Timber Trail

A classic two-day, point-to-point forest ride with standout bridges and tramway history.

Time to Ride: Most riders take 2 days with a night near Piropiro; fit riders can cover the full route in a long day.

Best Time to Go: Spring to autumn brings the most settled conditions and longer daylight. Winter is rideable but can be cold, wet and boggy in places.

Getting there: There are three main access points: Pureora Village (north), Piropiro campground via Kokomiko Road from Waimiha (central), and Ongarue (south). Most people ride north to south from Pureora Village to Ongarue.

Costs: Check local sources for any trail fees or charges; otherwise budget mainly for transport logistics (shuttles), accommodation or camping, and any bike-hire or shuttle costs.

Difficulty: Moderate overall, with intermediate Grade 3 riding on parts of the northern half and short, steeper climbs around the major gorge crossings.

The Timber Trail is an 84-kilometre ride in Pureora Forest Park on New Zealand’s North Island, developed as part of the New Zealand Cycle Trail and fully opened on 30 March 2013. It weaves through some of the last remaining podocarp forest - including rimu, tōtara, miro, mataī and kahikatea - as well as areas of exotic forestry and regenerating bush.

What makes the route special is how it combines remote-feeling forest riding with major, confidence-inspiring engineering: 35 bridges in total, including eight large suspension bridges. Highlights include the huge Maramataha Bridge spanning the gorge, plus the historic Ongarue Spiral and a tunnel on the old tramway alignment.

About half the trail follows the track-bed of the former Ellis and Burnand tramway network that fed their sawmill at Ongarue, with tramways built from 1903 and badly damaged by floods in 1958. That logging heritage is still visible in the gentler grades and distinctive tramway formations you ride today.

• Stage 1: Pureora (DOC field base on Barryville Rd) to first shelter (km 0-8). An easier warm-up starting on boardwalk and winding beneath tall podocarps, with stream crossings and a mix of native bush and plantation.
• Stage 2: first shelter to Angel’s Rest (km 8-23). The ride climbs toward about 940 m with longer Grade 3 sections and big forest views, then reaches the upper Ongarue River area and old logging road.
• Stage 3: Angel’s Rest to Piropiro campground (km 23-39.5). Logging road and sections of Okauaka Road lead into tramway riding, with a concrete ford and then more bush track into the campground area.
• Stage 4: Piropiro campground to Maramataha Bridge (km 40-52). A steady climb out of camp sets up the trail’s signature crossing: the 141 m suspension bridge high above the Maramataha Gorge.
• Stage 5: Maramataha River to Deer Park junction and Waione Stream (km 52-64). The trail’s steepest zigzags climb to a plateau, then gradients ease as you link into the cleared Ellis and Burnand tramway.
• Stage 6: Waione Stream to Waikoura Stream to Goat Creek (km 64-74). Classic tramway cruising connects multiple camps and junctions, with several suspension bridge crossings along the way.
• Stage 7: Goat Creek to Ongarue Spiral to Mangakahu Road trail end (km 74-84). A curved timber trestle bridge and more tramway lead to the spiral and tunnel area, then an undulating finish to the car park on Mangakahu Road, about 2 km from Ongarue.

The main riding season is spring through autumn, when the forest track tends to be drier and daylight hours are longer. This also aligns with when most visitors plan multi-day rides, so transport and accommodation options can book out earlier.

In winter, expect colder temperatures and more frequent wet periods; the track has had boggy patches in the past (including areas where pumice was helicoptered in after opening). After heavy rain, be prepared for slower riding and muddier surfaces, particularly in higher or shaded forest sections.

Most riders start at the northern end near Pureora Village (signposted from State Highway 30 between Te Kūiti and Mangakino) and finish near Ongarue (signposted from State Highway 4). A central access option is Piropiro campground, reached via Kokomiko Road from Waimiha.

Because it is a point-to-point backcountry route, many cyclists use a shuttle or a pre-arranged pick-up, especially if finishing at the Mangakahu Road car park. The route is commonly ridden north to south from Pureora to Ongarue, which is described as the easier direction overall despite a notable climb up toward Mt Pureora early on.

Check with the Department of Conservation or local authorities for current information on any required permissions, closures or rules, and follow posted safety notices.

Bike hire, e-bikes and shuttle services are commonly used by visitors to simplify the point-to-point logistics. The trail is signposted and rides on a mix of formed track, boardwalk, old tramway bed, and road sections, with multiple major suspension bridge crossings that are designed to feel more stable than older swing bridges.

A common plan is to break the ride around the middle at Piropiro campground, which gives you an overnight option right on the route. If you prefer not to camp, base yourself in nearby towns and use shuttles to ride shorter sections, or to do the full route without carrying overnight gear.

At the ends, look for accommodation around Te Kūiti and the wider King Country area, with options also near Ongarue. In busier periods, it is sensible to book ahead if you need a specific shuttle time or want to line up accommodation tightly with your riding schedule.