The central North Island tracks of the NZ Cycle Trail are fast becoming a favourite playground for grey power couples. Waikato River and Timber Trail are top of the list of must-do FITNESS CHALLENGES.
The Timber Trail puts boomer bums in beds…
At only 3 hours’ drive from Auckland and 1km from the signpost indicating the middle of the North Island, the Timber Trail is easy to get to and it makes for a great two or three day trip. If you were to add it to the River Trail or a Taupo or Rotorua trail, it makes for a great cycle holiday.
Check my ‘on the byway’ blog for some tips about cycling after 60. Before attempting to do the Timber Trail it is vital to do your fitness check and make a training plan; though it’s not technically challenging, this is outdoor adventure, cycling 5-8 hours each day through 85k of native bush with some alpine conditions at the Mount Pureora end of the track. So… not a Sunday ride!
Its popularity is largely due to the quality of the trail and the variation of the scenery that unfolds along gorges, ridges and planes. There is illustrative signage along the track telling the story of the bush, the milling history and Maori legends and then there are the 33 suspension bridges…
Dotted around the Timber Trail are the settlements that were once the mill towns. Now B&B’s, homesteads and farmhouses have been turned into Timber Trail accommodation to add to the existing offer of Doc huts, camping or cabins. Bike shuttle companies operate around the track and new cafés have mushrooming in Benneydale, Whakamaru and Mangakino.
"Bites, rides and nights is what it’s all about," explains Maurice Louis of the ArtDoc Gallery in Benneydale. "We moved to Benneydale ten years ago when this place was all but abandoned. Now we have visitors from October to June.
"It’s important to take the hassle out of planning, this is not like in Taupo or Rotorua where there is a choice of motels, restaurants and transport option. Waimiha, Ongarue or Pureora have no shops or motels. People need to know how to be shuttled with their bike because those transfers are each 45 minutes or more. The Timber Trail Accommodation website and booking service makes it easy to choose for comfort with meals and linen provided or backpacks & camping/glamping according to personal preferences.
"Many guests at ArtDoc Gallery are baby boomers who like our ensuite rooms. The meals and shuttles are all packaged. For small groups we work together with the lodge across the road and people like the Wooden Heart Café in Benneydale. Safety is another important aspect for some of our guests as they have expensive bikes and want secure storage.
After the ride there is the moment of relaxing in the lounge with an aperitif before joining a French meal and mingling with other guests. Cycling the Timber Trail should be the only focus for our guests, we’ll do the rest…"
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