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All Seasons Bikes & Shuttle Service

Twin Coast Cycle Trail Information

The Pou Herenga Tai – Twin Coast Cycle Trail is a coast to coast 87km bike trail in the Far North region that stretches from Opua in the Bay of Islands to Horeke in the Hokianga Harbour. The trail can be ridden in sections, or both ways from the towns Okaihau and Kaikohe around the central point or one way in either direction. With every pedal turned traveling through the heartland of Northland, you will always discover something different and unique around each bend whether its flora and fauna, rural townships, the countryside, history that reminds us of yesteryear and especially the people that live and work in these areas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Zealand’s best tracking app for the Twin Coast Cycle Trail Information and other Great Rides

All trail data has been carefully collected on-site then compiled with relevant trail side attractions and points of interest. Key sites can be found on the map screen and selected to provide more information, photos and services.

To update the app just tap the cog symbol in the top right of the main screen and select ‘check for updates’. Any updates will appear as a notification under each trail that has been downloaded.

Great Rides APP – Maps and relevant information. ‘CLICK FOR FREE’…

Once a trail is downloaded it can work offline:
– to track your position along the trail using your phone’s GPS
– shows the key stops with weblinks, photos and a descriptions
– provides information about trails section with elevation profiles
– identifies bike services to help you along your great ride
– making a great riding guide with trail information all in one place

 

 

 

GRADES:

The Twin Coast Cycle Trail is one of the easiest trails to ride and ranges from grade 1 to 3. Easiest – grade 1, Easy – grade 2, Intermediate – grade 3

 

Opua – Kawakawa 11km – grade 1

Kawakawa to Kaikohe 34km – grade 1 / grade 2 

Kaikohe to Okaihau 14km- grade 1 / grade 2  

Okaihau – Horeke Trail 28km – grade 2 / grade 3 

For those pursuing an easy cycling experience (family groups and cyclists with little or limited experience), the grade 1 & 2 parts such as the 2 pictures below are indicative and would be ideal to ‘give a go’. It is generally flat and easy to ride and features a smooth surface with gentle climbs with wide paths, allowing cyclists to travel side-by-side for a good portion of the journey. It would be advisable to use a trust worthy multi geared bike with medium/wide tires typical of a mountain, comfort or touring bike. The journey is gently downhill if you travelled anywhere from Okaihau toward Opua.

The grade 2 & 3 section (such as the picture below) of the Twin Coast Cycle Trail between Okaihau and Horeke requires a good level of fitness, common sense and experience. Parts of this section can be narrow and includes hill climbs, steep drop-offs and small river crossings. Cycling from Okaihau to Horeke would definitely be easier than going the other way but that would depend on your cycling experience and level of fitness.

                                                                          HIGHLIGHTS OF EACH SECTION:
Kaikohe – Kawakawa
Kaikohe to Kawakawa is the longest stretch of all the sections at an approximate total of 34km. Kaikohe is the mid point, close to the highest point and is the main township within the Mid North region along the Twin Coast Cycle Trail. In Kaikohe there is a Countdown, New World and The Warehouse which are able to provide supplies for your journey. Kaikohe RSA extend their welcome to new visitors to their establishment for meals and refreshments in the evenings. During your journey you will pass old industrial areas and farmland as you head to Otiria which has beautiful waterfalls and impressive suspension bridges.
The highlights of this section include:
Suspension bridges at Tuhipa         The Oratua Stream          Beautiful Waterfalls and rolling farmland
 
Kawakawa – Opua
The Kawakawa to Opua section of the trail is one the easiest of the 4 sections and is an approximate total of 11km. Cyclists that have their accommodation based in Paihia, Russell and the surrounding area usually park their vehicles in Opua at the end of Baffin Street next to the entrance of the trail or the carpark area within the Opua Marina then transported to Kaikohe, Okaihau or Horeke to start their journey. We generally Pick up and Drop off our customers at the Marina Cafe in Opua. Click on their picture below for its location and more information about their cafe.
In the interim the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway Trust based in Kawakawa have kindly allowed the track to be covered with metal/gravel to enable safe riding from Opua to the Taumarere Bridge however plans are in place for the Trust to re-use this part of the trail for their Steam Trains in the future. For more information on current Train timetables, the Railway Cafe in Kawakawa and the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway Trust activities click on their pictures below.
The highlights of this section include:
Gabriel the steam train       Hundertwasser Toilets         Taumarere Bridge and railway station          Water views and Opua marina
 
Kaikohe – Okaihau
Heading west 400m on State Highway 12 (Broadway Street) from the Mid North Motor Inn is the entrance to start your journey to Okaihau. The Kaikohe to Okaihau section of the Twin Coast Cycle Trail was the first part to be completed and officially opened by the then Mayor Wayne Brown in March 2012 at the Mid North Motor Inn. It is a gentle ride of approximately 14km. Make sure your bike has front lights or you have handy a torch or headlight as you will be riding through an 80 metre long curved railway tunnel toward Lake Omapere. The village cafe in Okaihau is a great place to sit in and enjoy a coffee, snack and light refreshments. 
The highlights of this section include:
80m long curved Rail tunnel                  Summit of Kaikohe                  Lake Omapere                     Panoramic rural views
 
Okaihau – Horeke
Okaihau to Horeke is the most remote part of the trail.  On this section you will initially ride beside the road and then head steeply down a series of hairpins to the Utakura Valley. Here you ride alongside swiftly flowing streams, across a ford and beside the river. After this is probably the most spectacular section – a 1 km board walk ride through the mangrove estuary. The last 3 kms are shared with the road as you finish towards Horeke and the Mangungu Mission House
The Highlights of this tour include:
Utakura Valley          1200m boardwalk through the mangroves           Mangungu Mission House                     The Horeke Tavern
 

THE CODE:

Pou Herenga Tai – Twin Coast Cycle Trail Code

  • Keep to the left, pass on the right
  • Cyclists give way to walkers
  • Take your rubbish with you
  • Protect plants, animals, streams and lakes
  • Cyclists must wear a cycle helmet
  • Be careful of vehicles at road crossings
  • Keep to the trail and don’t trespass on private land
  • Keep to the trail and do not cycle on the railway line
  • Try not to disturb animals grazing on or near the trail
  • No motorbikes or vehicles are allowed
  • Light no fires
  • Advise others where you’re going
  • Report all hazards to Far North District Council on freephone 0800 920029