8th DEC 2023 - 11th FEB 2024 THE TRAIN IS RUNNING DAILY
"Join the Gap" Kawakawa to Opua OPEN on Fri/Sat/Sun - CLOSED Mon/ Tues/Wed/Thurs
Distance: 11km
Grade: 1 (easy)
KAWAKAWA TO OPUA
THE EASTERN END FROM KAWAKAWA THROUGH TO OPUA ONLY ON FRI/SAT/SUN TRAINS ARE BEING USED TO “JOIN THE 3KM GAP” IN THE TWIN COAST CYCLE TRAIL.
8th Dec – 11th February 2024
The Train Runs 7 DAYS
OTHERWISE – TRAIN RUNS ON A FRI/SAT/SUN
- MEET THE TRAIN AT KAWAKAWA AT 1.50PM COST$15 PP
OR
- MEET AT TAUMARERE AT 2.20 PM TRANSFER TO AKE AKE (LONE COW) STATION COST GOLD COIN DONATION
STANDARD SHUTTLE PICK UP WILL BE THEN BE 3.30 pm IN OPUA Marina Cafe Carpark
MON/TUES/WED/THURS PICK UP IS IN KAWAKAWA AT TE HONONGA CENTRE AT 3PM
THE TRAIN LEAVES ON TIME – DON’T BE LATE!
- Depart Kawakawa station – 2pm ($15pp)
- Depart Taumarere station – 2.25pm (gold coin)
- Arrive Ake Ake station – 2.40pm
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
Mon/Tues/Wed/Thurs
The trail between Taumarere to Opua is closed until further notice
The closure continues the project that will eventually see railway tracks and a cycle trail to run alongside, so that trains and bikes/walkers can travel between Kawakawa and Ōpua..
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 – however, we are able to accommodate a different time if needed – just ask us!
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
