Phase I - Partial Opening Thursday 19th June
We’re thrilled to open the first section of Te Hangāruru as a Matariki gift to our community on 19 June. From Horopito, the trail is now open to the stunning suspension bridge over the Mangaturuturu River and back — a return journey of approximately 12km.
The remainder of the trail through to Pōkākā Road will be progressively opened over the coming weeks as finishing touches are completed and the trail reaches standard. It’s been a tough, wet autumn — but winter riding conditions are looking mint!
Where Nature and History Ride Together
Te Hangāruru is the newest addition to the Mountains to Sea – Ngā Ara Tūhono Great Ride, offering an easy-going adventure through a landscape shaped by time, culture, and connection. Linking with the Ohakune Old Coach Road in the south and eventually connecting through the Last Spike to the Marton Sash and Door tramway and Waimarino in the north, this is the first part of a long-awaited missing link. The mostly flat Grade 2 trail winds through peaceful native forest, across flowing boardwalks, and over a dramatic suspension bridge above the Mangaturuturu River.
Step Into Stories, Ride Through Beauty
This is more than just a scenic ride — it’s a journey through living history. Follow the path of a century-old bush tramway alongside the North Island Main Trunk Line, through land cared for by Te Korowai o Wainuiārua. With views to Mt Ruapehu, birdsong in the trees, and heritage woven into every curve, Te Hangāruru is the perfect half-day ride or walk for explorers of all ages and abilities.
Highlights
Two suspension bridges, including a dramatic crossing of the Mangaturuturu River
A corridor of connection alongside the North Island Main Trunk Line
Stories of the timber industry through the heart of the Waimarino
An incredible man-made waterfall shaped by the Deep Creek diversion
Views to Mt Ruapehu through a living, breathing forest corridor
Regenerating forest, wetlands, and thriving birdlife
Whenua of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua – layered with history and hope
Ride, run or walk this flowing Grade 2 trail
Family friendly and rideable all year round
History & Background
The name Te Hangāruru was gifted by Uenuku and speaks to a time when this forest was alive with abundance. In the heart of the Waimarino, native birds like kākā once filled the skies so thickly that they darkened the light — drawn by the rich food sources of towering Pōkākā trees. This was a special place for tangata whenua: a thriving ngahere, a hunting ground, and a natural gathering point between Manganui o te Ao and Tokaanu.
Today, the trail follows those ancestral footsteps through regenerating forest, wetland corridors, and alongside the iconic North Island Main Trunk Line. It traces the path of a historic bush tramway that once carried timber through the region — now transformed into a gentle, flowing cycle and walking trail.
Te Hangāruru is more than just a scenic journey — it’s a corridor of connection, shaped by partnership with Te Korowai o Wainuiārua and the wider community. From the awe-inspiring Mangaturuturu suspension bridge to the curious man-made waterfall of the Deep Creek diversion, this trail brings together stories of past and present in a way that is uniquely Waimarino.
Its Matariki 2025 opening marks over a decade of vision and collaboration. As you ride or walk Te Hangāruru, you’re not just exploring a trail — you’re part of a shared future grounded in kaitiakitanga, resilience, and manaakitanga.
Trail Route
Your journey begins at the Horopito Hub, a once-neglected site now transformed into a welcoming space. Carved pou and storytelling panels share the values and history of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua, the mana whenua. This land, formerly a dump site, has been carefully rehabilitated — and as native plantings flourish, it will once again stand proud in the landscape.
Across the road is the iconic Smash Palace (Horopito Motors) — a treasure trove of old cars, stories, and Kiwi character, famous throughout Aotearoa.
From here, the trail climbs gently up a gravel road past lifestyle farms, with Mt Ruapehu watching over the journey. After about a kilometre, you reach the first major feature — the elegant Ōrākau suspension bridge, your gateway into the regenerating bush.
The trail soon disappears into a peaceful corridor of forest and wetlands, where mānuka stands, native trees, and alpine wetland edges are reclaiming the old transport routes. Small bridges guide you over trickling streams and boggy patches as the trail meanders north.
Next, you join the banks of the Mangaturuturu River, where you’ll spot a dramatic man-made waterfall, created in the 1950s by a diversion known as the Deep Creek realignment. A flowing descent brings you onto the magnificent 30m Mangaturuturu suspension bridge — one of the most photogenic moments on the ride.
Climbing the far side, you’ll cross another bridge over a tributary stream — here, you can look back and see the waterfall’s “mystery boulder” from a new angle. The journey continues through a canopy of native bush, pockets of wetland, and open clearings, alive with birdlife and the quiet magic of the ngahere.
Riding alongside the North Island Main Trunk Line, you pass through a corridor that once moved timber out of the Waimarino forests — a story that shaped, and in many ways scarred, the land and its people. This whenua is part of the Waimarino Block, central to the Treaty of Waitangi settlement with Te Korowai o Wainuiārua, recognising the impact of land loss and the path toward restoration and kaitiakitanga.
The trail finishes at a historic railway underpass, with future extensions planned to continue to The Last Spike — the point where the North Island rail network was joined in 1908. For now, you can return the same way or exit via a side trail to a shuttle pickup point.
Te Hangāruru is a two-way trail, suitable for riders and walkers of most abilities. It’s a flowing Grade 2 experience filled with forest beauty, historic resonance, and the feeling of reconnection.
M2SNZ Route Notes:
🏔️ Alpine conditions apply. Weather can change rapidly — pack warm layers and be prepared for rain or wind, even on a clear day.
🌍 World Heritage Area rules apply. A short section of the trail crosses the Tongariro Dual World Heritage Park. No dogs or drones are permitted in this area.
🚂 Rail safety is critical. Do not cross the railway line except at designated points: the Matapuna Road exit and the purpose-built railway underpass.
🚸 Stay safe on rural roads. Keep left, follow road rules, and ride no more than two abreast — only if it’s safe to do so.
🔄 Two-way trail. This trail can be ridden or walked in either direction. Share with care, give way to others, and stay alert around corners.
Need help booking?
Our local i-Site can help you plan and book your trip.
OR Book directly with Trail Partners and discover the Mountains to Sea's cycle trail journeys for yourself.
NGĀ ARA TŪHONO TRUST 50232641
NZBN: 9429052786808
