Great Lake Taupo Bike Trails

Great Lake Trails

The Great Lake Trail is one of the National Cycleways Projects and will be approximately 100 kilometres in length. The first part of this track, approximately 35 kilometres, has already been constructed and includes the popular W2K Track.

Once completed, the track will be multi stage with shorter stages more suitable for beginners, and others for intermediate cyclists. It is proposed that there will be 5 places on the lake where cyclists can be dropped off or picked up by boat.

The complete track will take 3 days to ride from start to finish. Using water taxis, cyclists will be able to choose separate sections of the track to ride depending on their level of experience and time available. Check Bike Taupo's website for updates on the progress of the track.

Installation of the last bridge on the Chinaman's Creek section of the Great Lake Trail

Cycle route directions
There are two sweet slices of single track ready-to-ride on the Great Lake Trail right now, the W2K Track and Kawakawa Bay. Start by driving 13km from Taupo to the start of the trail at Whakaipo Bay. From the western end of Whakaipo Bay there is a signboard and the first of many marker posts that will lead you over a prominent spur to Kinloch Village. This section is 14km long, and takes around two hours. When you enter Kinloch Village, keep a sharp eye out for the marker posts that lead you through a marina and past the local store. At the western end of Kinloch Bay another single track leads to Kawakawa Bay, 14km away. Further updates will be added to this website as new sections of trail are opened for use.

Best time to ride
The Great Lake Trail can be ridden in all seasons. The track’s pumice soil surface and also means that in even in wet weather there is normally little or no mud on the trail. Once completed, the Great Lake Trail will offer a multi-stage riding experience with shorter stages more suitable for beginners, and others for intermediate cyclists.

Getting there
Primary access to the trail will be by road and/or water taxi. It is proposed that there will be five places on the lake where cyclists can be dropped off or picked up by boat. Kinlock already has existing accommodation.

W2K track

Biking W2K

W2K track is 14.4km starting from Whakaipo Bay and ending in Kinloch. The additional 9.7km Headland Loop was added to the W2K in 2009. The track has easy grades but the distance makes for a great ride. A lot of the track is under the native bush and is very sheltered from the wind. Can be very busy in the holidays.

Huka Falls Trails

There are three lovely beginner trails along both sides of the Waikato River - the Rotary Ride, Redwoods Track and the Aratiatia Dam Ride.

The track starts at the end of Spa Rd on County Road at the Spa Thermal Park and heads North on easy single track for 4km to Huka Falls. The Track crosses the Otumuheke Stream approximately 200 meter upstream from the Waikato River.

From here the track meanders through gullies, twists around trees, runs alongside open farm land, crosses two streams via bridges, passes through culverts and has great views of the Waikato River and open valleys all the way to the Huke Falls. The Huka Falls are a spectacle of sight and noise as over 220,000 liters of water per second from the Waikato River is funneled quickly from 100 meters wide through a narrow 15 meter wide gorge. The water falls in two steps (8 meters at the top and 11 meters at the bottom) creating a deafening noise.

From the Huka Falls you can cross over the river and head back to Taupo along the 2.5 kilometer Redwood Track which is also a gentle single track back to town on Huka Falls Rd. When Huka Falls Rd meets State Highway 1 there is a cycleway along the edge of the highway to avoid the traffic. Once you cross the control gates back into Taupo you can head left and ride all the way along the river and Spa Rd back to the start of the Rotary Ride.

Alternatively continue on the Rotary Ride as it turns into a trail all the way to Aratiatia Dam some 7 kilometers away. Although this track starts with a bit of a nasty short climb it is an easy track thereafter suitable for most beginners. In the summer months (October to March) the flood gates on the damn open every 2 hours between 10am and 4pm - which is a pretty impressive sight. Head back the same way as you came to Huka Falls.

From the Huka Falls bridge you can also ride up to the Helistar Hub Cafe and a linking tunnel under the roadway to the Wairakei Forest with its network of fantastic flowing trails. A final warning - the trails around the Huka Falls are very popular with walkers and tourists so although they are wide enough to pass walkers while on your bike you need to be on the lookout.

Craters of the Moon

Wairakei Forest or Craters of the Moon is a popular biking area that contains a series of purpose-built windy trails for all levels of ability through mostly pine forest. The best way to explore Craters of the Moon is to grab a map either in town or at the Helistar Hub Cafe.

Tracks are Graded:
Grade 1: Fairly flat, wide and smooth, forest roads, Beginners.
Grade 2: Gentle Climbs and easy avoidable obstacles. Beginners.
Grade 3: Challenging, steep slopes, tricky obstacles, narrow track, require some experience and fitness.
Grade 4: Long steep climbs, steep drop offs, gnarly obstacles to avoid or jump over.

The harder trails are to the North of the carparking area and the easiest to the south. A great Grade 2 start is to take the Tourist Trap ride all the way round.

The Ground Effect Grinder will take you to the top on a North-easterly direction and then quite simply pick your own tracks back down - try Buzzard and Son of Buzzard (both Grade 4). At the very northern end of the park you will find a fabulous Grade 3 trail called Outback - continue along Karapiti Rd taking the first right around the edge of the golf course; Outback heads in a counter clockwise direction from the intersection with Laneway.

One of the most raved about things of the Craters of Moon area is the way the tracks all flow and it has a less developed nature compared to tracks in the nearby forest regions.

Read a blog about it.

Northern Great Lake Taupo Trails

Waikato River Trails

Walkers and mountain bikers can explore a series of free riverside trails along New Zealand's longest river - the mighty Waikato. The trails cover about 100km of previously inaccessible Southern Waikato land. They wind their way along a path that encompasses the magic and beauty of New Zealand native bush, exotic forest, historic landmarks, interesting rock formations and geological delights.

The Mangakino/Whakamaru cycleway and walking trails from Waipapa Dam to Atiamuri are open. The latest Yogi Bear movie was filmed right here in the Ongaroto Reserve (Whakamaru Reserve). This trail is graded 2 to 3 and is mostly flat with some short steep sections.

The best time to ride the trail is September to May. The Waikato has a temperate climate so all but the mid-winter months are ideal for riding. The trails are largely protected from the wind.

Southern Great Lake Taupo Trails

Southern Great Lake Taupo has some of the best mountain bike country in New Zealand surrounding nearby towns Turangi and Tongariro. Ride through ancient beech forests, alongside magnificent trout rivers and past huge volcanos.