MANGAWEKA to PALMERSTON NORTH
MANAWATĹŞ Cycleway
2-3 days
Š AA Traveller 2020
MAP LEGEND
MANGAWEKA
open section
Te Parapara Rd Mangahuia Wetlands
AA Centre start/finish point point of interest hill/mountain
Rangiwahia
Rangitikei River
i-SITE Visitor Centre
Main South Rd Table Flat
town cafĂŠ/restaurant
APITI
toilets camping
Pohangina Valley East Rd
car park
Martonaccommodation state highway
an
ge
Totara Reserve
eR
Rangitikei River
ah
Ru
TOP TIP – Sticky from a full two days of cycling? The Palmerston North i-SITE hasFeilding hot showers.
Raumai Reserve Pohangina River
in
Pohangina
Saddle Road
ASHHURST
to Napier
Te Apiti Wind Farm
Manawatu Gorge Road Closed
PALMERSTON NORTH
Woodville
BEST FOR: Pure escapism. Your only distractions are soaring cliffs and dramatic backdrops.
A
full two days is recommended to experience the ManawatĹŤ Cycleway, allocating plenty of time to stop and absorb the scenery, or to bunker down for the night at a farmland retreat. Every inch of this cycleway offers something retina-pleasing. The dazzling-white cliffs of Mangaweka defy the usual conventions of mountain peaks, instead, topping their creamy papa rock faces with a verdant green frosting. Nearby, Ruahine Dress Circle Reserve, so called for its opera-house aesthetics, offers an idyllic spot for picnics and swimming, and the Mangahuia Wetlands are so lush, one full inhale and you’ll feel replenished. For glowworms, detour onto Table Flat Rd, or later, Totara Reserve. In autumn, the entire PĹ?hÄ ngina Valley turns gold, while in summer, roadside blueberry picking is not only nostalgic, it makes for a great snack, too. The bijou townships of RangiwÄ hia and Apiti throb with community spirit, and once you arrive in the bustling city of Palmerston North, a mecca of street art and sculpture, museums, history and culture awaits. Raumai Reserve, PĹ?hÄ ngina River Š ManawatuNZ.co.nz
Tararua Traverse
Manawatu River
nzcycletrail.com for more Trail Detail... 600m 400m
Apiti
Mangaweka 45km
Ashhurst 55km
Palmerston North 20km
200m 0m
71
HEARTLAND RIDE • MANAWATŪ CYCLEWAY
There is more to the Manawatō Cycleway than first meets the eye. Tracing the quiet, backcountry roads connecting Mangaweka to Palmerston North, the colours somehow seem brighter here; the hues vivid and more defined. This off-the-beaten escape is not just a bike ride, it’ll completely re-establish your connection with nature.
115km
