The Great Ride, Te Awa River Ride, is a 65kms trail that runs beside the Waikato River between Ngaruawahia in the north to Lake Karapiro in the south. It passes through Hamilton, Tamahere and Cambridge. The trail surface is mainly pavers and concrete north of Hamilton, and concrete and timber heading south. The gradient is a combination of flat, with gentle and steep undulations. Classified as Grades 1-3.
This was the third time I have ridden this trail. I was keen to do it again because it has been officially completed (as of December 2022). We split the ride into two days, starting from Hamilton.
Day One. Hamilton to Ngaruawahia return. Distance 54kms. This is the “mature” section of the trail. The beginning of the trail is at river level until you reach the outskirts of Hamilton. Ride past beautiful gardens, parks and homes, then into the countryside. We lunched at Ngaruawahia at The Market Place (2 Durham Street) where there is a great choice of food.
Warning. At Braithwaite Park I recommend taking the left uphill fork (Hamilton side) away from the river to avoid a narrow, steep pedestrian path.
Day Two. Hamilton to Lake Karapiro. Distance 78kms return. This section is the newest, with massive boardwalks and bridges, and trails alongside the roads to link everything up. There are glimpses of the river through the trees. After leaving Hamilton, the trail continues through Tamahere and Cambridge. We made a short detour (2kms return) to the Velodrome, where we saw the New Caledonia junior team in practice. We lunched at Podium Café at Lake Karapiro.
Notes:
Keep an eye on the Te Awa The Great NZ River Ride Facebook page for information on closures.
There is a dismount and walk section through Hammond Park which is a reserve for native bats.
For riders who are not experienced with on road lanes: Cambridge is a busy town. Look out for vehicles reversing from angle parking spaces.
A suggested shuttle service: Riverside Adventures
Our accommodation was in Hamilton East which was convenient for riding to the cycleways.
Previous visits:
Hawkes Bay Ebike Rides 