Mangakino

Lake Maraetai is the heart of Mangakino village, with a fabulous children’s playground and a lovely lake where you can spend the day swimming, boating or fishing. Enjoy breakfast and watch rowing teams practise on the mirror-like Lake Maraetai as the morning fog lifts from the hills.

Or pack a picnic lunch and take a little wander along the Waikato River Trail to find a little spot to call your own for a few hours.

Mangakino also has five other freshwater lakes in close proximity and Lake Whakamaru is home to the Water Ski Club which provides lakefront clubrooms and water ski access. Or for pure holiday relaxation, just read a book in the sun to the sound of birdsong.

Stretch your legs with a hike or bike along the Waikato River Trails. You can also visit Pa Harakeke to learn about the native forests and traditional plant uses.

Whakamaru

The Whakamaru Trail is intermediate grade and 26 kilometres long. From lush native forests to dramatic cliff faces and the turquoise waters of the Waikato River, there’s plenty of places to rest and set up camp on your journey. Starting at the Ātiamuri Dam, this trail takes you all the way to the Whakamaru Dam (where you can enjoy a rewarding cup of coffee at the Dam Cafe).

Maraetai

The Maraetai Trail is intermediate grade and 12.3 kilometres long. Enjoy spectacular views of the river, rolling hills and landscape, with the definite highlight being the magnificent Mangakino Suspension Bridge. The 70-metre-long suspension bridge hangs 12 metres above the river, providing stunning views of the river and forest. Starting at Whakamaru Dam, this trail takes you all the way to Mangakino.

Waipapa

The Waipapa Trail is an advanced grade and 19.6 kilometres long. Buried deep in the forests of this trail you’ll find stretches of the concrete foundations of the Maraetai Dam and remnants of the old concrete plant that was used to build the dam. There’s also spectacular views of the dams and power stations as well as amazing sandstone cliffs – popular with rock climbers.

Starting at Mangakino village, this trail takes you north-east to the Waipapa Power Station.

Enjoy a round of golf at the Mangakino Golf Couse a scenic local course on the shores of Lake Maraetai, visitors are always welcome! Although classed as a 9-hole course there is a separate 9th and 18th green with the other greens played twice to make up the 18 holes.

It’s frisbee plus golf… it’s disc golf! And if you’ve never tried it before, you’re in luck as Mangakino has a freshly upgraded 18 basket course with two playing options. It’s a whole lot of fun, you are treated to stunning views across the Mangakino Golf Club and Lake Maraetai and, best of all, it’s free!

When hunger strikes in Mangakino, check out Ata’s Bar and Eatery. Here you’ll find great coffee, yummy food and friendly staff.

For the size of the settlement, there are events aplenty in this picturesque lakeside location.

Summer Sizzler Running Events

The Waikato River Trails Summer Sizzler is a summer running and walking event on the Waikato River Trails. There are three distances to choose from - 22km, 11km and 6km - and all run alongside the Mighty Waikato River, finishing on the shores of Lake Maraetai in Mangakino Village.

Wakeboard Championships

Mangakino hosts a variety of wakeboard events, from the Junior Wake Fest to the Wake NZ North Island Championships. You might also find some other water-based events on when you’re next in town.

Lake Hop

The first Mangakino Lake Hop was in 2019 where 220 registered vehicles were in attendance. Now the annual event attracts more than 500 vehicles, from hotrods to planes, race boats and drag cars. There’s also music, entertainment, food and fun - all the right ingredients for an absolutely fantastic weekend away.

Treasure Trails – Waikato River Trails

As part of the Treasure Trails event, Mangakino offers the Lake Maraetai ‘leg’ of the bike trails. This is an annual event, usually in the Easter School Holidays, so keep an eye out for updates.