For the one extraordinary mountain bike trail to rule them all, this cannot be beaten.

With the warmer summer weather it should be on your bucket list.

Many enthusiastic TRM inmates have returned again and again with friends to ride this unique trail. Also interesting, they are all elderly but more than compensating for any loss of power and endurance on their ebikes. They have specially asked TRM for more photos with brief descriptions to assist their planning to indicate what to expect during the extreme variety of scenic biking tracks spread over eight linking trails for about 40 km back to Turangi. Every tourist group seems to differ with their preferred chosen trail and how many side tracks they include. Their age and the weather may have been a decider too.

Following the widespread damage throughout the forest surrounding Lake Rotoaira after the cyclone last February, we have reinspected the trail so these descriptions are all up-to-date – as at November 2024. Compared to some other bike trails this is the much more affordable option which only requires a shuttle service to the start. If it seems too long it can be spread over two days.

Start your adventure bike trail at the drop-off point – Tree Trunk Gorge Road – for an easy-peasy warm-up with several km smooth gentle downhill on a remote sealed road leading into the Kaimanawas to where the DOC signs indicate the Tree Trunk Trail commences.

Another option, that other tourists have recommended, is continuing past this point to view the huge underground plumbing installation to carry the water from Lake Moawhango (north-east of Waiouru) to the underground power station.

Please remember to bring fine weather and a sense of adventure!

Tree Trunk Gorge Track is a DOC managed track which takes about one hour for walkers to wind through the bush to reach the Urchins Camp ground. There are DOC toilets available there. After wet weather, riders will need to dismount to wade three small streams along the route – see photo. That is probably the most difficult physical portion of the trail. The rest is so cruisy…

From Urchins Camp look out for the sign on the side-track to the Pillars of Hercules bridge. If the weather turns nasty, or for those wanting a shorter circuit, another option is to cross over the bridge and continue a loop back to the Desert Road – providing they can contact the shuttle bus.

From the Pillars of Hercules bridge follow the DOC signage to continue heading towards Kaimanawa Road on a delightful trail on an unsealed bush-enclosed road – and then turn right at the intersection for about 200 m to turn into the first covered drink stop in the Umukarikari campground – see photo. More DOC toilets are available as part of the campground.

For those with excess energy, they could continue to the end of Kaimanawa Road to the entrance to the only underground power station in the North Island.

After the drinks rest stop, continue on the rough unsealed road – mainly downhill – past the camp ground towards the Poutu Intake Dam. As you cross over the dam have a squiz to count how many trout are feeding below the dam. This is the limit for the famous Tongariro River trout to migrate upriver.

Pause to enjoy the views up and down the Tongariro River. This is where the tourist raft trips start to end up at the Blue Pool. Other brave keen DIY anglers use their own backpack rafts as pictured.

From the Poutu Intake dam the road is sealed with a short climb back up to Kaimanawa Road and head west towards SH1 looking out to turn right at the Te Henga Road sign into the forest – see above. Another escape option is available for anyone struggling, as they can continue on Kaimanawa Road to link SH1 for a downhill glide for about 15 km directly back to Turangi.

This forestry area changed character after much of the surrounding forest was smashed during the cyclone Gabrielle. Any useful millable timber has since been harvested so it is safe to ride through this area now.

After about 2 km turn left onto Canal Road which leads down to the canal. This is the “speed section” for the ride providing a much faster trip to the north-west passing under SH1 and SH46 – Rotoaira Road.

If riders need another rest stop, look out for the abandoned prison on the right. For some strange reason our bikers love selfies taken inside a prison cell? Long after they have forgotten the trail they remember their unique rest stop.

After that continue along the level canal to where another dam blocks off Lake Rotoaira at the head of Poutu River.

Cross over the dam to follow the old road to link with the forestry road seen winding up the hill on the left in the photo below.

This link trail was previously overgrown and a track detour has been formed where the old road has been blocked off. On our latest inspection, it all looks easy enough to ride.

Ebikes have been a revelation in making these short unsealed links so easy and achievable for a wider age range of adventure bikers.

The forestry road then provides a long cruise downhill – necessary to avoid the narrow Poutu River bridge on SH1 to link up south of the Red Hut Bridge carpark. Look out for wild deer.

There are more DOC toilets at the Red Hut carpark before crossing over the swing bridge to follow the Tongariro River Trail for about 5 km back to Turangi.

TRM have handwritten riding notes from other bikers for anyone wanting more info. From the feedback we believe this combination of linking existing trails is as good as an adventure ride as anything else available in NZ. It is that good! The other attraction is the relatively low cost where a minimal cost is charged for the time needed for the shuttle service included in the two nights motel accommodation should be budgeted for, although some have suggested prospective bikers need to also factor in a hot thermal soak to speed recovery afterwards.

Thank you for the more detailed bikey species provided by another inmate – For the one bike trail that rules them all… https://strava.app.link/6gcSdqt5VGb —

TRM’s Big Day Out increased so much in popularity last summer, that it will pay to book ahead – direct at TRM – email ross@tongarirorivermotel.co.nz or phone 07 386 8555.