The Hauraki Rail Trail is a 197-kilometre, 3-5-day New Zealand Great Ride that runs on former railway tracks transformed into a purpose-built, wide rail trail at the foot of the Coromandel Peninsula.

Set against the striking backdrop of the rugged Coromandel Range, the trail links Matamata (the site of Hobbiton™ Movie Set), Te Aroha, Waihi, and Thames and today is still steeped in early gold rush history.

New Zealand’s rail trails are the legacy of native forest logging and the gold rush that gripped the country in the 1860s. The stories of how they came about are almost identical: The discovery of gold (or abundance of native forest) initiated the construction of a railway to better exploit and transport the natural resources. When the gold (or timber) eventually ran out, the railway closed, and the disused rail line was converted into one of New Zealand’s most stunning cycle routes or hiking trails.

Besides the Hauraki Rail Trail, the Otago Central Rail Trail, West Coast Wilderness Trail, and Timber Trail are among the most popular heritage trails.

Because railways cannot handle steep gradients, these trails are essentially flat, Grade 1 cycle paths suitable for all riding abilities. The Hauraki Rail Trail is no exception. Only the trail’s most popular section alongside the Ohinemuri River, through the Karangahake Gorge and across gently undulating farmland between Paeroa and Waihi, has some gentle Grade 2 sections.

That trail section also makes for the most varied day ride. The 48-kilometre return trip takes in the 1100-metre long dimly lit Karangahake Gorge Tunnel, beautiful gorge and river scenery with cascading waterfalls, and a former gold processing site at Waikino.

For those who want to delve deeper into the area’s history, plan some extra time for the 30-minute ride on the vintage train that still runs between Waihi and Waikino and a stroll across the historic Victoria Battery site that processed ore from the Martha Mine.

In the early nineteenth century, the Martha Mine was one of the world’s most important gold and silver mines, and the Victory Battery New Zealand’s largest gold ore crushing factory. The historical remains – empty concrete shells of former cyanide agitation tanks and six ore roasting kilns – reveal the scale of the former operation.