Proudly part of the Great Rides New Zealand
Part of the Waihaha Section of the Great Lake Trails, the Waihaha Link trail starts at the Waihaha River carpark and follows the Waihaha River towards Lake Taupo.
Proudly part of the Great Rides New Zealand
Elevation in Meters / Kilometers
At the Waihaha River carpark (Western Bay Road, Waihaha), you will find a shelter with a map and information board (note the toilet is 50m or so down the track). From here, the trail follows the river downstream for a few hundred metres before it crosses the river on a swingbridge.
The trail then gently climbs up onto the cliffs above the river and follows the course of the river to the junction at the end of Waihaha Road. This first part of the trail has great views of the Waihaha River canyon and waterfall. Be sure to stop and view the beautiful Tieke Waterfall from the trail above. The trail is surrounded by Tanekaha-dominated native bush and large outcrops of weathered volcanic rocks.
At the junction at the end of the Waihaha Road, you will see a directional sign (Waihaha Road is really a farm track that ends at the edge of the bush, so you won’t see a sealed road as such). The trail continues from here down to Kotukutuku Landing on what is known as the Waihora section of the trail.
If you want a shorter ride, you can pre-arrange for transport to pick you up from the end of Waihaha Road, which is 13km from the start of the trail. Alternatively, you can ride out Waihaha Road and turn left onto the main highway back to the trail starting at Waihaha River Bridge, a distance of approximately 9.5km.
The Great Lake Trails are proud to be part of Ngā Haerenga - The New Zealand Cycle Trails network.
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Complete surveyHire a bike. Hard tail, full suspension and electric mountain bikes. We also hire road bikes.
Taxicat offers a unique water taxi transfer service for the Great Lake Trails.
This is a short but beautiful track that weaves its way through native forest and includes a short steep climb, a picturesque river ford and some wooden bridges. This is an intermediate trail with lots of fun to be had.
Take a tour of the Biking Capital of New Zealand with Chris Jolly Outdoors. Lake Taupo offers some of the most stunning scenic bike trails, and a guided bike tour is the perfect way to enjoy the experience..
Why not combine your mountain biking and kayaking trip into one fun adventure packed day? Enjoy the stunning scenery Great Lake Taupo and its surrounding area has on offer on both land and water.
Enjoy a scenic e-bike tour and learn about our breathtaking Huka Falls, the mighty crystal clear Waikato River, Aratiatia Dam & Rapids. Finish with a ride past an incredible geothermal stream in Wairakei. (previous MTB experience is good).
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Whether you want to hike it, bike it, taste it or just go see it Adventure Shuttles helps you get the buzz in the beautiful Central North Island.
Join us for the ultimate private mountain e-biking adventure in the Central North Island and stay in a luxurious remote lodge for the night. You will experience a truly private, wilderness adventure, with your very own on-site accommodation and host.
Two nights B&B accommodation, meals and transport to mountain bike the Great Lake Trails over 2 days including the boat transfer from Waihaha on the first day and the K2K/W2K sections on the second day.