12th FEB - 1ST APRIL 2024 THE TRAIN IS RUNNING FRI/SAT/SUN

"Join the Gap" Kawakawa to Opua OPEN on Fri/Sat/Sun - CLOSED Mon/ Tues/Wed/Thurs

Distance: 11km
Grade: 1 (easy)

KAWAKAWA TO OPUA

12TH FEB – 1ST APRIL 

THE EASTERN END FROM KAWAKAWA THROUGH TO OPUA IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE ON  Fri/Sat/Sun.

THE TRAIN IS BEING USED TO “JOIN THE 3KM GAP” IN THE  TWIN COAST CYCLE TRAIL. 

  • MEET AT TAUMARERE AT 2.20 PM FOR  TRANSFER TO AKE AKE (LONE COW) STATION – you ride your bike to the station and then put it on the train enjoy a scenic train journey along the Waikare esturary – hop off and ride the last 4 kms to Opua to meet the shuttle!

YOU BOOK YOUR TRAIN –  Please click the link below, to make your bookings for the day you are cycling East.  We suggest you book on the 2.25pm train from Taumarere Station which sits East of Kawakawa 4.5kms from Kawakawa, to time it right for your Top Trail shuttle pick up at 3.30pm. BOOK HERE

If you do not pre book the train piece there is no guaranteed space for you, (it is very quick and easy to complete just click on the link).  If you have any issues with booking the train contact the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway direct.

Please be aware there may be occasions when the train is not running (break downs etc)  – this will mean that you cannot ride this piece of the trail – if shuttling with us we will inform you and the pick-up will change to Kawakawa Te Hononga centre at 3 pm

Only access to Opua with the train FRI/SAT/SUN. All other days your pick up is in Kawakawa.

This gives you 34kms of riding from Kaikohe downhill to kawakawa. The pick-up location is in the Te Hononga Centre car park, in Kawakawa township, we do suggest you ride through to Taumarere Railway Station (4.5kms further past kawakawa) and then turn around and ride back to kawakawa (Te Hononga Centre car park) for your pick up. The scheduled time for the standard shuttle will be 3.00 pm

Trail highlights

  • Cafés, museum, art galleries, shops and Hundertwasser toilets in Kawakawa.
  • Te Hononga – Hundertwasser Memorial Park
  • Hundertwasser toilets
  • Taumarere Railway Station
  • Taumarere Long Bridge
  • Lone Cow Station – Ake Ake
  • Fabulous short train ride to get you and your bike from Taumarere to Ake Ake Station
  • Views from the train out over the water
  • Cycling along the water – marina views, mangrove, estuary and crossing rivers
  • Opua marina

Necessities

Toilets and food at both Opua and Kawakawa. One toilet at Taumarere Railway Station.

Taumarere to Opua Section of the trail temporary closure - until further notice Must use the train on designated days to "join the gap" see details above.

Improvements On the Pou herenga Tai Twin Coast Cycle Trail

The Pou Herenga Tai Twin Coast Cycle Trail between Taumarere Station just east of Kawakawa and Opua will be closed again to all cyclists until further notice.  Thisis the continuation of a project that will eventually see railway tracks reinstated, (beneath that section of cycleway) so that trains can travel between Kawakawa and Ōpua.
As part of the project, the cycle trail will be realigned so cyclists can continue to enjoy the popular coastal section of the trail.
As well as reconnecting the railway to Opua and rerouting part of the Twin Coast Cycle Trail, funding will help complete the restoration of the steamship Minerva, which will eventually operate in the Bay of Islands.

The pick-up location on the East Coast is in the Te Hononga Centre car park, in Kawakawa township, we do suggest you ride through to Taumarere Railway Station (4.5kms further past kawakawa) and then turn around and ride back to kawakawa (Te Hononga Centre car park) for your pick up. The scheduled time for the standard shuttle will be 3.00 pm – however, we are able to accommodate a different time if needed – just ask us!  Check out the option of hopping on a train to go Kawakawa through to Taumarere and return – website and timetable 

The Four Sections

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