Te Hangaruru

TE HANGĀRURU – A PLACE OF ABUNDANCE

Where the skies once darkened with native birds, today
the spirit of abundance lives on.

The Last Spike – 1908
At this place, New Zealand’s North Island Main Trunk
Line was finally joined, connecting Auckland and
Wellington by rail.

Ride Tip
Take your time — this flowing trail invites you to pause,
look, and listen to the forest returning to life.

Corridor of Connection
From mountain streams to the mighty Whanganui River,
Te Hangāruru follows ancient pathways linking people,
places, and stories.

Respect the Rohe
Travel with respect across the ancestral lands of
Te Korowai o Wainuiārua. Your journey follows in the
footsteps of great chiefs and guardians of this land.

HIGHLIGHTS

· Cross stunning boardwalks and three suspension bridges
Marvel at magnificent views of Mt Ruapehu.

· Explore relics of Horopito’s timber and railway history

· Visit the iconic Last Spike monument

· Ride through regenerating wetlands and native bush

· Travel through lands cared for by Te Korowai o
Wainuiārua iwi

This trail is developed and maintained by the Mountains to Sea
– Ngā Ara Tūhono Charitable Trust. Feedback and support
mountainstosea.nz/support

TRANSPORT SHUTTLE OPTIONS:

Trail Shuttles available daily from TCB starting at $20 to start at Horopito to include this ride before starting the Old Coach Road ride back to Ohakune and also an option to do the ride in one direction starting from Pokaka Road End back towards Horopito and to include the Old Coach Road ride, this option costs $30.

Shuttle times: 10am and 12pm 7 days a week from TCB in Ohakune - 29 Ayr Street - phone bookings welcome ph 06 385 8433

TRAIL ROUTE
Starting from Horopito — a once-thriving timber town nestled at the southern edge of the Waimarino forests — Te Hangāruru flows northward through regenerating native bush, historic tramways, and wetland boardwalks. You’ll cross three suspension bridges, ride beneath a historic railway underpass, and sidle alongside the sparkling Mangaturuturu Stream, pausing to admire waterfalls and look for whio (blue duck).
The trail leads you toward the site of The Last Spike — where in 1908, New Zealand’s North Island Main Trunk Line was finally joined, connecting Auckland to Wellington
by rail.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
Te Hangāruru lies within the rohe of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua, the people of Uenuku, Tamahaki, and Tamakana. The trail crosses the Waimarino Block —once a vast, life-giving forest at the heart of iwi identity.
Despite the land’s loss during colonial settlement, the mauri (life force) endures. Riding or walking here means tracing the pathways of generations who nurtured, traversed, and
cared for this land. Travel gently, tread respectfully — every step is a connection to living history.

CONSERVATION IN ACTION
Once cleared for logging, the forests around Te Hangāruru are regenerating. Native trees, birds, and waterways are being restored through collaborative conservation led by
iwi, community groups, and environmental guardians.
Watch for tūī, kererū, tīwaiwaka (fantail), and the return of whio in the clean alpine streams.

MARKET GARDEN HERITAGE
Beyond the forest edges, you’ll pass through one of New Zealand’s richest vegetable-growing regions. The volcanic soils of Waimarino have produced world-famous carrots,
parsnips, potatoes, and brussels sprouts since the early 1900s — a tradition proudly celebrated in Ohakune, the Carrot Capital of New Zealand.

T Trail Map