{{Short description|New Zealand rail trail}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}} [[File:Double-deck Western Portal road-rail bridge over Ohinemuri River at Karangahake.jpg|thumb|right|The Karangahake Gorge bridge and rail tunnel, part of the rail trail.]]

The '''Hauraki Rail Trail''' is one of the Great Rides of the [[New Zealand Cycle Trail]] system, using parts of the abandoned [[East Coast Main Trunk#Closure of the northern route|ECMT]] and [[Thames Branch]] railways in the [[Hauraki Gulf]] plains and the [[Coromandel Peninsula]].

== Territory coverage == The {{convert|197|km}} trail officially starts from [[Kaiaua]] in the north, and traces the Shorebird Coast along the [[Firth of Thames]], before heading south via [[Paeroa]] to then branch either east towards [[Waihi]] (via the Karangahake Gorge) or south to [[Te Aroha]].<ref>[https://docs.tcdc.govt.nz/store/default/6733850.pdf Anything's Possible, When You Ride a Bike.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510050207/https://docs.tcdc.govt.nz/store/default/6733850.pdf |date=10 May 2021 }} Our Coromandel, 2020–2021, Page 126.</ref> In the Karangahake Gorge, the [[rail trail]] passes through a {{convert|1100|m|ft|0}} long tunnel, which has been fitted with electrical lighting.

The trail takes around three days to complete for most fitness levels. It is one of the easiest cycle trails in New Zealand, and offers a diverse range of scenery, from [[pōhutukawa]] trees, through lush farm land, and onto some of New Zealand's pioneering past.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hauraki Rail Trail|url=http://www.bluetui.co.nz/AboutTheTrails/HaurakiRailTrail.aspx|website=Blue Tui Shuttles | access-date=4 April 2016}}</ref>

== Length and extensions == The trail was opened in 2012, with 95% of 69&nbsp;km completed at the end of 2012, and all of the original length open from as early as 2013 (New Zealand Cycle Trail's official website).

In September 2013, the connecting section from [[Waikino]] to [[Waihi]] was opened,<ref>{{cite news|title=Hauraki Rail Trail Newsletter August 2013|newspaper=Hauraki Rail Trail Trust}}</ref> and the network then encompassed over {{convert|80|km|mi|0}} of easy-riding cycle trails.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.haurakirailtrail.co.nz/|title=Hauraki Rail Trail|publisher=haurakirailtrail (official trail web site)|access-date=19 August 2014}}</ref>

Scoping for a further section, from [[Kopu, New Zealand|Kopu]] to [[Kaiaua]] along the Firth of Thames' coast was expected to start in mid-2013, adding another {{convert|56|km|mi|0}} to the track.<ref name=POPTRAIL/> It opened in August 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hauraki Rail Trail Extension – Kaiaua |url=https://www.hauraki-dc.govt.nz/services/projects/hauraki-rail-trail-extension/ |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=www.hauraki-dc.govt.nz |archive-date=27 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227183239/https://www.hauraki-dc.govt.nz/services/projects/hauraki-rail-trail-extension/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

A new {{convert|37|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} path south from Te Aroha to [[Matamata]] was officially opened in November 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Blommerde |first=Chloe |date=2020-11-12 |title=Te Aroha to Matamata Hauraki Rail Trail officially opened |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/123361121/te-aroha-to-matamata-hauraki-rail-trail-officially-opened |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=Stuff |language=en |archive-date=27 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227183238/https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/123361121/te-aroha-to-matamata-hauraki-rail-trail-officially-opened |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Section E: Te Aroha to Matamata |url=https://haurakirailtrail.co.nz/choose-your-ride/te-aroha-to-matamata |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=haurakirailtrail.co.nz |archive-date=16 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716232149/https://haurakirailtrail.co.nz/choose-your-ride/te-aroha-to-matamata |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Popularity== In 2013 the trail was described as the most popular cycle trail in New Zealand, despite only having been open for less than a year.<ref name=POPTRAIL>{{cite news|title=Most popular trail in country|newspaper=Hauraki Herald|date=20 May 2013}}</ref> From January 2013 to April 2013, monthly cycle counts on the busiest section ([[Karangahake Gorge]]) averaged over 7,000 cyclists a month. The trail was particularly popular with the "baby boomer", family clientele from Auckland and the wider Waikato, with 24% of users coming from Auckland, 15% from Hamilton, and a large proportion of users being older riders – based on a [[University of Waikato]] survey.<ref name=BOOSTER>{{cite news|title=Bike trail economy booster|newspaper=Hauraki Herald|date=10 May 2010}}</ref> Both local businesses and Council agree that the trail had a significant economic benefit for the region, and had already become a major promotional asset for tourism.<ref name=POPTRAIL/>

== Awards ==

The new wooden bridges on the rail trail received the "Sustainability Award" in the Timber Design Awards in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sustainability Award|newspaper=Construction News|date=October–November 2012}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == *[https://www.nzcycletrail.com/hauraki-rail-trail Hauraki Rail Trail] on the New Zealand Cycle Trail website *[https://www.haurakirailtrail.co.nz/ Hauraki Rail Trail] on the temporary website of the administering trust

{{New Zealand Cycle Trail}} {{Hauraki District}} {{Thames-Coromandel District}}

[[Category:Thames-Coromandel District]] [[Category:Hiking and tramping tracks in Waikato]] [[Category:Rail trails in New Zealand]] [[Category:New Zealand Cycle Trail]] [[Category:Hauraki District]] [[Category:Firth of Thames]]