Twin Coast Cycle Trail – Top Trail bike Hire Bay of Islands
Twin Coast Cycle Trail
Top Trail bike Hire Bay of Islands
Top Trail bike hire, shuttle and tours is situated in Kaikohe and offers guided and self-directed cycling trips along the Twin Coast Cycle Trail.
This is the ideal day excursion for people who want to take their time and explore the rich beauty and history of the Far North. It might take anything from two hours to two days.
The Twin Coast Cycle Trail begins at Opua, Bay of Islands, and goes all the way to Horeke, Hokianga harbour, an area rich in early Maori and European history.
Top Trail Cycle Hire & Transfers
The Kaikohe – Okahau stretch of the Twin Coast Cycle Trail is Top Trails’ most popular cycle hire and transfer option, a self-guided bike trip of 20 km cycling over decent terrain and low hills going through rich farm country and noteworthy sites of interest along the route.
This portion of the path has the following features:
Kaikohe: sites of early Maori-European contact and conflict and the Heritage Kaikohe complex with that tells the story of early settlement and transport. Pioneer Village, shops Cafes, toilets etc.- Ngawha Springs: hot springs with reputedly therapeutic waters (6km east of Kaikohe).
- Lake Omapere: the Far North’s largest natural lake.
- Okaihau: hub of early agricultural settlement that has a Cafe, toilets and dairy.
- The rail tunnel: between Kaikohe and Okaihau pass through an historic 80m rail tunnel.
- Okaihau to Horeke
The Twin Coast Cycle Trail is suitable for all ages and reasonable fitness levels.
Twin Coast Cycle Trail Sections – Self Guided Options
Twin Coast Cycle Trail – 1 Day Kaikohe HQ
Downhill to either coast. Approx 4 Hours riding each way
Price: Standard Bike + Shuttle $105/ person
Price: Ebike + Shuttle $170/person
Distance: 44 Kms approx
Includes helmets
Kaikohe to Horeke
44 kilometres of cycling From Kaikohe to Historic Horeke on Northland’s West Coast. Follow the historic paths that Maori used to traverse from coast to coast. The trail winds its way down from the centre high elevation to the sea level. Tunnel, lake farm, and forest land A amazing ride!
This grade 1-3 journey takes you through an ancient rail tunnel, across Lake Omapere, and past Okaihau before dropping down to Horeke. You will pass through farms, rivers, and native wilderness before arriving at Horeke, home of New Zealand’s oldest hotel and the ancient Mangunu Mission house.
We provide you with a bike, a helmet, and all the information you need to get started riding from our base in Kaikohe through the ancient rail track to Okaihau, where there are a variety of refreshment breaks.
You then ride out of town, down into the Utakura valley, and follow the river through some spectacular natural bush and early established agriculture to Horeke, where you may take a short ride to the Mangungu Mission House and your shuttle pick up location!
Kaikohe to Opua
It is a 40-kilometer ride from Kaikohe to Opua Marina. A rather straightforward bike down the ancient coal line to Kawakawa, home of the famed Hundertwasser Toilets.
The historic rail route between Kawakawa and Opua (11 km) is a flat, simple ride that is ideal for families. The route stretches alongside Opua Harbour and follows the Waikare estuary, offering views of the estuary as it links to the Kawakawa River. The cycling track crosses fourteen bridges, passes through a tunnel, and travels among mangroves on the upper reaches of the Kawakawa River.
The most colourful and undoubtedly most renowned Hundertwasser Toilets, which contain inset glass and tiles, sculptures, a live tree, and a grass ceiling, are a must-see and the primary tourist attraction in Kawakawa. They were erected in 1988 with the aid of the community.
From Kaikohe to Kawakawa, you’ll see more train history as well as beautiful rural and wooded landscapes. Almost entirely on a disused rail route with a gentle grade.
Twin Coast Cycle Trail – 2 Days
The Ultimate Coast to Coast Self guided
Start in Kaikohe HQ ride downhill to each coast – 1 day each way. 3pm shuttles return from each end point back to Kaikohe each day. Self guided .
Price: Standard Bikes + Shuttle -$210 / adult and $180 / child
Price: Ebikes + Shuttle – $340/person
Duration: 2 Days
Distance: 84 Kms approx
Includes helmets
Includes return shuttle from Opua to Kaikohe and Horeke back to Kaikohe.
This is the ultimate tour of the Twin Coast Cycle Trail
A total of 87 kms from the Bay of Islands in the east to the Hokianga harbour on the west coast. Moderate fitness needed as the section from Okaihau to Maungunu Mission is a grade 3 trail but the rest is grade 1-2
It follows both historic rail and walking pathways through estuary, bush, towns and rural settings and includes a boardwalk over wetlands. Arrive in Kaikohe both mornings to start your cycle and you will be picked up at 3pm each day by shuttle and returned to Kaikohe – one day from Opua and the other day from Horeke / Mangungu
We recommend cycling the trail this way as Kaikohe in the centre of the track is the highest point and so the majority of your cycle is downhill
Meet at our base 39 Rankin Street Kaikohe to pick up your bike 9-10am. Let us know on the first morning whether you will be bringing your bike back to the depot overnight or keeping it with you in a secure place.
Let us know if we can help you with finding accommodation or for ways to extend your cycling.
Twin Coastal Cycle Trail – Trail & Tunnel Taster – 14 kms ride
Price: Standard Bike+ Shuttle $70/ adult – Kids $40
Price: Ebike + Shuttle $120/person – no kids
Distance: 14 Kms
Includes helmets
This ride may be completed in either direction.
From our base in Kaikohe, we take an easy ride through an ancient rail route to the historic hamlet of Okaihau. You’ll ride through a historic rail tunnel, along bush-lined streets, past Lake Omapere, and take in rural vistas from the Bay of Islands to Hokianga in the west.
Okaihau contains a cafe and a dairy to keep adults and children entertained. We will pick you up and drop you off in Kaikohe.
If you’re short on time, this is a great way to experience a little portion of our amazing trail.
BAY OF ISLANDS GROUPS, TOURS AND CONFERENCES
The Twin Coast Cycle Trail is ideal for a pleasant and enjoyable day out for people of all ages and abilities. Top Trails can provide bicycle tours, transfers, personalised itineraries, shuttle buses, and activities for groups of up to 30 riders.
Nature, heritage, cuisine, or adventure should be the focus of your group activity. Tours vary from two hours and seven kilometres of riding to two days and 35 kilometres of easy to medium grade cycling. Minimum numbers apply. ENQUIRE: [email protected]
- We suggest clients to drive their vehicle to Kaikohe and cycle from Kaikohe and ride downhill to each coast. standard pick up time of 3pm at either end – Mangungu Mission House on the West Coast and Opua Marina Café on the East Coast. This is at the standard shuttle price.
- Safe Parking outside our HQ in Kaikohe for the day – over night we have secure parking available in the yard at $10 per day (limited availability) but there are other options in Kaikohe for overnights at **$5 per day.
- Other shuttle times are possible but at a different rate – see details below.
- Combo Bike Hire and Shuttles are priced cheaper.
- We do bag transfers for those that want to ride from one coast to the other.
Phone: 0274 535 176 Freephone: 0800 867 872
Email: [email protected] Visit Top Trail Website: www.toptrail.co.nz/
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