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 and tours are based in Kaikohe providing guided and self guided cycle tours of sections of the Twin Coast Cycle Trail. This is the perfect day trip for those wanting to enjoy the rich nature and history of the Far North at a leisurely pace, taking from 2 hours to two days.
The Twin Coast Cycle Trail starts in Opua in the Bay of Islands and runs all the way to Horeke in the Hokianga harbour and the Bay of Islands, a region steeped in early Maori and European history.
Top Trail Cycle Hire & Transfers
Top Trails most popular cycle hire and transfer option is the Kaikohe – Okahau section of the Twin Coast Cycle trail, a self guided bike ride of 20 km cycling over good terrain and gentle gradients passing through rich farm land and interesting points of interest along the way. Features of this section of the trail include:
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
Cycle 44kms Kaikohe to Historic Horeke on the West coast of Northland. Follow ancient pathways Maori travelled from coast to coast. Trail meanders from central high ground down to sea level. Tunnel, lake farm and bush land. A stunning ride!
This grade 1-3 ride passes through an old rail tunnel, skirts lake Omapere and takes you through the town of Okaihau before heading on down to Horeke. You will see farmland, rivers and native bush before arriving at Horeke home to the oldest hotel in New Zealand and the historic Mangunu Mission house.
We sort you out with bike and helmet as well as information and all you need to get started riding from our base in Kaikohe along the old rail corridor to Okaihau where a number of refreshment stops are available. You then ride on out of town, down into the Utakura valley and alongside the river through some fabulous native bush and early settled farmland to Horeke where you a short ride on gets you to the Mangungu Mission House and your shuttle pick up point!
Kaikohe to Opua
From Kaikohe to Opua Marina Kaikohe is a 40km ride. A fairly easy ride along historic coal railway, to Kawakawa with its vintage railway and famous Hundertwasser Toilets.
The old rail line between Kawakawa and Opua (11 Kms) is an easy flat ride making it perfect for families. The trail runs right beside the Opua Harbour and follows the Waikare estuary providing views of the estuary as it connects to the Kawakawa River. The cycle trail runs over fourteen bridges, through a tunnel and alongside the mangroves on the shores of the upper reaches of the Kawakawa River.
A must visit and the main tourist attraction in Kawakawa is the most colourful and certainly most famous Hundertwasser Toilets that feature inset glass and tiles, sculptures, a living tree, and a grass roof, which was built in 1988 with the help of the community.
Kaikohe to Kawakawa provides more rail history along with great rural and bush scenery. Almost all on old rail corridor with easy gradient.
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 can be done either way round
Easy ride on old Rail corridor from our base in Kaikohe to the historic town of Okaihau. You will ride through an old rail tunnel, through bush lined avenues, past Lake Omapere and observe rural views all the way from the Bay of Islands in the East to Hokianga in the West. Okaihau has a cafe and dairy to keep both adults and children occupied. We pick you up and return you to Kaikohe.
A perfect way to get see a small piece of our beautiful trail if you are under time restrictions.
BAY OF ISLANDS GROUPS, TOURS AND CONFERENCES
The Twin Coast Cycle Trail lends itself perfectly to a fun and a great day out for all ages and abilities. Top Trails can organise cycling tours, transfers, customised itineraries, shuttle buses and activities for up to 30 cyclists.
Theme your group activity around nature, heritage, food or adventure – Tours range from two hours and only 7kms of cycling to two days and 35kms of easy to medium gradients. Minimum numbers apply. ENQUIRE: info@toptrail.co.nz
- 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: info@toptrail.co.nz
Visit Top Trail Website: www.toptrail.co.nz/
