Bike Hire & Twin Coast Cycle Transport
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All bikes are $ 85 per day or $ 55 for a half day
www.twincoastcycletransport.co.nz Dear Cyclists,
It would be great if you could put your feedback about your experience and complete the Twin Coast Cycle Trail survey on our partner website. The more information we can gather the better! https://survey.getsmartglobal.com/invitation/?source=126&key=7758ebebd4b453e868aafc5dbb3c9a8c&type=OnSite |
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Twin Coast Cycle Trail description
https://nzbybike.com/twin-coast-cycle-trail/
The trail passes through some of New Zealand's earliest European and Maori settlements. The full route is now open, providing great options for short day excursions, or a leisurely two-day experience for people wanting to complete the whole route. The trail can be riden in either direction. We describe it here in four short sections, heading east to west.
Opua to Otiria (16 km)
This easy section is a great one for families, with an optional journey on Gabriel, a vintage steam train. After setting off from the port of Opua with a coastal section and pleasing views over the Bay of Islands, the trail soon leaves the coast and follows an old rail line to Taumarere, where you have the choice of cycling on alongside the track, or jumping abroad the Gabriel for the final 3 km into Kawakawa. After checking out Kawakawa's famous Hundertwasser toilets, continue alongside the active rail line for 6 km through to Otiria.
Otiria to Kaikohe (27km)
This section takes you over some beautiful historic rail bridges that have been restored for use on the trail. The route follows alongside Ngapipito Rd, with a short detour of 500m currently in place where you use the road before jumping back on the trail. After passing the Kaikohe Aerodrome, you have just 6km left into town (Kaikohe), which provides accomodation options for those riding the trail over two days. Kaikohe features sites of early Maori-European contact and conflict. Be sure to check out Heritage Kaikohe with its museum of early settlement and transport.
Kaikohe to Okaihau (14km)
This section follows an old railway track was built on the ancient pathways and trails the Maori used to travel from East to West from coast to coast. The same trails were used later by the missionaries. Early into the day's ride, you'll reach an 80m tunnel, part of the old rail corridor. Beyond the tunnel the trail continues north, skirting past Lake Omapere - Northlands largest lake which is also significant in Maori mythology. It is not much further to the village of Okaihau, a hub of early agricultural settlement and development. There are still a few shops here for grabbing a well-earned snack or drink.
After leaving Okaihau, the trail follows sections of an old railway corridor crossing through an 80m
tunnel. The old railway track was built on the ancient pathways and trails the Maori used to travel
from East to West from coast to coast. The same trails were used later by the missionaries. The
trail passes Lake Omapere, Northlands largest lake which is also significant in Maori mythology and
a number of wonderful stories are to be told on the Pou Pou. The entire Twin Coast Cycle Trail is
unique in that Pou Pou, carved wooden statues made from local trees to bring to life the stories of
the landscapes and local people.Okaihau to Mangungu Mission (30km)
This is the hardest of the sections on the trail (Grade 3), but rewarding for those willing and able to complete it. There has been a lot of investment to build new boardwalks through mangroves and coastal wetlands. It follows the Utakura River on its decent down to Horeke on the inner Hokianga Harbour. Don't end it here though! Another 3km will get you out to the Mangungu, a Wesleyan mission house from the 1830's and an important site for the Treaty of Waitangi.
There is plenty of history to discover right along this trail of discovery in the Far North. Although generally fine, there have been some reports of bike theft, so we recommend locking your bikes when you stop for a break.
The trail passes through some of New Zealand's earliest European and Maori settlements. The full route is now open, providing great options for short day excursions, or a leisurely two-day experience for people wanting to complete the whole route. The trail can be riden in either direction. We describe it here in four short sections, heading east to west.
Opua to Otiria (16 km)
This easy section is a great one for families, with an optional journey on Gabriel, a vintage steam train. After setting off from the port of Opua with a coastal section and pleasing views over the Bay of Islands, the trail soon leaves the coast and follows an old rail line to Taumarere, where you have the choice of cycling on alongside the track, or jumping abroad the Gabriel for the final 3 km into Kawakawa. After checking out Kawakawa's famous Hundertwasser toilets, continue alongside the active rail line for 6 km through to Otiria.
Otiria to Kaikohe (27km)
This section takes you over some beautiful historic rail bridges that have been restored for use on the trail. The route follows alongside Ngapipito Rd, with a short detour of 500m currently in place where you use the road before jumping back on the trail. After passing the Kaikohe Aerodrome, you have just 6km left into town (Kaikohe), which provides accomodation options for those riding the trail over two days. Kaikohe features sites of early Maori-European contact and conflict. Be sure to check out Heritage Kaikohe with its museum of early settlement and transport.
Kaikohe to Okaihau (14km)
This section follows an old railway track was built on the ancient pathways and trails the Maori used to travel from East to West from coast to coast. The same trails were used later by the missionaries. Early into the day's ride, you'll reach an 80m tunnel, part of the old rail corridor. Beyond the tunnel the trail continues north, skirting past Lake Omapere - Northlands largest lake which is also significant in Maori mythology. It is not much further to the village of Okaihau, a hub of early agricultural settlement and development. There are still a few shops here for grabbing a well-earned snack or drink.
After leaving Okaihau, the trail follows sections of an old railway corridor crossing through an 80m
tunnel. The old railway track was built on the ancient pathways and trails the Maori used to travel
from East to West from coast to coast. The same trails were used later by the missionaries. The
trail passes Lake Omapere, Northlands largest lake which is also significant in Maori mythology and
a number of wonderful stories are to be told on the Pou Pou. The entire Twin Coast Cycle Trail is
unique in that Pou Pou, carved wooden statues made from local trees to bring to life the stories of
the landscapes and local people.Okaihau to Mangungu Mission (30km)
This is the hardest of the sections on the trail (Grade 3), but rewarding for those willing and able to complete it. There has been a lot of investment to build new boardwalks through mangroves and coastal wetlands. It follows the Utakura River on its decent down to Horeke on the inner Hokianga Harbour. Don't end it here though! Another 3km will get you out to the Mangungu, a Wesleyan mission house from the 1830's and an important site for the Treaty of Waitangi.
There is plenty of history to discover right along this trail of discovery in the Far North. Although generally fine, there have been some reports of bike theft, so we recommend locking your bikes when you stop for a break.
