MANAWATŪ Cycleway
MANGAWEKA to PALMERSTON NORTH 2-3 days
HEARTLAND RIDE • MANAWATŪ CYCLEWAY
There is more to the Manawatū 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 BEST FOR: Pure escapism. Your only distractions are soaring cliffs and dramatic backdrops.
A
full two days is recommended to experience the Manawatū 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, Tōtara Reserve. In autumn, the entire Pohangina Valley turns gold, while in summer, roadside blueberry picking is not only nostalgic, it makes for a great snack, too. The bijou townships of Rangiwahia and Āpiti 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. Totara Reserve, Pohangina River © ManawatuNZ.co.nz
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