Te Hangāruru Trail Opening – You’re Invited

Kia ora e te whānau,

A project we’ve all been working on for a long time is nearly complete, and it’s time to celebrate together.

Te Hangāruru, a beautiful new section of the Mountains to Sea – Ngā Ara Tūhono Great Ride, will officially open on:

Date: Thursday 19 June 2025
Time: 11:00am – 1:30pm (please arrive by 10:30am)
Location: Horopito – corner of Matapuna Road and SH4 (opposite Smash Palace)

Please RSVP to help us plan for shuttles and kai. CLICK HERE
Dress for winter weather, and bring your bike or walking shoes if you’d like to try the trail!

This new trail connects Horopito to Pōkākā and, eventually, to Waimarino (formerly National Park Village). It’s a key step in building the full Mountains to Sea trail and will soon become one of Aotearoa’s Great Rides - stretching over 320km from Mt Ruapehu to the Tasman Sea.

Why this matters

Te Hangāruru runs through native forest, wetlands and sites of historical significance - on whenua recently returned to Te Korowai o Wainuiārua through the Treaty settlement. We’ve worked in partnership with Ruapehu District Council and our communities to bring this trail to life.

The project includes 17 bridges (with four suspension bridges), boardwalks, a rail underpass, and - in a future phase - the longest suspension bridge in the country over the Makatote River.

The first 9km, described as “a fabulous piece of track,” opens next week. This is our opportunity to mark a major achievement in restoring, connecting and celebrating our whenua.

Let’s walk this path together - one we’ve built with care, purpose, and unity.

Ngā mihi,
Te Korowai o Wainuiārua