With winter quickly approaching and leaves turning all sorts of beautiful autumn colours, I thought a ride through the Karangahake Gorge to Waihi was exactly what was needed to enjoy this time of year.
The Hauraki Rail Trail has several different legs, with three main ones: Paeroa to Te Aroha,Paeroa to Thames, and Paeroa to Waihi.
On the Paeroa to Waihi trail there are several areas where you can begin depending on how much of a work out you want and what scenery you would like to cycle through. I chose to cycle from the Karangahake carpark to Waihi, which is approximately 18km one way.
The ride begins with the rail tunnel, for this I would highly recommend having a bike light or torch as it is very difficult to see in the dimly lit tunnel and you risk hitting other cyclists and those on foot.
From the tunnel it follows the river along a reasonably flat straight gravel track. This was a lovely part of the ride but probably the least interesting. After approximately 7km we reached Waikino. From here the trail becomes quite pretty, winding through farmland and along the river. There are a few small hills, but hills nonetheless, but it is an easy trail and possible for those who may not be used to biking, but also interesting and challenging enough for regulars out and about on bike trails.
The Hauraki Rail Trail is considered the easiest riding trail in New Zealand, with various stages allowing for comfortable three-day cycle rides.
From Hamilton, the drive is roughly 1hr 20mins and the section I tackled took exactly three hours at a reasonable pace, allow an extra half hour if you are particularly unfit but I am still warming up to biking so three hours is a pretty good time frame.
Make sure you take a helmet and light, a snack or two would also be advisable as there are several very pretty areas to stop for a picnic. In total, the Hauraki Rail Trail spans 82km, showcasing some of the best scenery New Zealand has to offer, from the pohutukawa trees on the Thames Coast, through lush green Waikato farm lands, to areas rich in pioneering history.
The trail follows the path of two historic railway lines, running from Thames to Paeroa and Waikino to Te Aroha, while a new path will link Waikino to Waihi.
For more information visit: http://www.haurakirailtrail.co.nz/
