Waikato’s best cycle trails for families We worked with our friends at Outdoor Kid to create this guide to get the best out of cycle trails in the Waikato for you and your family. waikatonz.com TE AWA RIVER RIDE: Ngāruawāhia to Fonterra Te Rapa Pedal along wide-open paths through lush countryside and towering pine trees before letting the kids loose to burn off some energy on a purpose-built sprawling bike skills park. This 10-kilometre section of Te Awa the Ngāruawāhia Golf Club River Ride provides a picturesque into the small river-side training ground for kids with its gentle settlement of Ngāruawāhia gradient, and an opportunity for more to explore the Kingitanga experienced riders to clock-up some Heritage Trail which starts at mileage. The Point. There are car parks at either end of Younger riders might prefer heading this adventure, but a good starting upstream from Horotiu Bridge Road point for families with younger riders and taking their time to read the is beside the Horotiu Bridge Road. It’s information signs, peer under the close to kid-friendly highlights, and covered bridge where schools of little you don’t need to juggle transport at fish gather and taking a quick side-trip either end or bike the entire section to visit Mangaharakeke Pa. twice. This pā was the site of many From here, there’s easy riding north skirmishes, abandonments and Perry Bike Skills Park resettlements throughout history. through rural vistas to the dramatic Along the way, there’s a well-signposted detour which It was one of the largest in the area 130-metre Perry Bridge that spans leads to the Perry Bike Skills Park near the Horotiu and was named after flax which grew the Waikato River. The vibrant SH1 interchange. Adults will appreciate the coffee abundantly nearby. Secure your bike coloured bridge is near the site of options while kids can freewheel through the dirt at the bike rack while you explore the two flax mills which operated during mountain bike area and along the raised boardwalks. the late nineteenth century. Māori pā. Little kids learning the road code can hang out on the sold flax to the mill where it was This section ends beside the Fonterra paved area with its mini roads and traffic signs. processed to make linen and other Te Rapa Dairy Factory on Meadow products. You can also continue past View Lane. Grade: Time: Accessibility: Facilities: Gear: This Easy (Grade Ngāruawāhia to Fonterra The wide path is suitable There are toilets, Grab the essentials including 2) trail is mainly Te Rapa allow 45 to 60 min (10 for kids’ bikes, bikes with petrol station, cafe, helmets, water bottles and a flat with some km) one-way. Horotiu Bridge kid-seats or tag-along outdoor exercise windbreaker. Slip, slop, slap gentle climbs, Road to Fonterra Te Rapa allow style attachments and equipment and and cover in summer as except for one 15 to 20 min (2.6 km) one-way. touring bikes, e-bikes and a pump track there is no shade at the steep section if Horotiu Bridge Road to Perry mountain bikes. Ideal for near the Perry pump track. Don’t forget you detour Bridge allow 15 to 20 min (2.6 strolling with buggies too. Bike Skills Park. some loose change to to the bike km) one-way. Add on another 45 Dogs allowed on leads. Toilets available at grab an ice cream for skills park. min for the bike skills park detour. Ngāruawāhia. the family too. waikatonz.com TE AWA RIVER RIDE: Hamilton City This urban cycleway explores hidden-gems of a bustling metropolis but feels removed from city-life with its bush shrouded boardwalks, dense stands of native trees and vantage points above the Waikato River. Stretching between the northern The wide cycling path heads south suburbs of Pūkete and the award- to Hamilton Gardens where you can winning Hamilton Gardens, this section secure your bike before exploring the of Te Awa River Ride stays close to the free themed gardens. Don’t miss taking Waikato River as you pedal through the a selfie with the floating Huddleston city. airship, or being brave and wandering You don’t need to tackle the beneath towering mysterious trons in 11-kilometre section all in one go. the Surrealist Garden. Because there’s so much to do along Follow Cobham Drive into the city the way it might be easier choosing a and cross Victoria Bridge to the Potter few family-friendly starting points and Children’s Garden in Memorial Park. In exploring free-range. summer this playground is teeming with Take in some of the city’s highlights, kids cooling off in the shallow paddling including the Waikato Museum with pools and under the kōwhai seed water its family-friendly interactive displays, fountain. There are plenty of swings and or