TRM has had to reluctantly review their bike hire rates.

For the last few years bikes were free for guests.

However this was not fair on competitors in Turangi and Taupo and we became too popular.  No-one could compete with free bikes…

i.e.  Pack & Pedal in Taupo charge $40 for half day, $60 for full day.

Another Taupo bike shop hire rate is $35 for half day & $55 for full day, etc…

Similar hire rates are in Turangi – i.e. the rafting guys charge $30 for two hours, $40 half day, $50 full day, $75 bike & shuttle, etc..

But unfortunately, so disappointing, TRM bikes have been so popular with tourists that four more of TRM’s bikes have been “lost” recently.

In addition to the repair bills (we are constantly fixing punctures as guests ride over the pruned blackberry cuttings on the trail…!) and continued maintenance (squeezed in between laundry shifts when I should have been fishing) have increased substantially as more novice bikers ride the Tongariro River Trail.

So SWMBO has been forced to try to recover the losses and now reluctantly need to charge a rental rate to guests as well as public:

Revised hire:  $15 first 2 hours, $5 for each subsequent hour. 

Senior Gold Card members and anglers deserve a 50% reduction as they are always so careful with TRM bikes.

For anglers, TRM bikes have special rod holders fitted into the bottle carriers (rods need to be 3 or 4 piece) with rear stands having pannier bags for waders, vests, fish bags, and all other fishing gear – hint, hint.  The strong rear carriers are for transporting all the trout back to the smoker.

Daily rates and multi day hire is available at lower rates depending on demand and availability.

Please note that if the bikes are to be left anywhere i.e. like the Trout Centre or in the village, they must be securely chained.  Otherwise the bikes could get ‘lost’ (?) particularly applicable during school holidays…

TRM no longer have any smaller childrens’ bikes.  They were irresistible and have all been been ‘lost’.  All the photos on left are of TRM’s ‘lost’ bikes just in case you recognise them although they usually get roughly repainted and disguised quickly afterwards…

All our new replacement fleet are fitted with sneaky GPS trackers so they can be traced if they get lost… Our trackers look like standard bike components, but hidden inside are state of the art GPS tracking systems enabling us to locate our bicycle’s whereabouts at the click of a button. Our clever vibration sensors even send an alert if someone tampers with our bikes. Finally, TRM are embracing new technology with a product that actually shifts the balance of power away from bike thieves and back to us.

TRM bikes are mostly tourist style cruising bikes specially designed for the Otago Rail Trail.  You cannot buy bikes like these.  The configuration is designed for more upright touring riding position with wide comfy seats, contoured hand grips, low centre bar, etc. enabling riders to relax and enjoy the views.

If you prefer a more competitive full suspension cross country mountain bike (head down, bum up racing style) then we refer you to John at CENTRAL PLATEAU CYCLES in Turangi.  They have a wider range at similar reasonable prices – 1 hour $10, any 4 hour period $30, Full day $40, Family of 4 $150, and always have good bikes suitable for every purpose at competitive hire rates.

This Tongariro River Trail (Grade 2 – which means I can complete it without lifting my bum off the seat) is very under rated.  The 100% pure scenery offers a wide variety of fauna from dense Punga fern groves to towering Redwoods to mature native bush to farmland to conifer groves to swing bridges across the Tongariro River to board walks across swamps with many elevated river views to admire the anglers casting for trout.  The entire track is all ‘bikeable’ with easy gradients suitable for all skill levels.  There are a choice of routes and distances from 3 km up to 15 km to provide for all levels of fitness and abilities.

Also there is TRM’s ‘exclusive’ special Big Day Out – a 35km all-day ride following the Tongariro River from Tree Trunk Gorge to Turangi – full details and route plans only available at TRM reception.

Then there is Waihaha River Trail to Lake Taupo circuit – see ‘slide show’ below.  etc….

Sadly (why are we not surprised?) – the Tongariro River Trail is not even mentioned in the revised and updated  AA Traveller NZ Cycle Trail Guide. 

All the other Taupo bike tracks are mentioned but somehow (?) they forgot about the jewel in their crown – Turangi – again.   Perhaps they could not stand the competition…

Enjoy TRM slide show videos below: