Last updated October 2026
The Hūnua Traverse crosses the Hūnua Ranges from Clevedon village to Kaiaua, a Ngā Haerenga Heartland Ride of about 45 km that you can ride in either direction. NZ Cycle Trail grades it 4, for fit and experienced riders, with more than 1,100 m of climbing on roughly half sealed and half gravel road.
The trail’s own site says about 26 km of it follows Watercare service roads through Hūnua Ranges Regional Park. Upper Mangatāwhiri Dam, on the route, has toilets, a picnic area, a campground and an emergency phone.
Practical Information
- Start and finish
- Clevedon village and Kaiaua; ride either way
- Getting to the start
- NZ Cycle Trail suggests the ferry from the city centre to Pine Harbour, then riding to Clevedon
- Length
- 44.5 km (trail site) to 45 km (NZ Cycle Trail) one way; NZ Cycle Trail gives 89 km out and back
- Climbing
- More than 1,100 m
- Grade
- Grade 4 (NZ Cycle Trail Heartland Ride), suited to fit and experienced riders
- Surface
- About half sealed and half gravel road; about 26 km on Watercare service roads
- E-bikes
- A good fit, says the trail’s site; non-electric bikes suit riders with “an adequate level of fitness”
- Facilities
- Toilets, picnic area, campground and emergency phone at Upper Mangatāwhiri Dam; two campsites on the route
- Access rule
- Kauri dieback hygiene stations: scrub and spray footwear and bike tyres before entering and leaving tracks
- Status
- Check the Hūnua Traverse website for current access and closures before you ride
About the Hūnua Traverse
The Traverse strings together public and private roads, and about 26 km of it is on Watercare’s service roads through Hūnua Ranges Regional Park. On the way between Clevedon and Kaiaua it passes two reservoirs and two campsites.
It is a hilly day. The trail’s own site describes steep, bush-clad climbs and says the route is “set to become one of Auckland’s best gravel & road rides”, and it warns that parts are steep and slippery, with some sharp, off-camber corners.
The forest is also a kauri stronghold. A kauri health survey found “no detectable signs of kauri dieback” in the Hūnua Ranges, which the trail’s site says makes them the largest healthy kauri forest in the Auckland region. That is why the hygiene stations matter, and NZ Cycle Trail makes cleaning a condition of entry.
Ngā Haerenga lists the Traverse as a Heartland Ride, and it forms part of the official Tour Aotearoa route.
Sections of the Route
Upper Mangatāwhiri Dam
The dam has toilets, a picnic area, a campground and an emergency phone. NZ Cycle Trail notes a short section of shared path and single track near the dam, with a bike skills area and a bike and shoe cleaning station.
Kaiaua and the Hauraki Rail Trail
At Kaiaua riders can connect into the Hauraki Rail Trail, so a longer trip can carry on from there.
Riding Conditions and Etiquette
Expect company on the service roads: the trail’s site says to expect vehicles, cyclists, runners and walkers, and other operations vehicles. Keep left at all times, control your speed and descend with care, and watch for the off-camber corners. Carry enough water for the whole crossing.
The Y Camp Adair runs Sunday shuttles from Clevedon and Kaiaua for riders doing the route one way. Check the Traverse site for current shuttle dates.
Other Riding in the Hūnua Ranges
The park has its own mountain bike tracks too. Auckland Council lists the Mangatawhiri Challenge Track (15 km), Moumoukai Farm Track (15 km), Valley Loop Track (14 km) and River Track (2.6 km), plus the Upper Moumoukai mountain bike skills area, which it describes as a practice zone.
A 2020 council story said riders reach the park from Otau Mountain Road and Moumoukai Hill Road in the Ness Valley, and that some areas were restricted for Watercare’s needs, future logging and kauri dieback control.
Where to Learn More
Hūnua Traverse: current access and closures, maps, shuttles and ride ideas.
Ngā Haerenga NZ Cycle Trail: Hūnua Traverse: the Heartland Ride’s grade, route, entrances and facilities.
Auckland Council: Mountain biking: the Hūnua Ranges mountain bike tracks and skills area.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the ride?
About 44.5 to 45 km one way between Clevedon and Kaiaua.
How hard is it?
Grade 4, for fit and experienced riders, with more than 1,100 m of climbing and some steep, slippery sections with off-camber corners.
Where does it start?
At Clevedon village or Kaiaua. You can ride it in either direction, and NZ Cycle Trail suggests the Pine Harbour ferry from the city to reach Clevedon.
Can I camp on the way?
The route passes two campsites, and Upper Mangatāwhiri Dam has a campground.
Can I ride it on an e-bike?
Yes. The trail’s site calls e-bikes a good fit, and says non-electric bikes suit riders with an adequate level of fitness.
What do I need to do about kauri dieback?
Use the hygiene stations to scrub and spray your shoes and bike tyres before you enter and leave the tracks.
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