Mountains to Sea Ngā Ara Tūhono Whanganui: The Great Ride from Ruapehu to the Tasman Sea

Last updated October 2026

Mountains to Sea Ngā Ara Tūhono is the Great Ride that carries you from the slopes of Mt Ruapehu to the Tasman Sea at Whanganui’s North Mole, through Tongariro and Whanganui national parks and down the Whanganui River.

Ngā Haerenga NZ Cycle Trail gives the main route as 199 km in six sections, plus a compulsory 32 km jet boat ride on the river, for 231 km in all, and most people take 4 to 6 days.

Almost every section is grade 3 (intermediate), with the grade 4 Kaiwhakauka Track on the alternative start from National Park village. Whanganui is the finish line, and the last two sections, the River Road and Upokongaro to the Tasman Sea, are on the city’s doorstep. Part of the Mangapurua Track closes to cyclists each winter, normally reopening around Labour Weekend.

Practical Information

Start

Ohakune (Tūroa skifield or Ohakune Rail Station), or National Park village for the alternative start

Finish

North Mole, Castlecliff, Whanganui

Length

199 km riding plus a 32 km jet boat ride (231 km)

Riding time

4 to 6 days for the full trail; 2 to 3 for fit riders

Grade

Grade 3 (intermediate) for the main route; Kaiwhakauka Track Grade 4 (advanced)

E-bikes

Allowed on all trails to 300 W; mountain-bike style on the backcountry tracks

Dogs and horses

Not allowed on the Old Coach Road, Mangapurua or Kaiwhakauka tracks

Jet boat

Compulsory 32 km transfer from Mangapurua Landing to Pīpīriki; book ahead

Mobile coverage

Limited, especially in Whanganui National Park

Status

Check the Mountains to Sea trail status page for current closures before you ride

About Mountains to Sea

The ride is a journey through very different country. It begins among the volcanic landscapes of Tongariro National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage area, follows the Old Coach Road, then heads into the forest and remote valleys of Whanganui National Park before you swap the bike for a jet boat and finish down the river road to the coast.

History is never far away. The Old Coach Road passes historic viaducts, the Mangapurua Track leads to the Bridge to Nowhere, which NZ Cycle Trail describes as a First World War settler monument, and the River Road passes Hiruhārama (Jerusalem) with its church and convent, the Kawana Flour Mill from 1854 and Matahiwi.

Most of the trail is a long way from shops. NZ Cycle Trail advises carrying food and extra water, treating backcountry water, carrying a personal locator beacon or tracker, and telling someone your plans. It also advises booking transport and accommodation well ahead for December to March, and in winter too.

Sections of the Trail

NZ Cycle Trail lists the main sections in the order most people ride them:

Ohakune Mountain Road	17 km, Grade 3, about 1 hour; a 1,000 m descent from Tūroa skifield to Ohakune (good weather only, closed in the ski season)
Ohakune Old Coach Road	15 km, Grade 3, 2 to 4 hours; Ohakune Rail Station to Horopito
Ruatiti Road and Middle Road	45 km, Grade 3, 3 to 4 hours; Horopito to the start of the Mangapurua Track
Mangapurua Track	36 km, Grade 3, 4 to 6 hours; Ruatiti Road end to Mangapurua Landing, via the Bridge to Nowhere
Jet boat	32 km, Mangapurua Landing to Pīpīriki
Whanganui River Road	67 km, Grade 3, 7 to 8 hours; Pīpīriki to Upokongaro
Upokongaro to Tasman Sea	19 km, Grade 3, 1 to 2 hours; Upokongaro to North Mole

The Alternative Start

From National Park village, Fishers Track (27 km, Grade 3, 2 to 3 hours) runs to Oio Road, and after 25 km on the road the Kaiwhakauka Track (17 km, Grade 4, 2 to 4 hours) runs from Blue Duck Station to the Mangapurua junction.

Riding Kaiwhakauka and Mangapurua together to the Bridge to Nowhere and the boat pick-up is 41 km, about 5 to 7 hours. Riders must walk their bikes for the first 4 km after the Whanganui National Park boundary gate on Kaiwhakauka.

The Mangapurua Winter Closure

The Mangapurua Track is the trail’s remote heart, and also its most weather-sensitive section. Each winter the stretch from the war memorial and trig to the Bridge to Nowhere closes to cyclists, normally reopening around Labour Weekend, while the Ruatiti to trig section and the Kaiwhakauka connection stay open.

Even when open, NZ Cycle Trail warns the Mangapurua is prone to storm damage and can ride like a grade 4 trail on slippery papa clay after rain, so pick a fine day and start early to make your boat pick-up.

Riding Shorter Pieces from Whanganui

You don’t need a week to sample it. The final 19 km from Upokongaro to North Mole is a mostly off-road ride of 1 to 2 hours on paved cycle paths, crossing the Upokongaro cycle bridge and following Papaiti Road and the riverside path through the city. NZ Cycle Trail also suggests an easy 14 km return ride to North Mole from the Whanganui CBD.

Where to Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Mountains to Sea?

199 km of riding plus a compulsory 32 km jet boat ride, 231 km in total. Most riders take 4 to 6 days.

How hard is it?

The main route is grade 3 (intermediate). The Kaiwhakauka Track on the alternative start is grade 4 (advanced), and the Mangapurua can feel like grade 4 after rain.

Why do I need a jet boat?

A 32 km stretch of the Whanganui River between Mangapurua Landing and Pīpīriki can’t be ridden, so a jet boat ride is part of the trail. Book it ahead.

Can I ride an e-bike?

Yes, on all trails, up to 300 W. On the Mangapurua, Kaiwhakauka, Old Coach Road and Fishers Track it must be a mountain-bike style e-bike, and there are no official charging points.

Can I bring my dog?

Dogs and horses are not allowed on the Old Coach Road, Mangapurua or Kaiwhakauka tracks.

Where does it finish?

At North Mole in Castlecliff, the driftwood beach at the Whanganui River breakwater.

Can I ride just the Whanganui end?

Yes. Upokongaro to the Tasman Sea is 19 km and 1 to 2 hours, and NZ Cycle Trail suggests an easy 14 km return ride from the CBD to North Mole.

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