Mountains to Sea Cycle Trail: 232 km in Manawatū-Whanganui
The Mountains to Sea Cycle Trail is a named Ngā Haerenga Great Ride in Manawatū-Whanganui. The governing figure used here is 232 km (nzcycletrail.com · Mountains to Sea), not a straight line between towns.
Typical time on the route is 4 to 6 days. Grade: Grade 2–4 · mixed. Season window: October to April.
NZCT’s ride length is 232 km of cycling plus a jet-boat connection on the Whanganui. The Old Coach Road and the Descent to Pipiriki are the hard days. Many riders skip the river and ride Ohakune–National Park only.
The itinerary on this page is the published stop sequence: Ohakune, Horopito, Pipiriki, Whanganui. Cabins and holiday homes load live around each stop; hut and trailhead pins without a town page still search by radius.
Book DOC huts and Great Walks on the DOC system where that applies. Town beds are what this site lists. Carry the day’s food on remote legs — several of these routes have no shop between ends.
Stop by stop
Ohakune — Old Coach Road start. Horopito — Smash Palace, the coach road high point. Pipiriki — river, jet boat, Bridge to Nowhere. Whanganui — Tasman Sea finish.
Distances, grades and seasons above follow nzcycletrail.com · Mountains to Sea. Confirm opening dates, slips and hut bookings on the operator or DOC page before you travel; alpine and West Coast tracks close or reroute after weather.
