Pureora Forest and the Timber Trail #

Everybody knows about Arataki Road and the infamous bridge that connects the Waikato River Trails to the Timber Trail — this is the route used by both Tour Aotearoa and Kopiko Aotearoa. But there are actually two other ways you can connect Rotorua and the Timber Trail.

The first option is to ride through to the Waikato River Trail, follow it to Mangakino, and then head up Ranginui Road:

SH 30 beween Mangakino and Maniaiti (Bennydale) has some really nasty sections – with this route you do have a short stint on this highway but you’re avoiding all the dangerous parts.

The second option is to head to Tihoi and then ride through Pureora Forest on Link Road:

This does involve a 4 kilometre stretch on SH 1, but the second half is all downhill and it’s over quickly. Te Kopia Road is wonderful remote backcountry cycling, and following Link Road through Pureora Forest is also highly recommended.