At last we are delighted to report DOC (Department of Conservation) are completing a much needed upgrade to tidy up the northern end of the Tongariro River Trail.

DOC are the Taupo Fishery Managers and manage the Tongariro River Trail.

To pass on complaints from concerned inmates, TRM blogs have been critical over the past few years about the lack of maintenance at the northern end where the track zig-zags and climbs up for wide views over the Tongariro River, Turangi, and further west out to Lake Taupo.

This Tongariro River Trail is so popular with tourists exploring the Tongariro River, anglers in waders waddling their way to Judges Pool, bikers completing the 15 km loop trail – see photo below, walkers exercising their dogs, trampers keeping fit, everyone enjoys it. At the moment it is school holidays and a circuit of the track is almost compulsory for most families – even with prams. This is the only trail within close easy walking distance of all the motels and Turangi township to provide wider elevated views north towards Lake Taupo around to the south towards Mt. Pihanga and over the world-famous Tongariro River.

Yesterday a DOC team of eight in orange safety vests were clearing the scrub to remove the rubbish and improve the view corridors.

But what a shame, it is just at the end of the summer tourist season.

Unfortunately, most of the Tongariro River Trail track had become very overgrown with Broom and Blackberry and other nasties which completely blocked out the views. It was more like walking or biking through a tunnel. (see photo below)

The main enemy of these bike tracks is water erosion scouring out deep grooves in the tracks. It is important that a good drainage system is been installed before the metal was laid.

In December and again in January, after more inmates’ complaints were received from a couple of bikers, TRM were sad to report – see photos below – that the track was rutted and becoming too dangerous to ride on ‘ebikes’, particularly downhill, as they are much heavier and more difficult to steer out of the ruts.

All the eroded sections have now received more gravel to fill in the ruts and even them out.

The tidy up also exposed a hidden seat with an old poachers’ spinning rod which has been deserted…

All of Turangi is anxiously waiting for this Tongariro River Trail to link with the T2T – Turangi to Taupo trail – which will have to happen soon. Increased urgency came up again with another truck diving into the lake from Bulli Point. When the new inland road is developed this lake edge route will become the most popular bike trail in NZ. The Government has been procrastinating for about twenty years but now it is election year they might start making promises… Whoever does will get SWMBO’s vote!