cafes brimming with tasty treats to slides for all ages. After exhausting the tempt the kids. kids, cycle back to Hamilton East along fern shrouded paths. Grade: Time: Accessibility: Facilities: Gear: From Hamilton East, there’s a leisurely The Easy (Grade Braithwaite The wide path is suitable There are plenty half-day adventure that includes For an extended adventure, park at Grab the essentials 2) path includes Park (Pūkete) to for kids’ bikes, bikes with of toilets, drinking Hamilton Gardens and Parana Ann Street Park where the trail narrows including helmets, boardwalks, small Hamilton Gardens kid-seats or tag-along fountains and cafes Park. This loop is suitable for slightly through Matakanohi Reserve as water bottles and road section and allow 60 min (11 km) style attachments and along the way. young kids as there’s nothing it navigates boardwalks perched high a windbreaker. Slip, concrete paths. one-way. Hamilton touring bikes, e-bikes strenuous here. above the river. The path opens out slop, slap and cover again, and families can ride alongside The trail is mostly East loop allow a and mountain bikes. in summer. each other towards Braithwaite flat with some half-day to see all Ideal for buggies too. Park in Pūkete. gentle climbs. the sights on the Dogs allowed on leads. six-kilometre loop. waikatonz.com TE AWA RIVER RIDE: Avantidrome to Cambridge Avantidrome There’s plenty to do near the Avantidrome after your Pedal through a swathe of fertile countryside adventures. If you didn’t grab something to eat in beside the Waikato River and discover Cambridge, check out cycling-themed The Bikery Café. remnants of a fortified village which was Strong coffee and plenty of kid-friendly foods, including kiddie-lunchboxes and iceblocks, can be enjoyed surrounded by sprawling kūmara and yam sitting outside in the sunshine. Afterwards, peek inside gardens. the velodrome where you might spot some Olympic hopefuls doing laps. This sedate short cycleway is ideal for creatures including frogs, bats and newly minted riders wanting something native birds. a little more challenging than a bike skills In about 1600 AD, the fertile river park, and for older kids with a need for plains attracted Māori who cultivated speed on concrete paths. 18-hectares of gardens overflowing Gallagher Bike Skills Park From the Avantidrome, the path drops with kūmara, taro and tropical yam near One of the highlights of starting near the Avantidrome is sharply down to lush farmland dotted Arikirua Pa. Ngāti Korokī-Kahukura letting the kids loose on the vast pump track. Older kids can with pūkeko as it makes its way over and Ngāti Hauā iwi occupied the happily freewheel along the smooth concrete loop which small wooden bridges towards the large settlement and remnants of its circles a mix of curved boardwalks winding through native Waikato River. The broad path is ideal defensive fortification ditches can still shrubs, with a picturesque backdrop of farmland. Nearby, for riding alongside little kids still earning be seen. little kids on balance bikes, scooters and pedal bikes can learn their stripes on two-wheels. It’s also very The trail ends in Cambridge by the essential road skills by pottering along the bike skills park with popular with runners, walkers and other Gaslight Theatre on Alpha Street. From its traffic lights, roundabouts and road signs. cyclists, so keep an eye out for other here, pedal into the leafy township to folks. refuel at its plethora of cafes, including A handful of picnic tables provide great the popular Paddock cafe with its perching spots to rest little legs and outdoor seating. Handily, it’s next door Grade: Time: Accessibility: Facilities: Gear: admire New Zealand’s longest river to GelatAmore with tasty ice creams This has been From the Avantidrome to The gentle gradient There are toilets, cafe, Grab the essentials as it flows to Port Waikato. On a fine and gelato to give the kids an energy graded as the Gaslight Theatre allow is suitable for kids’ playground, water including helmets, day, there are views to Sanctuary boost to cycle home. Easy (Grade 2) 15 to 30 minutes to cover bikes, bikes with fountain, bike skills water bottles and Mountain Maungatautari. This On the trip back, the path gradually as the trail is the 3.2 kilometres one-way. kid-seats or tag-along park, mountain bike a windbreaker. Slip, ancient forest is home to climbs towards the Avantidrome with a mostly flat with Older kids will tear along style attachments trail, pump track near slop, slap and cover some of the nation’s rarest short gut-busting final push back to the some gentle but if you want to take and touring bikes, the Avantidrome.