The Huka Falls and Aratiatia Dam guided e-bike loop covers about seventeen kilometres of Taupō 's varied terrain. Photo / Ayla Yeoman
If you’re looking for a way to experience Taupō that truly showcases its natural beauty, peaceful atmosphere, and world-class scenery, hop on an e-bike and explore Huka Falls and Aratiatia Dam, writes Ayla Yeoman.
My partner and I grew up in Taupō, but having both moved away a couple of years ago, this was the first time we’d returned to see the town as visitors. It felt strangely special to explore a place we once took for granted, appreciating every section of track, every lookout point, and every shade of blue in the river as if discovering it for the first time.
Arriving at FourB Mountain Biking in Wairakei, we met our guide for the day Corban, who, in typical New Zealand fashion, turned out to be an old high school peer. Knowledgeable and friendly, our guide ensured we were set up comfortably on the e-bikes before heading off.
The bikes were effortless to ride (especially helpful on a warm day), and right from the first few metres we found ourselves cruising smoothly beneath canopies of shade as birds called overhead and sunlight filtered through the trees.
The track follows a seventeen-kilometre loop with a huge variety of scenery, including the famous Huka Falls and sweeping river lookouts that showcase just how turquoise the Waikato River really is. At multiple points along the trail, the sunlight bounced off the surface, creating a kaleidoscope of blue and green.
One of the first major highlights is, of course, Huka Falls. The sheer force, colour, and volume of the water slamming through the tight gorge is hard to comprehend until you’re standing right beside it. This was a sight we’d seen countless times growing up, yet somehow it felt brand new from the saddle of an e-bike.
As we continued further along the track, the sound of the river faded till I could hear nothing but birdsong and our wheels running over the gravel track, which was single-file but never felt intimidating or too tricky to ride. The e-bikes made easy work of every climb, and Corban kept a steady, comfortable pace the whole way. Eventually, the gravel opens into a wider 4WD road as it approaches the Aratiatia Dam, giving you clear views over the river valley and glimpses of Aotearoa’s first geothermal power station and the quirky prawn farm off in the distance.
When we reached the Aratiatia Dam, the river transformed yet again, the water released into the narrow gorge with a power that gave me goosebumps. Standing in the sunshine, we gaze transfixed at tonnes of water roaring through the gates while Corban explained that this was New Zealand’s first Waikato River hydroelectric power station, completed in 1964. The name “Aratiatia” means “stairway of Tia” after the Māori explorer Tia of Ngāti Tūwharetoa.
From here, you can return via the same path or loop around the opposite side of the river, connecting with the Aratiatia Loop track, the Wairakei Resort and Tourist tracks, and eventually the Café Track. We looped instead of doubling back, which meant new scenery all the way home: easy gradients, open sunny stretches, and cooling pockets of pine forest shade.
All afternoon, the ride remained peaceful, scenic and effortless; the hills requiring no more than a gentle pedal on the e-bikes, freeing us up to enjoy the views. At times, cruising along under warm sun and cool shade, listening to birdsong blend with the sound of moving water, the ride felt almost meditative.
When we lived here, the Waikato River was just “there” – beautiful, yes, but familiar. Seeing it now, after being away, made us fall in love with Taupō all over again.
We finished feeling energised rather than exhausted, and honestly, we wished we could turn around and do it again. For anyone visiting Taupō – or returning home after time away – this guided ride offers the perfect mix of adventure and serenity.
If you want dramatic waterfalls, peaceful riverbanks, beautiful bush trails, and a relaxed way to explore Taupō from a whole new perspective, this is absolutely the ride for you.
Huka River Trail E-bike Tour | fourb.nz/huka-falls-trail
The journalist travelled courtesy of Love Taupō.