Waipapa Road Closure effective 7th April to July 2026
๐ง 09/04/2026: Trail Closure Update โ Waipapa Section ๐ง
We have been advised by roading crews that cyclists are still attempting to access the closed section.
โ ๏ธ Please note: this area is CLOSED for your safety. There is NO access through.
The Waipapa Section of the trail (Lake Road, Mangakino to Waipapa Dam) remains CLOSED.
โ No trail access
โ Waipapa Road is also CLOSED โ no through access by road or trail
Road closure details:
๐ง From approx. 7km north of Mangakino through to just south of Waipapa Dam
๐ Please use alternative routes and allow extra travel time
๐ดโโ๏ธ Cyclist detour (from Arapuni):
๐ Darby Road
๐ Lake Arapuni Road
๐ Wiltsdown Road
๐ Paraonui Road
๐ Into Tokoroa
๐ Continue towards Whakamaru / Mangakino
This closure follows the significant February storm event, which caused extensive damage including slips, washouts, and trail scouring across multiple sites.
Repair planning is well underway, with assessments completed and contractors engaged.
Thank you for your patience and for respecting the closure while we work to safely restore the trail.
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02/04/2026 – Trail Update โ Waipapa Road Closure
Following the severe weather event in February, we have been advised by HEB Construction that essential repair work is scheduled to begin on Waipapa Road from Tuesday 7 April (weather dependent).ย Several slips along this section require significant repair. To carry out the work safely, contractors will need to excavate the full width of the road, which means:
๐ A full road closure will be in place for the duration of the works
What this means for trail users:
- No access through Waipapa Road during this period
- Riders and walkers will need to plan alternative sections of the trail
- Please follow all signage and respect closures for your safety and the safety of crews
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The five Waikato River Trails
The Waikato River Trails are divided into five sections across a range of terrain from gently undulating trails to some that are steeper, rugged and more adventurous. The trails are are graded from 3 (Intermediate) to 4 (Advanced) and while they are mostly wide and smooth, some are trickier single-track trails (particularly on the Waipapa section) – a mountain bike is recommended.
๐ฃ24/04/2026 - Trail Update
The heavy rain in mid February caused damage at over 50 sites along the trail. Over the past couple of months, weโve been busy assessing the damage, understand the cost to repair, securing funding, and engaging contractors.
We are really pleased to share that repair work is now underway, starting at Atiamuri and moving north.
Thanks to the team at Action Bobcats Ltd for their hard work on site, J Swap Contractors Ltd for donated aggregate, Skiffington Transport for haulage and Caleb Vasta for earthworks. Also a big thank you to the landowners adjacent to the trail for providing access for this work.
More updates over the comping weeks ๐คฉ
#Trailupdate Ngฤ Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand
๐ง ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐๐ป๐ถ ๐ฆ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ด๐ฒ โ ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ
Just a quick heads up for trail users:
The Arapuni Swing Bridge can currently be accessed from the Arapuni side only - however, it is closed at the far end, so it is not possible to ride or walk through to Powerhouse Road.
Works being carried out by Mercury mean the bridge is temporarily a return-only access point.
Please follow all signage on site and plan your ride accordingly.
#trailupdate
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๐ฃ๐ญ๐ณ/๐ฐ/๐ฎ๐ฒ - ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ
Our contractor will begin repair work on sections of the trail affected by the February storms starting this Monday 20th April.
Work will start on the Whakamaru section at the Atiamuri end, progressing towards Mangakino and into the Waipapa section over the coming weeks.
Please be aware that contractors will be working on the trail, with signage in place where work is underway. For your safety and theirs, please follow all instructions and take care when riding or walking through these areas.
Thank you for your patience while we carry out these important repairs.
#trailupdate
Well its been a busy couple of days - we have been through and checked both the Karapiro and Whakamaru sections over the last couple of days, clearing any fallen debris along the way.
But this afternoon we have had a heads-up about a branch down on the Karapiro section, about 1km from Little Waipa Reserve.
Just a reminder that things can change out there, so if youโre heading out, please take a bit of extra care and keep an eye out for any hazards.
If you do come across anything that needs attention, we really appreciate you letting us know๐
#trailupdate
The boss has been out on the trail today, completing a trail check from Mangakino to Whakamaru.
Everything along this section has been checked over, with the remaining sections scheduled to be completed during the week.
Please note there is still some damage from the February weather event. Repairs are scheduled, and we will advise when this work is due to take place.
If youโre out riding or walking in the other sections and come across anything new that needs attention, please let us know - we really appreciate the heads up!
Weโll keep you posted with any further updates and stay safe!
#trailupdate
๐ง ๐ฌ๐ต/๐ฌ๐ฐ/๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ: ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐น ๐๐น๐ผ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ โ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ง
We have been advised by roading crews that cyclists are still attempting to access the closed Waipapa Road section.
โ ๏ธ Please note: this area is CLOSED for your safety. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐ก๐ข ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐น (๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฑ, ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ผ ๐๐ผ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐บ) ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ผ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ฆ๐๐.
โ No trail access
โ Waipapa Road is also CLOSED โ no through access by road or trail
Road closure details:
๐ง From approx. 7km north of Mangakino through to just south of Waipapa Dam
๐ Please use alternative routes and allow extra travel time
๐ดโโ๏ธ ๐๐๐ฐ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ (๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐๐ป๐ถ):
๐ Darby Road
๐ Lake Arapuni Road
๐ Wiltsdown Road
๐ Paraonui Road
๐ Into Tokoroa
๐ Continue towards Whakamaru / Mangakino
This closure follows the significant February storm event, which caused extensive damage including slips, washouts, and trail scouring across multiple sites.
Trail repair planning is well underway, with assessments completed and contractors engaged.
Thank you for your patience and for respecting the closure while we work to safely restore the trail.
#trailupdate
๐งTrail Advisory โ Maize Harvesting ๐ง
Roads affected: Huirimu Road / Waipapa Road (Arapuni Section)
We've been advised that maize harvesting along the unsealed section of Huirimu Road and down Waipapa Road ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฑ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ป ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐น ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ (weather permitting).
During this time, there will be convoys of trucks travelling on these roads, which will impact on visibility and accessibility for trail users.
Harvesting is expected to take approx 2โ3 days.
Please take extra care if riding through this section, and consider planning your ride accordingly.
#trailupdate
