Sunday 29 March 2026

Leader: Glenda Robb

Fifteen of us assembled at the Western Gateway carpark (on the Ashurst side) ready to start riding the shared pathway alongside the new Manawatu – Tararua Highway at 9.30 am on Sunday morning. Ten were on electric bikes and five on mountain bikes, some of the latter, including me, opting to be tail-end Charlies.

The weather was cloudy, but mild with the early low mist clearing to a nice day for biking. On this side of the highway the track starts almost immediately with a 1 in 10 gradient looping under the new bridge and around to track alongside the right hand side of the new road.

It’s then a steady plug uphill with more of the wind turbines coming into view as you climb. Fortunately there are plenty of lookout points with seating and signage where you can take photos and catch your breath.

The gradient does ease further up the track as it winds around the turbines and nearing the top reveals the views out toward Woodville and the Wairarapa. Shortly after the top the track loops around and under the road to travel the rest of the track on the left of the highway.

Downhill, it’s a rapid crazy ride, a 1 in 8 gradient, with red slow signs painted on the track at the bends, having you hanging on to the brakes. Fortunately there were very few riders or walkers coming the other way.

We regrouped at the bottom roundabout and biked at a more leisurely pace the couple of kilometres to Woodville and Café 88 for coffee and cake.

All opted for the old gorge road for the return trip. It’s not strictly legal, but the barriers have been edged aside, and it is a pleasant flat ride by the mighty Manawatu River. The old road is mostly intact, narrowing in places as nature claims it back, with only one spot where a slip over the road means dismounting and scrambling up and over with the bike.

We were back at the carpark about 3 pm after a short but interesting day. The spacious carpark had toilets, was nicely landscaped and had a kiosk with coffee, ice cream and snacks. It’s becoming a popular daytrip for walkers and riders with plenty of interesting signage and lookout points and a nice wide track to ride on.

Those on the trip were:

Brandon Holman, Brian Solomon, Chris Keating, Glenda Robb, Jenny Solomon, Julie James, Kate Livingston, Mark Robertson, Rob Dey, Sue Sparkes, Sue Pate, Wayne James, Yingjun Shelton, Barb Nixon, Stuart Allen

Currently there is no photo album for this trip.