Manawatu Gorge Trail

The Manawatu Mountain Bike Club have been working with DOC and other Manawatu Gorge Biodiversity Project partners for over 3 years, to plan and fund a mountain bike trail through the Manawatu Gorge Scenic Reserve. A route has been planned and now funding is being sought. This survey is to gain an understanding of who may use the trail and how often. The data collected will remain anonymous and will only be used to justify and support investment decisions. However, if you can help with sponsorship or funding we would love to hear from you. Please leave a contact email in the form below.

The plan is for a trail from the Gorge Car Park, Ashhurst to the Bridge Cafe, Gorge Rd, Woodville. It will climb from 60m above sea level to 395m with views of the Manawatu, Tararua Windfarm and Manawatu Gorge. The planned trail length is 25km from car park to car park.  As of May 2013, it is hoped that a start on a short loop trail off Hall Block Rd may be started this year.  This loop will be directly above the Bridge Cafe and makes for 4.2km loop using Hall Block Rd for the ascent and back down through the bush. The loop trail will be used to gauge usage of the trail and will form part of the complete trail.
Click this link to complete the survey.
The proposed trail will be a shared-use trail for walkers, runners and mountain bikers. The route keeps to the south, away from the existing walking track and stays closer to the Tararua Windfarm before descending down to the Woodville side.  The trail takes a more gradual descent by travelling up the major gully towards Hall Block Rd, before descending to Gorge Rd.  Gradients have been a major consideration to ensure the trail is rideable in both directions.


Manawatu Gorge Trail
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Trail gradient has been worked to keep average gradient to around 5% over the 25km length.

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