Conquering the Timber Trail: 84km of Suspension Bridges, Mud, and Magic
Ruth and Brett at the trail head in Pureora
The goblin forest
Mid‑June 2026, the stars finally aligned — farm jobs were covered, childcare sorted, and the weather looked just wild enough to be interesting. With zero training and not a single recent bike ride between us (unless chasing kids counts), we made the last‑minute call to tackle the Timber Trail. I figured my running fitness would carry me. My bum, however, had no idea what was coming.
We left early Saturday, dropped the car at the Timber Trail Lodge depot in Ongarue, and jumped on the shuttle back to Pureora. Max, our driver, was a legend — friendly, helpful, and unfazed by our “we have no idea what we’re doing” energy. Winter meant we were lucky to snag last‑minute spots. The lodge hires bikes, but we brought our own $400 marketplace specials — proper Armish bikes, no e‑assist, just grit and gears.
Into the Pureora Forest
The Timber Trail winds 82km through Pureora Forest — the same native bush and rolling ranges you can see from the cabin. Pureora is 760m² of rich rainforest, home to thousand‑year‑old podocarp giants and some of the most intact native forest left in the North Island. It’s wild, ancient, and humming with life.
The trail starts gently, lulling you into a false sense of security. From 6–14km, the climb around Mt Pureora kicks in. It’s steady, leg‑warming, layer‑shedding work. The scenery shifts constantly — one minute dense bush, the next a mossy, misty Goblin Forest straight out of a fantasy novel.
Then the fun begins: downhill runs, mud patches, and the first of many suspension bridges. I love a good bridge, and the Timber Trail delivers. Each one swings just enough to remind you you’re alive.
Piropiro: The Halfway Haven
At the 40km mark, Piropiro appears like a mirage. We rolled into the Timber Trail Lodge soaked, cold, and covered in mud — and were greeted with beer, pizza, and a roaring fire. Heaven. Absolute heaven.
Our bodies, however, were less impressed. Muscles we didn’t know existed were screaming. Our bums felt like they’d been tenderised. But adventure doesn’t care about comfort, so we saddled up again for Day Two.
Day Two: Bridges, Climbs, and Fast Descents
The trail eases you in with gentle winding sections before delivering the Maramataha Swing Bridge — the biggest on the trail. It’s long, high, and spectacular, swaying over a deep gorge with views that make you forget your legs hurt.
Then comes the climb to the 48km mark, the biggest uphill of Day Two. It’s a grind, but the payoff is worth it: once you hit the old tramway, the gradient softens and the speed picks up. Fast, sweeping downhill runs carry you through cuttings, across bridges, and into pockets of history.
Information boards and relics from the native logging days line the trail — rusted machinery, old tram lines, and stories of the people who carved their way through this forest long before mountain bikes existed.
The highlight? The Ongarue Spiral — an engineering marvel that loops you around and under yourself like a giant wooden roller coaster. Riding it feels like stepping back in time and forward into adventure all at once.
And yes, we did encounter the occasional goat. You smell them before you see them.
The Finish: Muddy, Sore, and Triumphant
By the time we rolled into Ongarue, we were exhausted, filthy, and absolutely buzzing. The Timber Trail isn’t just a ride — it’s a journey through wild forest, history, weather, mud, and your own limits.
We loved every suspension bridge, every downhill run, every change in scenery. Even the sore bums. Mostly.
