Explore Every Bend of Te Awa O Te Waikato
Your Cycling Adventure Along The Mighty Waikato River Awaits...
With awe-inspiring bridges, breathtaking natural beauty and exceptional local food and wine, cycling along the Waikato River is a world-class experience for all ages and experience levels. The fresh air, running river and enchanting local birdlife is just a 90 minute drive from Auckland.
From our convenient River Riders location in Hamilton Gardens you have easy access to both Te Awa ‘The Great New Zealand River Ride’ and the Waikato River Trail. These trails encapsulate cycling in New Zealand at its best: blending stunning natural landscapes, rich Māori culture, and accessible options for both leisurely riders and seasoned adventurers.
Two extraordinary cycling trails, one convenient location
The Waikato River Trail and Te Awa can both be easily broken into manageable sections, making the trails ideal for one-day or weekend adventures at your own pace.
Our depot is conveniently located right by the river bank in the picturesque Hamilton Gardens. From here you can choose your own adventure, or let us be your guides and shuttle you to your starting point!
The Waikato River Trail
An adventurous ride through native forests and along dramatic river banks, with highlights including the Mangakino Suspension Bridge, Arapuni Power Station, and the spectacular Waipapa Dam.
Total Trail Distance: 103km
Grades: Grade 2–3 (Easy to Intermediate)
Start Point: Pokaiwhenua Bridge Carpark, near Arapuni
End Point: Whakamaru Dam
Te Awa ‘The Great New Zealand River Ride’
A fully concreted scenic ride featuring iconic highlights like the Perry Bridge and the avant-garde sculpture park at the Velodrome, with charming riverside towns like Cambridge to stop off at along the way.
Total Trail Distance: 65km
Grades: 1-3 (Easy to Intermediate)
Start Point: Ngaruawahia
End Point: Lake Karapiro
Breathtaking river landscapes just 90 minutes from Auckland
River Riders is conveniently located an easy 90 minute drive from Auckland, with a similar length drive from other North Island destinations such as Lake Taupo, Mt Maunganui and Rotorua.
Our depot is based in the picturesque Hamilton Gardens, making it an ideal base to explore the entire Waikato river as well as the wider region. There’s no shortage of fantastic restaurants and activities in the area, and we’d love to help you make the most of your visit to the spectacular Waikato River.
We also offer transfers and bike, eBike and trailer rental from our depot in Auckland. If you’re unsure what you need, make an enquiry via the button below or give us a call on +64 27 265 5504.
Hamilton Gardens: Gate 2 Carpark, Cobham Drive, Hamilton East, Hamilton 3216
Auckland: 12b Amera Place, Huntington Park, Auckland 2013
Experience it all on an eBike
We provide a range of classic pedal and electric bikes that will suit all preferences, ages and experience levels.
For riders less accustomed to longer distance cycling or riding on gravel, we recommend an electric bike. The power assist adds control, comfort and let’s you focus on the experience.
Our fleet of eBikes are proven performers across New Zealand’s network of Great Rides. With powerful motors, long-lasting batteries, and superior comfort—they’re perfect for exploring river trails with ease and enjoyment.
“Loved it! We started this amazing adventure at Hamilton Gardens and cycling towards Ngaruawahia. The trail was a blast, offering beautiful river views with a nice mix of ups, downs, turns, and smooth stretches that kept the journey both interesting and relaxed… I can’t stress enough how much I recommend this experience.”
– Tenaya
“Dee and Dan were amazing! They met us at the Hamilton Gardens pick up spot, fitted the bikes to us, gave us a demo and encouraged fun along the way. Service outstanding and so cool to support this Community. Couldn’t recommend hiring the bikes enough and doing the TeAwa River Ride along the Waikato.”
– Isabelle
“We rented e-bikes for the first time and had a great time riding on the Te Awa River Trail. Dee and everyone at RiverRiders at Hamilton Gardens were very knowledgable, friendly and helpful… The e-bikes were nice for seeing more in a shorter amount of time. Wonderful customer service and so nice!!”
– Mark
How it works
We’ve designed our rental options to make it as simple as possible to get the River Ride experience you want. Simply select your eBike and the duration you want to hire it for, and whether or not you want to collect from our depot on the river in the Hamilton Gardens or in Auckland.
Ready to make a booking? Just fill out the reservation form below and start your Te Awa Adventure today!
Electric Bikes
Step Through eBikes:
- 1HR: $49pp
- 2HR: $69pp
- 4HR: $99pp
- 8HR: $129pp
Full Suspension / eMTBs
- 4HR: $129pp
- Full-day: $199pp
Pedal Bikes
Pedal bikes:
- 2HR: $39pp
- 4HR: $49pp
- Full Day: $69pp
Multi-Day Tours
Interested in doing the whole tour over multiple days? We don’t blame you! Get it touch with us via the link below and we’ll be happy to help you create your ideal Waikato River itinerary.
Let's get your river adventure started
