving temporary paths through the forest in the pursuit of rimu and tōtara. The route was again reshaped by State Highway 4, connecting small settlements across the Ruapehu District.
And now, with the opening of Te Hangāruru, this corridor transforms once more — into a trail for riders, runners, and walkers to follow in the footsteps of those before them, with wheels, feet, and heart.
What’s in a Name?
The name Te Hangāruru was gifted by Uenuku and translates as “a place of abundance.” It evokes a time when the Waimarino skies teemed with birdsong, and forest floors were alive with sustenance and life. It was a place where tūpuna gathered kai and passed on their stories — where the taiao (environment) was not something separate, but a partner in daily life.
Today, that mauri — the life force — is returning. The trail winds through regenerating forest once cleared for logging. Native flora is reclaiming space, and birdlife such as kererū, tūī, and tīwaiwaka (fantail) dance along the path once more. In the clear alpine streams, whio (blue duck) sightings are becoming more common — a precious marker of ecological health.
A Trail for All Seasons and People
Whether you're a family on foot, a runner chasing the horizon, or a rider seeking flow and peace — Te Hangāruru offers a beautiful and accessible Grade 2 experience. Along the way, you will:
Pass under a historic rail underpass, with the famed Last Spike monument just up the valley. Plans are already underway to extend this trail to the site, including a spectacular 99m suspension bridge linking rail, road, and trail corridors.
Cross two suspension bridges, including a breathtaking 30m span over the Mangaturuturu River.
Pause at the Deep Creek waterfall, born of a 1950s river diversion and marked by a distinctive round boulder at its mouth — a quiet place to listen to the past echoing through water.
Glide along old tramway paths, once used to haul logs, now reimagined for a new kind of journey — one of care, not extraction.
A Matariki Gift for the Future
The opening of Te Hangāruru aligns with Puanga mā Matariki, the Māori New Year — a time for remembrance, renewal, and collective visioning. As we honour those who came before, we also celebrate a shared future.
“We see this trail as a taonga — a treasure for our people and our visitors,” says Aiden Gilbert, Chair of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua.
“It reflects the hopes of our tūpuna and offers a path forward — one where we walk together, care for the whenua, and create a future where both people and place thrive.”
Still more to come...
While this section is open, the full Te Hangāruru vision is still unfolding. When complete, the trail will stretch 29.4km, including the dramatic 225m Makatote River suspension bridge — a soaring link between the Pōkākā Ecosanctuary and the northern trail network.
This final stretch will connect the dots: from Ohakune to the Bridge to Nowhere, and on to Whanganui. It will create a seamless, world-class experience — one of Aotearoa’s most iconic Great Rides brought to its full potential.
🚴 Just 10km remains to fully connect Te Hangāruru to its northern section at Marton Sash and Door — the final link in this central corridor. Be part of bringing the full journey to life: 👉 mountainstosea.nz/support
Ride the story
Te Hangāruru is a story in motion. It is a place of reconnection — between land and people, past and future, trail and sky.
From iron rails to winding trails, from colonial disruption to ecological restoration, from tūpuna footsteps to modern riders — this place hums with energy, resilience, and hope.
So layer up. Head to Horopito. Let the forest speak.
And ride the story, one step or pedal stroke at a time.
