Wellington Regional Trails
A person standing on a red swing bridge on the Tauwharenikau Trail in the Wairarapa region.

A peaceful riverside trail connecting Featherston to Greytown via one of New Zealand’s longest cycle path suspension bridges.

Length

10.9km

Uses

Walking/Running, Mountain Biking

Walking difficulty

Easy: Walking track

Mountain Bike Grade

Easy: Grade 2

Profile

97m highest point

Dogs

Yes (on lead)
The Tauwharenikau Bridge in Featherston at night, with the Milky Way lighting the sky above it.

About the trail

The Tauwharenikau Trail is a scenic 11.1km walking and cycling route. It’s a great way to explore the Wairarapa countryside without navigating busy roads on State Highway 2. The trail winds through farmland, native bush, and quiet back roads, with views of the Tararua Range.

The main highlight of this trail is the Tauwharenikau Suspension Bridge — a 150-metre-long structure spanning the Tauwharenikau River. The bridge is one of the longest cycle path suspension bridges in the country. Located in a high wind zone and braced to a large rail bridge, it posed real challenges for design and construction.

The large carved pou at Clifford Park, marks the start of the trail in Featherston. This pou celebrates the pūrakau of Nuku Pewapewa — a 19th-century Māori chief who brought leadership and peace to the Wairarapa

Getting there

  • The trail starts at Clifford Park, Featherston and ends at Woodside Station, Greytown. It connects to the Greytown to Woodside trail.
  • On-street parking is available in Featherston, Greytown and at the Woodside Railway Station.

Know before you go

  • Get an up-to-date weather report from MetService before setting off.
  • Take warm waterproof clothing, durable footwear, sunscreen, food and water.
  • Toilets, water and supplies are available in Featherston and Greytown.
  • The trail is not suitable for racing bikes, horses, or motorbikes.
  • Dogs must be on a leash at all times.

Looking for more?

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Two people are walking up the steps in front of the Castlepoint Lighthouse in the Wairarapa region.

Castlepoint Lighthouse Walk

In a region full of wonderful vistas, this short trail along a wild, rugged coastline leads to one of the most recognisable landmarks in New Zealand.

A drone shot of two adults and two kids standing on a bridge over a river in Tararua Forest Park.

Donnelly Flat Loop Walk

An easy walk for the whole family among mature podocarp and broadleaf native trees in the Tararua Range.

A person in a white teeshirt and a black and brown dog are standing on a hillside overlooking a coastal town, the harbour and a distant mountain range.

Te Whiti Riser

A popular all-weather walking and mountain biking track overlooking Wainuiomata and Lower Hutt.

Two adults and two kids cross a bridge surrounded by trees on the Gentle Annie Track to Mount Holdsworth in Tararua Forest Park.

Gentle Annie Track

Climb up to Mountain House Shelter along one of the most popular half-day trails in Tararua Forest Park.

A dirt path cuts through green grass and hay paddocks on the Greytown to Woodside trail.

Greytown to Woodside Trail

The original Greytown to Woodside railway line provides a beautiful and family-friendly walking path.

Two adults and two children riding bicycles on a gravel path surrounded by dense green trees and grass.

Hutt River Trail

Follow the picturesque Hutt River all the way from Petone to Upper Hutt on this easy, well-maintained trail.

Four people ride bicycles on a path in Queen Elizabeth Regional Park in the Paraparaumu, New Zealand surrounded by nature.

Coast 35

Coast 35 connects Paekākāriki and Ōtaki through an off-road shared trail that runs parallel with the Kāpiti Expressway.

A drone shot of where the Ōtaki river meets the ocean, at sunset with Kapiti island in the distance.

Ōtaki River Trail

Follow the banks of the Ōtaki River on this popular walking and biking trail, with views of the coastline, river, and the Tararua Range.

Cyclists are riding along a coastal road at the Pencarrow Coast in Eastbourne, New Zealand.

Pencarrow Coast Road

East Harbour Regional ParkTravel along a flat winding trail to the historic Pencarrow Lighthouse and the shores of Lake Kohangatera.

The bright blue water and rugged coastline at Red Rocks on Wellington's south coast.

Red Rocks Coastal Walk

Waimapihi Reserve, Brooklyn Turbine and Te Kopahou ReserveExperience the wildest part of Wellington’s rugged south coast, where you might encounter a colony of fur seals and catch views of the South Island.