Maraetai - Waikato River Trails

Take your adventure to new heights

Where adventure awaits on every turn

Follow the canopy of trees, beside a golf course of green

The Maraetai Trail

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!

**************************************************************************************

The rustic The Dam Village Bakery Café is the ideal spot to grab a coffee and a scone, or an All-Day Breakfast before starting the Maraetai Trail that begins adjacent to the Whakamaru Dam. As you head through the grounds of the Whakamaru switching station, the trail gently winds high above the river through a pine tree lined pathway next to farmland as sheep and stock graze.

GRADE: Intermediate
DISTANCE: 12.3km

Map Key

Download map

Trail Grade Info

The Maraetai Trail is 12.3km and is graded as 3 (Intermediate).

GRADE 3 (INTERMEDIATE)

Off road trails can be narrow and may include hill climbs and steep drop-offs. The trail surface is mostly firm, but may include muddy or loose sections. There may be obstacles to avoid.

Intermediate 12.3km

Mangakino Boardwalk

Mangakino Swing Bridge

Whakamaru Dam

The Trail!

The rustic Dam Village Bakery Café is the ideal spot to grab a coffee and a scone, or an All-Day Breakfast before starting the Maraetai Trail that begins adjacent to the Whakamaru Dam. As you head through the grounds of the Whakamaru switching station, the trail gently winds high above the river through a pine tree lined pathway next to farmland as sheep and stock graze. As the trail gradually descends, and you head deeper into forest and farmland, you’ll enjoy spectacular views of the river, rolling hills and landscape along the way. The trail is surrounded with native Totara and Manuka and alive with the sounds of birdsong and nature, as it winds its way toward the magnificent Mangakino Suspension Bridge which is the mid-way point between Whakamaru and Mangakino. The 70-metre-long suspension bridge hangs 12 metres above the river, providing stunning views of the river and forest. Continue following the forest trail as it descends to river level, and stop for a rest to capture the moment in the photographic viewing frame on the water’s edge at Lake Maraetai – one of the deepest of the seven man-made lakes on the Waikato River. The next section follows the lake edge through a pathway and boardwalk sections that are lush with thousands of native trees.

As you near the end of the trail you’ll enter the tranquil town of Mangakino via a pathway through the Mangakino Golf Club, a 9-hole course with picturesque views of Lake Maraetai and the surrounding forests. The trail ends at the Mangakino Lakefront Reserve. Stop and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere while you watch the power boats, wakeboarders and waterskiers racing across the lake. While you’re in Mangakino Village, take a stroll around the township that has no traffic and no traffic lights, and enjoy a bite to eat and a refreshment at the local cafes and restaurants. And if you’re looking for something a little different to do, play a round of Disc Golf at the Mangakino Disc Golf Course – where instead of a ball and clubs, players throw a plastic disc (or “Frisbee”) into a standing metal basket. It’s fun for everyone and you can rent discs from the local Four Square in Mangakino.