Plan your trip
Ready for adventure?
Everything you need to know before you go
Our biking packages make planning your Timber Trail adventure easy, so you can relax in the knowledge that we'll sort all the logistics for you. Please do let us know in advance if you have any special dietary requirements.
All you need to do now is make sure you and your bike are ready for the ride, and you have everything you need to have a safe and enjoyable experience.
Getting Here
The Timber Trail Lodge is situated at Piropiro, the halfway point of the 85km Timber Trail.
It is accessible by road, but most of our guests are cycling the Timber Trail. Our biking packages start at the end of the trail at Ongarue.
Safety on the trail
The Timber Trail Great Ride passes through a remote wilderness area. Emergency access and communications are challenging in many parts of the trail.
Mobile phone reception is sparse along the trail, we recommend trail users carry a Personal Locator Beacon. If you don’t have your own we hire PLBs.
Be prepared for weather/ conditions, mechanical issues and medical emergencies. Please see our packing list below for the essentials. Make sure you carry appropriate clothing, food and water, and bike tools/ spares.
Allow plenty of time to ride the trail. Most groups take 5-6 hours to ride the first stage from Pureora to Piropiro. The second leg usually takes slightly less time. Allow extra time for mishaps and breakdowns.
A number of our team are trained in basic first aid and can assist with incidents near to trail access points. Emergency services will assist with any serious incidents and injuries. Please note our policy is to alert Police Search and Rescue if guests have not arrived by dark.
Get ready to ride
The more prepared you are, the more you will enjoy the ride.
Get out and ride! You need to be ready for some extended time in the saddle. Each day on the trail is 40km plus, and you can expect to be riding 4-6 hours each day.
Brush up on your skills. Make sure you're comfortable and in control on grade 3 trails.
Make sure your bike is up to the task - It's a great idea to get your bike serviced to avoid troubles on the trail.
What to bring
Make sure you are well prepared to make the ride comfortable and safe. Ensure you are prepared for your ride to take longer than expected, and to deal with emergencies along the way.
For the ride:
- Comfortable riding clothes (padded shorts are a good idea) and cycling shoes or trainers
- Helmet
- Waterproof and windproof jacket, suitable for riding in
- Additional warm clothing (either wool or polypropylene), including hat, gloves, long sleeved jumper and tights
- Plenty of drinking water for the day and some additional snacks (you'll also need lunch for day 1 if you book the 1 night package)
- First aid kit and personal medication
- Emergency thermal blanket
- A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). We strongly recommend you carry at least one per group. These are available to hire if you don’t own one.
- Bike repair gear, including pump, spare tube, puncture repair kit & multitool
- Torch or headlamp
- Sunscreen, insect repellent
- Mobile phone
- Camera
For the lodge:
- Extra clothing and comfortable shoes/ slippers for in and around the lodge
- Walking shoes for the Rata loop walking trail
- Toilet bag (we have the basics available in the bathrooms, towels are provided, and hair dryer is available at reception)
- Phone charger
- Spare riding clothes for your second day (we don’t have laundry facilities at the lodge)
- E-bike charger
- Bike lock
The Timber Trail Lodge Experience
