Welcome to Waikato River Trails
20/05/2026 – Great news received from Taupo District Council!
The section of Waipapa Road that has been closed since early April for repair work on multiple slip sites, will be reopening ahead of schedule, from about 5pm Wednesday 20 May.
While the road will be reopening to all traffic, there is one slip site that still requires repair work and this part of the road will be down to one lane, with stop/go traffic management in place. As always, please take extra care on the road.
We really appreciate everybody’s patience during the closure. It’s been a massive job to restore the safety and long-term stability of the road at three significant slip sites. A shout out too, to our contractor, HEB Construction, for getting this work done well ahead of schedule.
And the Waipapa section of the trail will reopen on the 23rd May!
Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support while this important repair work has been completed!
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The five Waikato River Trails
The Waikato River Trails are divided into five sections across a range of terrain from gently undulating trails to some that are steeper, rugged and more adventurous. The trails are are graded from 3 (Intermediate) to 4 (Advanced) and while they are mostly wide and smooth, some are trickier single-track trails (particularly on the Waipapa section) – a mountain bike is recommended.
The Powerhouse Road Safety Improvement Project is finished. The new Trail and boardwalk will provide a much safer experience for cyclists and walkers using the Karapiro section of the Trail.
Cyclists are now using the new route. There is a 6m piece of sight rail to install and moving a few signs to finish. A great outcome, thanks to Iwi, Mercury, South Waikato District Council and contractor Keir Projects limited.
#trailupdate Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand
Great news! AAA Trees have now cleared the fallen tree from the Whakamaru Section, and access to the trail has been restored.
A big thank you to AAA Trees for their prompt work, and to everyone who reported the fallen tree and provided detailed location information. Your assistance helped us respond quickly and get the trail reopened as soon as possible.
#trailupdate
𝟮𝟵/𝟬𝟲/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲: 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 – 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘂 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
A large tree is currently down across the trail on the Whakamaru Section, around the 11 km marker (not far from Tram Road).
Our contractor is scheduled to remove it on Wednesday, 1st July.
At this stage, we're unsure whether cyclists are able to get through, so if you're planning to use this section before then, please take extra care and be prepared to turn around if necessary.
A huge thank you to everyone who has reported this. The detailed information you provided, including the location, has been incredibly helpful and has allowed us to pass accurate information on to our contractor, helping us respond more efficiently.
Thank you for your patience and understanding while we get this cleared.
#trailupdate
A huge thank you to Forest View High School, Tokoroa, for returning to Lake Whakamaru to help care for the next generation of native forest.
Just 12 months ago, students planted more than 3,000 native trees at the site. Their return visit to release and maintain these young plants is a vital step in helping them thrive and establish for the future.
We’re grateful for the ongoing commitment, hard work, and environmental leadership shown by the students and staff.
#trailupdate Forest View High School Tokoroa Official
Fantastic news for everyone using the Waikato River Trails and the local community - great to see Waipapa Road reopening ahead of schedule.
Huge thanks to all involved for the hard work getting this vital access route safely restored.
#trailupdate Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand
𝟭𝟱/𝟬𝟱/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 - 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 - 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀
Great progress continues on the Waikato River Trails, with the Maraetai section repairs now completed and contractors full steam ahead in the Waipapa section.
A big thank you again to Action Bobcats Ltd, J Swap Contractors Ltd, Skiffington Transport, Caleb Vasta, and the neighbouring landowners for their ongoing support and hard work.
We also like to acknowledge again the financial assistance provided through MBIE following the extreme weather event earlier this year, which has helped make these repairs possible.
Thanks everyone for the continued support as work progresses north🤩
#trailupdate Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand
We’re also pleased to confirm that the Waipapa section of the trail will officially reopen to the public from Saturday 23 May😀
#event #trailupdate🚨 🚨 WAIPAPA ROAD UPDATE
The Waipapa Road will be open on Saturday 23rd May for event buses and participants travelling by car.
🚨 IMPORTANT EVENT UPDATE 🚨
As many of you know, we previously had to make course changes to the Marathon and 43km MTB events due to the closure of Waipapa Road following earlier weather damage.
Good news — the road repairs have now been completed ahead of schedule, which means we can return to the ORIGINAL COURSE for both affected distances 🙌
Please take note of the updated start times below 👇
🚵 43km MTB - 7:45am
🏃 Duathlon - 7:45am
🏃 Marathon - 7:55am
📍 Starting from Waipapa Dam
🏃 22km - 10:00am (no longer 10:30am)
🚌 UPDATED BUS TIMES
🕡 6:45am — MTB / Duathlon
🕕 6:50am — Marathon
🕣 8:45am — 22km
Please make sure you check the updated timings before event day 👊
𝟵/𝟱/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 - 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 – 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀
Following the significant weather damage caused by the extreme rain event in February this year, we’re pleased to share that repair work is progressing really well along the Waikato River Trails.
✅The Whakamaru section repairs are now completed
✅Contractors have made excellent progress through the Maraetai section
A huge thank you to the team at Action Bobcats Ltd for their continued hard work on site, J Swap Contractors Ltd for donated aggregate, Skiffington Transport for haulage, and Caleb Vasta for earthworks. We would also like to thank the landowners adjacent to the trail for continuing to provide access for this work to be carried out.
We would also like to acknowledge the financial assistance provided through MBIE following the extreme weather events, which has helped make these repairs possible.
We really appreciate the hard work, support, and collaboration from everyone involved as we continue restoring affected sections of the trail.
More updates to come as work progresses north 🤩
#trailupdate Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand
📣24/04/2026 - Trail Update
The heavy rain in mid February caused damage at over 50 sites along the trail. Over the past couple of months, we’ve been busy assessing the damage, understand the cost to repair, securing funding, and engaging contractors.
We are really pleased to share that repair work is now underway, starting at Atiamuri and moving north.
Thanks to the team at Action Bobcats Ltd for their hard work on site, J Swap Contractors Ltd for donated aggregate, Skiffington Transport for haulage and Caleb Vasta for earthworks. Also a big thank you to the landowners adjacent to the trail for providing access for this work.
More updates over the comping weeks 🤩
#Trailupdate Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand
🚧 𝗔𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘂𝗻𝗶 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 – 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿
Just a quick heads up for trail users:
The Arapuni Swing Bridge can currently be accessed from the Arapuni side only - however, it is closed at the far end, so it is not possible to ride or walk through to Powerhouse Road.
Works being carried out by Mercury mean the bridge is temporarily a return-only access point.
Please follow all signage on site and plan your ride accordingly.
#trailupdate
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