As a starting point before embarking on the Karapiro Trail, the Rhubarb Café in Arapuni village has become popular amongst hikers and cyclists to fuel up beforehand. With its quaint rhubarb-lined courtyard, there’s something for everyone on the menu to sustain you for this 11.5km trail section.

Once your tastebuds have been satisfied, don’t forget to swing by the historic Arapuni Suspension Bridge located around 400m from the café before setting off on this section of the trail. Located just downstream from the Arapuni Power Station, the suspension bridge was built in the mid 1920s to allow workers from the village access to the power station construction site. As one of the longest suspension bridges in the county with a span of 152.4 metres, and suspended 54 metres above the river, the spectacular birds-eye views of the dam, river and forest are a thrilling highlight not to be missed – unless you’re afraid of heights!

Once you’ve crossed over the bridge and back, the Karapiro Trail begins as it follows the river through gentle winding trails surrounded by native forests and farmland. A series of short boardwalks and bridges connect the trail leading you to the amazing Viewing Frame sculpture created by students from Putaruru College whose design was inspired by both the koru and the local swing bridge. This resting area alongside the river is also home to the much larger than life Tui sculpture that towers above the giant Toe toe tussock grasses on the hillside. The sculpture was formed from corrugated iron by local artist Steven Clothier in nearby Tirau – the “Corrugated Iron Capital of the World”.