A family cycling adventure on the Hauraki Rail Trail is a fantastic way to spend quality time together while exploring beautiful landscapes and discovering hidden gems along the way. The Trail’s gentle, Grade 1 terrain makes it accessible for all ages and fitness levels, ensuring an enjoyable experience for everyone, whether you're seasoned cyclists or beginners.
Planning your ride couldn’t be easier. With a wealth of eateries, accommodation options, and shuttle services available, you can break the journey into bite-sized segments to suit your family’s pace. Riding each Section you'll come across unique experiences, like visiting the historic Karangahake Gorge, exploring gold mining relics, or stopping for a refreshing drink at the famous Lemon & Paeroa bottle in Paeroa.
Here’s how to prepare for your adventure:
Pick the Right Route: The Hauraki Rail Trail has several Sections to choose from, each offering different attractions. Start with shorter, easier Sections to ease into the experience.
Pack Wisely: Bring plenty of snacks, water, sunscreen, and layers for changing weather. Don’t forget to pack a few treats to keep the little ones excited.
Plan Fun Stops: Break up the ride with stops at playgrounds, cafes, or scenic picnic spots to keep the kids engaged and refreshed.
Use Shuttles: If you’re planning a longer trip, consider using one of the shuttle services to transport your gear or give tired little legs a rest.
Accommodation: Make the adventure last longer by staying overnight at one of the family friendly accommodations along the way.
Read the Hauraki Rail Trail Ride Planning Guide.
Cycling the Hauraki Rail Trail as a family is not just about the destination, it’s about the fun and memories you make along the way. In mid October, the Stimson Family visited from Auckland to Ride the Hauraki Rail Trail. They were excited to explore more of the Trail, and had ridden the Waihi-Paeroa Section a few times since their eldest was 6 years old.
They knew when the two boys were old enough they wanted to tick off the rest of the Trail. The boys are now 13 and 10, and to bike the other Sections has been a big bucket list item for Mum, Sian. Here’s her diary of their adventure, and a few top tips to pass on.
Day 1 - Matamata to Paeroa
After riding from Waihi to Waikino seven years ago, it has been Mum's goal to complete the Trail. Since then it's been extended by around 90km! Yesterday was day 1 of 3, and the Stimson's were blessed with beautiful weather.
We overnighted at the Broadway Motel in Matamata, and left our car there for Valley Tours & Transfers to collect. It was a gorgeous ride through to Te Aroha.
On a very well maintained path alongside the wide open fields, towards the impressive Kaimai Ranges, we enjoyed stopping at the new shelters for a bit of shade and to have a snack and water. We stopped at The Old Forge Kitchen for a delicious lunch and coffee. Then onwards for ice cream at Te Aroha. From there it was a flat gravel track, crossing several small bridges as we made our way through the farmland.
We spent the night at the Racecourse Motel just north of Paeroa to get ready for Day 2!
Day 2 - Paeroa to Thames
The forecast called for rain in Thames from mid-afternoon, so we set off from Paeroa at 9am to arrive in good time. We were definitely a bit slower today but thoroughly enjoyed the Trail. A highlight in the first half was seeing the conservation work along the Trail - the native planting, traps and information boards.
It was nice to be cycling through the countryside on a wide gravel track away from the main roads. Even when cycling beside the roads yesterday morning, there was always a dedicated cycle-way and so we felt safe.
In the second half, the highlight was definitely stopping for an early lunch at The Cheese Barn at Matatoki - and still no rain in sight. A cheese board, gourmet pies and ice-cream were all winners!
After a little challenging head wind, we made it to Thames. The roadside sculptures along the Trail as we approached the town were a welcome distraction from tiring legs. We were a little early to check in at Lady Bowen B&B, one of the original hotels to be established in Thames. So we decided to stop at the Thames School of Mines and Mineralogical Museum.
It was an unexpected treasure trove of historical information and large mineral collection, with knowledgeable tour guides. Lady Bowen was a very comfortable place to overnight with storage for bikes, good sized rooms, a guest lounge - and we all looked forward to a cooked breakfast in the morning.
Day 3 - Thames to Miranda
With full tummies after a delicious cooked breakfast, we left Thames in light showers, which thankfully abated in the first couple of kilometres. We followed the easy coastal path south to the wharf, and then on to Kopu.
A quick stop to read the info boards and have a sip of water, and we headed off on the cycle/pedestrian path over the new bridge.
The trail over the newly raised stop banks was a wide but rather lumpy farm track that took some concentration especially in a head wind. This part is due to be re-surfaced once the Waikato Regional Council has completed the floodgate replacements. At the end of that section, the Bugger Cafe provided us with a rest stop, where we munched on slices and sausage rolls, before starting on the final stretch of our adventure.
The temporary gravel trail from Pipiroa to Waitakaruru wound along the waterways until we turned right down Front Miranda Road. The last few kilometres needed us to dig deep - but the end was in sight. As we turned the corner into Miranda Tasman Holiday Park, we really felt we had earned the hot spa that awaited.
We had such a fantastic adventure as a family these past few days, making many memories. It has given us an appetite for trying some of the other Great Rides in New Zealand.
The Stimson Family Top Tips:
Photo: Firth Tower Museum
There are plenty of toilet stops along the Trail, often next to the little shelters.
The Trail is generally really well signposted, but the map available at the partner locations (cafes, accommodation etc) is useful, as it shows the detail of the entry and exit points of the Trail in the towns.
Our first day totalled 60km and this was quite a lot in one day, and so we’d highly recommend splitting it into the two Sections.
We couldn’t get accommodation in Te Aroha on the night we needed it due to an annual event being held. So we decided to push through and do two Sections in one day.
If you have time, definitely stop and enjoy some of the sights along the way.
We would've loved to have spent time exploring Firth Tower Museum, the Paeroa Historical Maritime Park & Museum and Thames township.
We didn’t do the Waihi to Paeroa Section on this trip, as we’ve done it a few times before.
But it’s definitely not to be missed and very different from the rest of the Trail.
The 1km tunnel, old mines, Victoria Battery and the Goldfield's Railway vintage train are all features we loved as a family in the past.
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