The Timber Trail Great Ride
A journey through Pureora Forest Park and back in time
The Pureora Timber Trail is is widely regarded as being the best two-day mountain bike ride in New Zealand.
The trail follows old logging tramways and tracks through Pureora Forest Park. Its remoteness, stunning scenery, awe inspiring suspension-bridges, prolific birdlife and historic logging tramways also create epic appeal for the most hard core mountain bikers.
The Timber Trail Lodge is right on the track, at the half-way point, the perfect place to base your Timber Trail adventure.
Timber Trail biking packages
Our biking packages make planning your Timber Trail adventure easy.
Book your Timber Trail accommodation and shuttles in one place. We'll take care of the details, with all meals and bag transfers included.
All you have to do is turn up and enjoy the ride.
Trail detail
New Zealand's best 2 day wilderness ride
The 85km Timber Trail runs through Pureora Forest Park in New Zealand's Central North Island.
Part of Nga Haerenga, The New Zealand Cycle Trail, it is one of 22 Great Rides that make up the network through New Zealand.
Most people ride the trail in two days. You can expect to be riding between 4 and 6 hours each day. The northern half of the trail on the first day is more challenging than the second day on the southern section. Some choose to ride for one day only - we recommend the southern section (day two) if you are wanting a one day option.
The trail is grade 2-3 making it suitable for most moderately experienced and capable riders.
Timber Trail map
The Timber Trail Lodge is located in Piropiro, at the halfway point of the Timber Trail.
Most people ride the trail from north to south, starting in Pureora Village and ending at Ongarue.
Our biking packages start in Ongarue, where you can park your car securely and shuttle to the start of the trail. On your second day, you can ride in your own time back to your car in Ongarue.
Timber Trail highlights
A journey back in time
The purpose-built trail offers a unique glimpse into the history and stories of this very special area.
The Timber Trail is known for its bridges. There are 35 bridges along the trail, including the longest at 141m, Maramataha Bridge.
Discover historic relics left by the timber loggers of times past, and marvel at engineering marvels like the iconic Ongarue Spiral.
Pureora Forest Park
A conservation success story
Pureora Forest Park is one of the last remaining intact podocarp forests in the world, protected by environmental protesters in 1978, who climbed up into the treetops to prevent the logging of native timber.
A conservation success story, the forest is home to a range of native wildlife, including some remarkable birdlife, many of them rare and reclusive..