MANGAWEKA to PALMERSTON NORTH
MANAWATŪ Cycleway
2-3 days
115km
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. © AA Traveller 2022
MAP LEGEND open section AA Centre start/finish point point of interest hill/mountain i-SITE Visitor Centre town café/restaurant toilets camping car park accommodation
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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 Road. 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.
state highway
TOP TIP – Sticky from a full two days of cycling? The Palmerston North i-SITE has hot showers.
BELOW: Totara Reserve, Pohangina River © ManawatuNZ.co.nz
nzcycletrail.com for more Trail Detail... 600m 400m 200m 0m
66
Apiti
Mangaweka 45km
Ashhurst 55km
Palmerston North 20km
